Product
Bonus Buy
Last reviewed 24 September 2026
What is Bonus Buy?
A slot feature allowing a player to pay a fixed multiple of their stake to enter the bonus round immediately, rather than waiting for it to trigger.
Key takeaways
- A bonus buy lets a player pay a fixed multiple of stake, often 75 to 100 times, to enter the bonus round immediately.
- The purchased feature usually carries a similar or slightly higher RTP than the base game, but far greater volatility.
- Regulators concerned about accelerated spend have restricted or banned it, so availability is a standard compliance checkpoint.
Why it matters
Bonus buy, also called feature buy, lets a player skip the base game. A typical price is 75 to 100 times the stake for immediate entry to free spins. The mathematics are usually calibrated so the purchased feature carries a similar or slightly higher return to player than the base game, but the volatility is far greater and the money is committed in a single large stake rather than accumulated slowly.
That risk profile is why the mechanic is contentious. Several regulators have restricted or banned it, with the UK prohibiting feature buys and other markets imposing limits, on the grounds that it accelerates spend and removes the natural pacing of the base game. Suppliers have responded with market-specific builds, shipping bonus-buy versions only where permitted. For anyone assessing content portfolios across jurisdictions, feature-buy availability is a standard compliance checkpoint.
Sources
- Games warning for online operators - Gambling Commission
Bonus Buy elsewhere on iGaming Times
In the news
Frequently asked questions
What is a bonus buy in slots?
A bonus buy, also called a feature buy, is a slot option that lets a player pay a fixed multiple of their stake to enter the bonus round straight away, rather than waiting for it to trigger in the base game. A typical price is 75 to 100 times the stake for immediate entry to free spins, committed as a single large stake.
Is bonus buy allowed in the UK?
No. The Gambling Commission warned online operators in 2019 that feature buy-ins do not comply with its remote technical standards, which bar games from encouraging customers to increase their stake or chase losses. Other markets impose restrictions of their own, so suppliers ship market-specific builds and offer the bonus-buy option only where it is permitted.
Does buying a bonus change the RTP of a slot?
Usually only slightly. The mathematics are typically calibrated so the purchased feature returns a similar or slightly higher percentage to the player than the base game. What changes is the risk profile: volatility is far greater, and the money is committed in one large stake rather than accumulated spin by spin, which is why regulators treat the mechanic with caution.