Bonus features are available in most modern online casino video slots. Most often, these are free spins or thematic bonus games implemented in one of the popular formats. Of course, any gambler playing a slot with bonuses would like to participate in a bonus round.
The ideal scenario is to meet the necessary conditions and trigger the bonus round for free.
However, many impatient players close the game without waiting for their chance. Sometimes, players have to spin the reels hundreds of times before activating the free spins feature.
Software developers for online casinos have found a solution. Some companies have started releasing the so-called bonus buy slots. Although this option is less tempting than free participation, it has become quite popular in the gambling industry. This review article by Casinoz is dedicated to this topic.
Best Bonus Buy Online Slots in 2024
Below is a list of video slots where you can buy bonus games. It includes titles from different software providers. The list is periodically updated with new games released by well-known developers.
| Name | Return to player | Variance | ||
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 97.23% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 97.15% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 97.04% | Middle | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.93% | Middle | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.84% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.81% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.79% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.79% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.75% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.74% | Middle | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.72% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.71% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.71% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.7% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.68% | Middle | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.67% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.66% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.65% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.62% | High | |
| Play T&C applies, 18+ | 96.58% | High |
The games are listed in a table format.
| Video Slot | Provider | Bonus Buy Cost | Bonus Type | Max Payout |
| LeoVegas Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 100x | Free spins with multipliers | 250 000 |
| Valletta Megaways | Push Gaming | 100x | 10 free spins with bonuses | No limit |
| Neon Cluster Wins | Stakelogic | 60x | 10 free spins | No limit |
| Faerie Spells | Betsoft Gaming | 86x | 25 free spins | Three jackpots |
| White Rabbit | Big Time Gaming | 100x | 15 free spins | No limit |
| Extra Chilli | Big Time Gaming | 50x | 8 free spins with multipliers | No limit |
| Book of Gods | Big Time Gaming | 80x | 15-25 free spins with bonuses | No limit |
| Machina Megaways | Relax Gaming | 50x - 300x | 10-18 free spins | No limit |
| Fat Santa | Push Gaming | 80x | 5 free spins with bonuses | No limit |
| Dark Vortex | Yggdrasil Gaming | 80x | 5-20 free spins with stacked wilds | No limit |
| Viking Unleashed Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 25x - 100x | 5 - 27 free spins with multipliers | No limit |
| Buffalo Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 100x | 5-15 free spins with multipliers | No limit |
| Genie Jackpot Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 100x | 10 - 20 free spins with multipliers | No limit |
| Spinal Tap | Blueprint Gaming | 50x | One of the four bonuses | No limit |
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list of bonus-buy slot machines. If you believe we have unjustly overlooked them, please write their titles in the comments.
History of Bonus Buy Slot Machines
In 2017, Big Time Gaming introduced the White Rabbit video slot, which featured the Megaways system. This slot based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland became a landmark gambling game that significantly impacted the development of the industry.
In White Rabbit, BTG studio offered the Feature Drop option. It allowed players to buy bonus rounds at any time instead of waiting for the chance to participate in free spins.
The feature works in two ways:
- Free spins can be purchased directly, and the cost depends on the player's bet.
- During paid rounds, the player collects coins, occasionally appearing in different cells. The more tokens the player collects, the lower the cost of the Feature Drop. If the cost reaches zero, the player can start the free spins for free.
Since 2018, Big Time Gaming has been selling the rights to use the Megaways mechanics to other software developers, but the patented Feature Drop option remains exclusive to the company.
Other gambling software providers for online casinos also release slot machines with purchasable bonuses, offering this feature under different conditions.
In 2019, software developers implementing this feature and online casino operators offering these games faced an unpleasant surprise.
The UK Gambling Commission, the British gambling regulator, sent them notices suggesting disabling this function.
What was the reason behind this requirement? The UK Gambling Commission aims to help online casino customers combat gambling addiction. According to the organization, the ability to purchase bonus rounds encourages users to play longer and spend more.
Many well-known clubs deactivated the option to buy bonuses in slot machines upon the initial request. Big Time Gaming stopped implementing this feature in new slots. Some operators simply removed such slots from their lists. However, certain websites continue to offer these machines to customers.
Casinoz will monitor the story and update the article as necessary. Stay tuned for the latest news.
How Does Bonus Buy Feature in Slots Work?
In general, the operation principle of such slots is as follows:
The player pays a certain amount, which depends on the bet, and participates in the bonus round.
However, this is not the only way to trigger the bonus game. As mentioned earlier, Big Time Gaming offers an alternative method that does not require additional financial expenses if you are patient enough. The principle is as follows:
- Coins appear on the screen in different situations.
- They accumulate and decrease the cost of purchasing the bonus round.
- When the cost reaches zero, the bonus can be launched for free.
Decide what you prefer: spending real money or waiting a little.
Also, don't forget that a combination of special icons can trigger the bonus game.
Should You Buy Bonuses in Video Slots?
To answer this question, you need to know your goals when playing online casino slots.
- If your main aim is to have fun, then by all means, buy the bonuses because they are the most exciting aspect of slot machines.
- If you are playing for the outcome, open the section with the slot's technical characteristics and look for information about the theoretical return to the player (RTP). Most manufacturers provide RTP data for paid spins and bonus rounds. Compare these indicators and decide for yourself what to do.
It's worth noting that the money spent on purchased free spins is often not wholly recovered.
Below, you'll find a short FAQ about such slots with brief answers to questions that beginners often have.
What Else?
Undoubtedly, every player would like to participate in a bonus round for free. This possibility should not be disregarded. However, if you are eager to experience the bonus feature, don't hesitate to purchase it. Moreover, in many cases, such an approach only increases the return to the player, raising the odds of winning.
Share your opinions about this option. Share whether you have played slots with purchasable bonuses. Have you used this offer? How successful was it?
We look forward to your feedback.
