Bonus Buy Slots
Last updated: 07 October 2026
Bonus buy slots let you pay a set amount to trigger a bonus round immediately instead of waiting to unlock it during normal play. This guide explains how bonus buys work, what they cost, how they affect RTP and volatility and which bonus buy slots we've tested and recommend.
Quick Picks: Best Casinos for Bonus Buy Slots
Casino Beacon Opinion
Bonus buy features are one of the most misunderstood slot mechanics. Paying for a bonus does not automatically improve your chances of winning - you're primarily paying to skip the base game and access the feature immediately.
Bonus buys make most sense as an occasional entertainment feature rather than a strategy. This is particularly important on high-volatility slots, where an expensive purchased bonus can still return very little.
Best Bonus Buy Slots
Bigfoot Fortunes (Rival)
Why we love it: Bigfoot Fortunes by Rival is a quirky 6x4 slot set in a mysterious forest, offering 4,096 ways to win and two types of bonus buy features.
Play Bigfoot Fortunes at Decode and instantly trigger either the Bigfoot Chase Free Spins, which come with sticky wilds and roaming Bigfoot symbols or the Wild Encounters Pick and Click bonus, where you select hidden prizes and multipliers.
Both bonus buys can be purchased at a variable price depending on your bet. The game is low volatility and features both wilds and scatters.
- Bonus buy triggers either free spins with sticky wilds or pick-me bonus
- 4,096 ways to win, wilds, scatters and instant cash prizes
- Low volatility | RTP: 94.1% | Max win: 1,500x
- Play at Decode (most countries welcome)
Mystery Heist (BGaming)
Why we love it: Mystery Heist is a 243-ways slot from BGaming, available at Winz Casino. It combines sticky mystery prizes with an RTP of 97.12%.
The Bonus Buy triggers the Free Spins feature for 70x your stake. During the bonus, sticky prizes can include multipliers of up to 20x, with four Special Prizes including a Grand worth 500x.
Mystery Heist has medium-high volatility and a maximum win of 2,000x (€260,000).
- Bonus buy triggers Free Spins instantly (price: 70x stake)
- Sticky Mystery Prizes with multipliers up to 20x
- 243 ways to win - Special Prizes including a 500x Grand
- Medium-high volatility | RTP: 97.12% | Max win: 2,000x (€260,000)
Sweet 16 Blast (SpinLogic/RTG)
Why we love it: Sweet 16 Blast is a 6x5 grid slot by SpinLogic, using a cluster pays mechanic with candy symbols, tumbling reels and multipliers. It's available at Spinfinity Casino.
The bonus buy feature triggers the free spins round for 100x your current bet. During the bonus, multiplier bombs can increase wins by up to 100x per spin, with tumbling reels providing further chances to form winning clusters.
Sweet 16 Blast is a high-volatility slot with a maximum win of 21,100x your stake and an RTP of 96.2%.
- Bonus buy triggers free spins for 100x your stake
- Tumbling reels, cluster pays and multiplier bombs
- Max win: 21,100x | High volatility | RTP: 96.2%
- Available at Spinfinity (Canada, USA, Europe)
Bandit Bust (Evoplay)
Why we love it: Bandit Bust is a 5x3 slot by Evoplay with 20 paylines, a Wild West theme, sticky wilds and instant cash prizes.
The game is available at Lucky Elf Casino to players in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.
The bonus buy triggers the Hold & Win shootout bonus, where each shot can reveal sticky wilds or cash prizes that remain in place for respins. The purchase price varies with your stake and the maximum win is 5,000x.
- Bonus buy triggers Hold & Win shootout bonus
- Sticky wilds, respins and instant cash prizes
- Max win: 5,000x | RTP: 96.1%
- Available at Lucky Elf Casino in selected countries
Wild Shark (Amatic)
Why we love it: Wild Shark is an ocean-themed 5x4 slot by Amatic with 50 paylines, stacked wilds, respins and a bonus buy feature. It's available at Winz Casino.
The bonus buy triggers a choice of 5, 10 or 15 free spins, where additional wild shark symbols can appear across the reels.
Wild Shark is a high-volatility slot with an RTP of 96% and a maximum win of 1,000x your stake.
- Bonus buy triggers 5, 10 or 15 free spins
- 50 paylines, stacked wilds and respins
- Max win: 1,000x | High volatility | RTP: 96%
- Available at Winz Casino
Sneaky Santa (SpinLogic/RTG)
Why we love it: Sneaky Santa is a 5-reel, 25-payline SpinLogic Christmas slot with expanding wilds and a Secret Santa bonus feature.
The bonus buy triggers the Secret Santa feature for 80x your stake, activating random wild reels and multipliers during the bonus round. Sneaky Santa is available at Ripper Casino.
The maximum win is 2,500x your stake, with an RTP of 96.5%.
