Online slots have come a long way since the early days of the internet. Today, they are one of the most popular forms of online gambling, offering players a chance to win big while enjoying a wide variety of themes and gameplay styles. To keep players engaged and excited, online slot developers have introduced a range of innovative features, and one of the most intriguing is the “Bonus Buy” feature.
In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the world of online slots, explore the concept of the Bonus Buy feature, understand how it works, its advantages, disadvantages, and its impact on the gaming industry.
What is a bonus buy feature in slots?
Bonus buy slots, also known as feature buy or instant bonus slots, are regular slot games where it’s possible to purchase a bonus round. The price typically starts at around 50 times the bet and can go up to as much as 2,000 times the bet. The more you pay, the better your chances. Usually, players receive a package of free spins. These may come with some additional features, such as multipliers, expanding wilds, or other modifiers.
Once the feature is purchased, the theoretical return to player (RTP) can be slightly higher. Many bonus buy slots offer players multiple choices for the bonus. Depending on the choice, different features and volatility levels are available. Safer options ensure more frequent wins, while riskier spins have features that can result in massive payouts.
The Evolution of Online Slots
Online slots have evolved significantly since their inception in the 1990s. Initially, they were simple, three-reel games with limited graphics and gameplay. However, as technology advanced and player demands grew, slot games became more sophisticated, offering immersive themes, stunning graphics, and exciting bonus features.
A relatively recent addition
The Bonus Buy feature is a relatively recent addition to the world of online slots. It allows players to pay an additional fee to instantly trigger the game’s bonus round or free spins feature, bypassing the usual wait or wagering requirements. Essentially, it grants players the ability to jump straight into the most exciting part of the game.
How does the bonus buy feature work?
The Bonus Buy feature is implemented differently in various online slot games, but the basic concept remains consistent. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how it typically works:
Select the Game: Players choose an online slot game that offers the Bonus Buy feature. Not all slots have this option, as it depends on the game’s design and the developer’s choices.
Activate the Feature: Within the game, there is an option to activate the Bonus Buy feature, usually located near the spin button. Clicking on this option will reveal the cost of triggering the bonus round.
Pay the Fee: To initiate the bonus round immediately, players must pay the specified fee. This fee varies from game to game and is often a multiple of the total bet amount.
Enjoy the Bonus: Once the fee is paid, the bonus round or free spins feature is triggered instantly. Players can enjoy the special features, multipliers, and potential big wins without waiting for the symbols to align naturally.
Who invented the buy bonus feature?
The genius behind this innovative solution is Big Time Gaming (BTG), a company with a history of pioneering slot game solutions. The White Rabbit slot was a significant breakthrough in the world of bonus buy slots and continues to be a popular slot game at online casinos.
Advantages of the bonus buy feature
Instant Gratification: The most apparent advantage of the Bonus Buy feature is that it provides instant access to the game’s most exciting elements. Players do not need to wait for the bonus round to trigger organically.
Increased Excitement: The thrill of winning big is heightened when players can dive directly into bonus rounds, where the potential for substantial payouts and engaging gameplay is at its peak.
Time Efficiency: For players with limited time to spare, the Bonus Buy feature allows them to experience the best parts of a slot game quickly.
Strategic Use: Skilled players can strategically use the Bonus Buy feature to maximize their chances of winning by selecting games with high potential payouts.
Disadvantages and Controversies
Costly: The primary drawback of the Bonus Buy feature is its cost. The fees to trigger bonus rounds can be substantial, making it an expensive choice for extended gameplay.
Risk of Addiction: Some critics argue that the instant gratification provided by the Bonus Buy feature could increase the risk of gambling addiction, as players might be tempted to keep buying bonuses.
Variance: Using the Bonus Buy feature does not guarantee a win. Players can spend significant amounts and still not achieve the desired outcome, leading to frustration.
Regulatory Concerns: In some jurisdictions, the Bonus Buy feature has faced regulatory scrutiny due to concerns about its potential to encourage excessive spending on gambling.
