Bonus Buy Feature: What You Need to Know
As of January 26, 2026, Bonus Buy options are showing up across more online slots, and players want straight answers: what it costs, how it changes your odds, and whether it’s worth trying. This guide breaks down the mechanics, the risks, and the smart ways to use Bonus Buy — without promising guaranteed results.
What the Bonus Buy feature actually does
A Bonus Buy lets you purchase direct entry to a slot’s bonus round, instead of waiting for the base game to trigger it. The price is usually shown as a multiple of your current bet, or a fixed dollar amount. When you buy in, you skip the base spins and start the bonus game immediately, which can speed up access to free spins, multipliers, or pick-and-win rounds.
How Bonus Buy affects RTP and volatility — the player angle
Bonus Buys change the session experience more than the mechanics. Key points to keep in mind:
- Expected value can shift: the buy price is set by the provider to reflect the bonus round’s average return. Sometimes that makes the buy close to the slot’s overall RTP, and sometimes it makes it less favorable.
- Volatility increases: if a bonus round is high variance, using a Bonus Buy condenses wins and losses into fewer spins, which can mean bigger swings in a short time.
- Check the game page: providers usually list RTP and bonus features. If you want a practical example of a bonus-style video slot, see our Winter Wonderland Slots review for how bonus rounds are structured.
When a Bonus Buy could make sense
- You’re short on time and want immediate access to the feature round.
- You’ve evaluated the expected cost and prefer concentrated action over long play.
- You’re using a dedicated trial bankroll for feature buys and accept higher short-term variance.
When to avoid it
- You’re on a tight bankroll, or you don’t like aggressive swings.
- The buy price is clearly higher than the statistical expected value for the bonus round.
- You haven’t read the game’s rules and the casino’s terms about bonus-bought wins.
Practical tips to use Bonus Buy responsibly
- Start small: test a single buy at your minimum acceptable stake before committing bigger sums.
- Treat it as a high-risk option: expect larger, faster wins or losses, and set limits.
- Track outcomes: compare results from a few purchased bonus rounds to regular play to judge value.
- Check whether bought-bonus wins are subject to site wagering restrictions or max cashout rules before you play.
Casino and regulatory checks you must make
- Read the game’s paytable, RTP, and buy price disclosure on the slot’s info screen.
- Verify casino rules on bought features, bonus conversions, and maximum cashouts. At Millionaire Casino, for example, site promo rules note 65x wagering on many free-spin offers, and max bonus conversion rules apply to certain promotions. Always review the full terms and conditions on the casino page before you play. See the Millionaire Casino review for general account and bonus policy details.
- Confirm you’re playing legally in your state and that geolocation is active.
Software providers and where you’ll see Bonus Buys
Bonus Buy options are most common in modern video-bonus slots from major providers. Platforms using Wager Gaming Technology and Vegas Technology often run titles with rich bonus features, so expect more buy options on similarly designed 5-reel video slots and bonus-heavy games.
A final, practical checklist before you hit “Buy”
- Confirm the buy price in dollars, and how many spins or feature rounds it grants.
- Check RTP and volatility descriptions, and compare the buy price to typical bet sizes.
- Review the casino’s promotional rules for wagering, max cashout, and conversion limits.
- Set a strict stop-loss, and never exceed your planned bankroll for feature buys.
Bonus Buys are a useful tool when used deliberately: they give control and instant access, but they also accelerate risk. Read the game page, check the casino terms, and treat each buy as a calculated trade rather than a guaranteed shortcut to big payouts.