- Bonus buy triggers the Secret Santa feature for 80x your stake
- Random wild reels, expanding wilds and multipliers
- Max win: 2,500x | RTP: 96.5%
- Available at Ripper Casino
Pros and Cons of Bonus Buy Slots
Bonus buys provide immediate access to a slot's main feature, but the convenience comes at a price. Here's what to consider before paying for one.
Pros
- Instant access to bonus features
- No waiting for special symbols or rounds
- Potential for a large win from a single bonus
- Useful for testing bonus features in demo mode
Cons
- Can quickly consume your bankroll
- No guarantee that a purchased bonus will return its cost
- Repeated purchases can encourage chasing losses
- Not available in all countries or casinos
How Do Bonus Buys Work?
Instead of spinning until you naturally trigger a bonus round, bonus buy slots let you pay a set amount - often 50x to 100x your base bet - to activate the feature immediately. You select the "Bonus Buy" option in the game and confirm the displayed price before triggering a feature such as free spins or a pick-me bonus.
The price varies by slot and your current bet size. Some games offer several bonus buy options with different costs or feature variations. Buying a bonus does not guarantee a win and these features are often highly volatile.
RTP and Volatility: What to Know Before You Buy
Buying a bonus can affect the theoretical return to player (RTP) and the amount of risk involved. Some slots use a different RTP for purchased bonuses than for normal play - sometimes higher and sometimes lower. Check the game's information or paytable to see whether separate RTP figures are shown.
Volatility also matters because an expensive bonus buy can still produce a small return or no meaningful win at all. Even a high RTP does not predict the result of an individual bonus round, so the purchase price should always be considered alongside your available bankroll.
Are Bonus Buys Worth It?
Bonus buys give you immediate access to a slot's bonus features, but the purchase price can consume your bankroll quickly. A purchased bonus may return hundreds or thousands of times your bet, but it can also return less than it cost.
Whether a bonus buy is worth using depends on its price, RTP, volatility and your available budget. Check these details before buying and use demo mode where available to see how the feature works without risking real money.
Where Are Bonus Buys Allowed?
Bonus buy slots are available at many international online casinos, but access varies by market. In some regulated jurisdictions - including the UK - the feature is not available, while other countries may impose restrictions. If you don't see a bonus buy option, it may be disabled because of your location, the casino's licence or the game provider's rules.
Who Should Play Bonus Buy Slots?
Bonus buy slots are better suited to players who already understand RTP, volatility and the cost of triggering features directly. Because a single purchase can cost 50x, 100x or more than the base bet, bankroll management is particularly important.
- Experienced slot players may be more comfortable assessing the purchase price, RTP and volatility before buying.
- High-volatility players should be prepared for purchased bonuses that return much less than their cost.
- Demo players can use free-play versions, where available, to learn how a bonus feature works without risking real money.
- Beginners and players on tight budgets may prefer standard spins because repeated bonus purchases can consume a bankroll quickly.
How We Picked the Best Bonus Buy Slots
We compared the games on this page by playing their bonus features and checking the purchase cost, RTP, volatility, maximum win and availability at established online casinos.
- We played and reviewed 25+ bonus buy slots from providers including SpinLogic, Rival, Amatic and Evoplay.
- We compared bonus buy prices and the features each purchase triggers.
- We checked RTP, volatility and maximum win information where available.
- We confirmed that the selected games were available to play at established online casinos.
Bonus Buy Slots FAQ
What is a bonus buy slot?
A bonus buy slot lets you pay a set amount, typically based on a multiple of your stake, to trigger a bonus feature immediately instead of waiting to unlock it during normal play.
Are bonus buys worth it?
Bonus buys provide instant access to bonus rounds but can be expensive and do not guarantee a profit. Whether they're worth using depends on the purchase price, RTP, volatility and how much you're prepared to spend.
Can I try bonus buy slots for free?
Some bonus buy slots are available in demo mode, allowing you to test the base game and bonus features without wagering real money. Availability depends on the game, casino and your location.
Are bonus buy slots available everywhere?
No. Bonus buy features may be unavailable or restricted in some regulated gambling markets. They are not permitted at UK-licensed online casinos and availability can also vary in other countries.
Can the bonus buy feature change the RTP?
Yes. Some slots use a different theoretical RTP when a bonus is purchased rather than triggered during normal play. The bonus buy RTP can be higher or lower, so check the game's information or paytable before buying.
What's a Super Bonus Buy?
A Super Bonus Buy is a more expensive version of a standard bonus purchase offered by some slots. It may unlock an enhanced version of the bonus round with additional wilds, multipliers or other upgraded features.
Why can't I buy the bonus in my country?
Bonus buy features may be disabled because of local gambling regulations or restrictions applied by the casino or game provider. If the option is unavailable, check the casino's terms and the gambling rules that apply in your location.