How much does buying a bonus in slots cost?
Most often, buying the feature is not very expensive and usually costs between 50 and 100 times the bet. It positively correlates with the potential for winnings. The most expensive bonus round is found in Nolimit City’s San Quentin. This slot offers three bonus rounds, priced at 100x, 400x, and 2000x. The latter option is loaded with features, so it’s unlikely that any of the rounds will result in losses.
To prevent slot enthusiasts from spending too much money at once, the maximum bet is capped at 4 euros for a 2,000x bonus. The limits of 24 euros and 32 euros are for 400x and 100x bonuses, respectively. Choosing the most expensive version comes with the advantage of a marginal increase in RTP (from 96.26% to 96.95%).
For those who love high-priced bonus games with exciting features, it’s worth exploring Nolimit City’s collection of feature buy video slot games. This developer is known for charging substantial amounts but delivering an exhilarating experience in return. San Quentin is their record-breaking bonus game, but there are other titles with costly bonuses as well, such as Deadwood, Bushido Ways, Mental, and more.
How to redeem a bonus buy?
Redeeming bonus buys is a straightforward process, directly accessible from your chosen bonus buy slot. It requires just a few mouse clicks and doesn’t require any special skills. When you get tired of spinning the reels without getting the desired results, you can pay the price for the bonus buy at any time and jump straight into the bonus game.
Here’s how easy it is to activate a bonus buy:
- Select a slot game that offers the bonus buy option (e.g., one of the slot games mentioned below).
- Choose your desired bet level and start playing the slot game.
- Select the bonus buy option by clicking the designated button on the game screen.
- Pay the additional fee for the bonus buy.
- Confirm your choice to start playing the bonus game immediately.
Variations in bonus buy slots
Many developers incorporate the feature buy option into their slot games and add some variations to this choice. The simplest option is when players receive only one bonus round. However, there are also other titles where players are given more options.
Choose the number of bonus rounds
Since it’s impossible to customize the bonus round for each player, developers offer two or more options that cater to different groups of players. Different bonus rounds come with various features and guarantee different volatility levels. At the same cost, players get a combination that includes fewer rounds with a higher multiplier or more rounds but with a lower multiplier.
Multiple Options for Bonus Rounds Many slots offer various options for purchasing bonus rounds, and each bonus round comes with its own price. The price difference is explained by the higher potential for winnings.
For example, Nolimit City’s Deadwood offers two versions of free spins. One costs 71 times the bet, while the other costs 750 times the bet. The second round includes an additional feature that turns low-paying symbols into wilds on the three middle reels.
Bonus game with gamble feature
There is a category of best slot games that offer players the opportunity to gamble the free spins they either purchased or landed randomly. If they win, they receive additional spins and/or a higher multiplier. If they lose, they either lose the entire bonus round or drop to a lower level.
One example is BTG’s Extra Chilli, where players initially receive 8 spins, and by gambling, they can increase the number of spins up to 24. To encourage taking more risks, the studio raises the winning probability from 50 percent to 60 percent after the first successful gambling attempt.
Accumulate bonus buy tokens
This feature isn’t found in many slots, but Big Time Gaming has implemented it in the White Rabbit slot. Instead of paying the full price for buying a bonus, when a certain symbol appears, purchasing the bonus becomes cheaper.
This solution is suitable for players who are interested in trying to trigger the bonus game first but are considering buying it if they don’t access the bonus game quickly. If they decide to buy the bonus, the Bonus Buy feature can be more cost-effective.
In which slots is the bonus buy available?
Today, bonus buy features are available in numerous of the most popular online slot games – both in old classics and the latest releases. Several different game providers offer bonus buy options, including notable names like NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Quickspin, Yggdrasil, Relax Gaming, and Big Time Gaming.
Below, we’ve listed a few of the best games currently offering the bonus buy option. “Best” is, of course, a matter of personal preference, but you’ll find some highly regarded options below:
Please note that the availability of bonus buy features may vary depending on your location and the online casino you’re playing at.
