Guide
What is a bonus buy in slots?
A bonus buy, or feature buy, lets you pay a fixed price to trigger a slot's bonus round immediately instead of waiting for it to land naturally. The price is set by the game and is often around 100 times the bet, though it varies from game to game. In our recorded bonuses, 29.4% paid 100× or more, which is roughly what a typical buy costs. Bonus buys are not offered at casinos licensed in Great Britain.
By Johnessy · Updated · Figures live from 16,341 recorded bonus opens
Key facts
- You pay a fixed multiple of your bet and the bonus round starts straight away.
- Common prices are around 70× to 200× the bet; "super" bonuses can cost several hundred times the bet.
- The RTP of a bonus buy can differ slightly from the base game; the game info screen shows it.
- Not available at UK-licensed casinos, and restricted in some other markets.
- 29.4% of 16,341 recorded bonuses paid 100× or more.
How the maths of a bonus buy works
A bonus buy is priced so that, over the long run, the bonus round pays back slightly less than it costs, just like every other part of a slot. If a buy costs 100× and the bonus is designed to return about 96% of that, the average bonus pays about 96×. Most individual bonuses will pay less than that average and a few will pay much more.
That shape shows up clearly in recorded play: the median bonus in our data paid 49.9× while the average was 128.7×. A buy priced at 100× therefore loses money most of the time and relies on occasional big wins.
Why bonus buys are popular on stream
Buying bonuses skips the base game and goes straight to the most dramatic part of a slot, which is why bonus buys feature heavily in bonus hunts and slot streams. It also means money moves much faster: a single buy can cost as much as a hundred normal spins.
If you use bonus buys, set a budget in advance and treat the cost of each buy as already spent.
Frequently asked questions
- Is buying the bonus worth it?
- On average, no: a bonus buy is priced to return slightly less than it costs over the long run. It is a faster, more volatile way to play, not a better one.
- Can you buy bonuses in the UK?
- No. Bonus buy features are not available at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
- How much does a bonus buy cost?
- It depends on the slot. Around 100× the bet is common; some games charge less and enhanced or "super" bonuses can cost several hundred times the bet.
Related
More guides
Figures are recorded observations from past live play, not predictions. Gambling is 18+ and can be addictive. Read our responsible gambling guidance and editorial policy.