- Wolf Legend Megaways / Blueprint
- Money Train / Relax Gaming
- White Rabbit / Big Time Gaming
- Great Rhino Megaways / Pragmatic Play
- John Hunter and the Book of Tut / Pragmatic Play
- Extra Chilli Megaways / Big Time Gaming
- Dark Vortex / Yggdrasil
- Punk Rocker / NoLimit City
- Boom Pirates / Microgaming & Foxium
- Deadwood / NoLimit City
- Hammer of Vulcan / Quickspin
Impact on the gaming industry
The introduction of the Bonus Buy feature has had a profound impact on the online gaming industry:
Increased Revenue: Online casinos and slot developers have seen an increase in revenue due to the popularity of the Bonus Buy feature. Players are willing to pay extra for the chance to experience bonus rounds immediately.
Game Innovation: To attract players, developers are continually innovating their slot games, creating more immersive and entertaining bonus rounds. This competition has led to higher-quality gaming experiences.
Regulatory Challenges: As mentioned earlier, some regulatory bodies are closely monitoring the Bonus Buy feature. This has prompted discussions about responsible gambling and the need for stricter regulations.
Player Preferences: The Bonus Buy feature has become a key factor in player preferences. Many players seek out games with this feature, showing that it has become a significant selling point for online slots.
The impact of bonus buys on Return to Player (RTP)
Return to Player (RTP) percentages simply indicate how many percentage points a slot game returns to players over the long term, out of the money wagered on it. For example, if a game has an RTP of 98%, it practically means that the game returns €98 out of a €100 wager to the player. However, this isn’t the outcome of every single spin but an average obtained over millions of spins. So, if you play, let’s say, 100 spins yourself, the RTP for those specific spins can vary.
The RTP for each game is always below 100% because online casinos are profit-oriented entities. If they were to offer more in winnings than they receive in wagers, their operations wouldn’t be sustainable for long.
It’s well-known that bonus rounds in slot games typically have higher RTPs than the base game. However, it’s essential to remember that bonus rounds are far less frequent than regular spins during the base game. Therefore, assessing the outcome of bonus rounds is considerably more challenging, and the actual RTP during bonus rounds can deviate significantly from the assumed overall RTP.
Is it worth using bonus buys?
One of the most common questions when it comes to bonus buys is whether they are worth using. There isn’t a single definitive answer to this question because ultimately, in slot games, as in any other aspect of gambling, it all comes down to luck.
However, bonus buys do offer the advantage of allowing you to have some control over your fate, at least to some extent. This is because you don’t have to wait with crossed fingers for the reels to display the required number of special symbols; instead, you can decide when to enter the bonus feature.
Nevertheless, bonus buys can be relatively costly, depending on the game and the bonus. Buying them also doesn’t guarantee you winnings, which can be a misconception for some. It’s by no means a shortcut to success; it merely grants you direct access to the bonus feature. During the bonus, luck remains the primary factor, just as it is during the base game.
In our opinion, bonus buys are best suited for players who are comfortable with higher risks. If you feel that taking risks isn’t your thing, it might be best to leave bonus buys to other players.
If you’re interested in bonus buys but are unsure whether to invest your own money, you can try bonus buy games first as demo versions. In this case, you’ll have access to play money and can see how bonus buys work. Playing demo versions won’t yield real-money winnings, of course, but you won’t lose a cent of your own money while experimenting with them.
Final thoughts
The Bonus Buy feature has undoubtedly added a new layer of excitement to the world of online slots. While it offers instant gratification and the potential for significant wins, it also comes with risks, particularly regarding cost and addiction. As the online gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be essential for both players and regulators to strike a balance between entertainment and responsible gambling.
Ultimately, the Bonus Buy feature is a testament to the ever-changing landscape of online gambling, where innovation and player engagement are at the forefront of game development.
