What is the Bonus Buy in Online Slots?
The Bonus Buy is a feature in online slots that lets you cut the line and automatically trigger free spins or multipliers.
When you activate a Bonus Buy, you avoid slowly plowing through your bankroll, hoping for that elusive feature trigger. Instead, you get straight to the action — or increase your chances of landing a bonus.
It’s like the ultimate VIP club pass, but for online slots.
Benefits of a Bonus Buy feature
The Bonus Buy gets you to the heart of the action faster when you play slots. Here are some ways the feature can enhance your experience at online casinos:
- Pay more to trigger a bonus automatically
- Pay a little extra to increase your chances of winning a bonus
- Good option for high-variance slots with large bonuses
- Maximize your time at the online casino
How Bonus Buy slots work
In regular slot play, you trigger a casino bonus by hitting the required number of scatters (usually 3). The Bonus Buy lets you cut to the chase by paying a little extra.
- Choose your stake by adjusting the coin size
- Tap the 'BONUS BUY' button to resize your bet
- Choose from the list of Bonus Buy options (increased chance or instant trigger)
Example: Sand and Ashes (Hacksaw Gaming)
Hacksaw Gaming’s 2026 slot, Sand and Ashes, is the perfect example of how the Bonus Buy in slots is evolving.
The Egyptian-themed slot features not one, but four Buy Bonus features, each with its own cost and variance (volatility) level.
You also have the option to buy a bonus. You can pay to automatically trigger eight free spins with a chance of more wild multipliers. Alternatively, pay less and increase your chance of triggering the bonus feature.
Is the Buy Bonus worth it?
- Online slots still carry a high house edge
- Sensible bankroll management still applies
- Choose your slots carefully before committing
The Bonus Buy seems like a hassle-free way to win right away in online slots. However, there are a few factors to consider before jumping in with your credit card.
First, remember that online slots still have a house edge (often around 2% to 7%). On a slot with a 5% house edge (95% RTP), you lose an average of $5 for every $100 that you wager.
The Bonus Buy gives you a shortcut to playing free spins or an in-game feature. There’s still no guarantee that you will win, so you may end up paying double with zero reward.
Choose your slots before you buy
Online slots come in a variety of flavors, each with its own RTP (Return to Player percentage) and volatility. We have reviewed the best slots at online casinos in April for players to consider.
Volatility is hard to gauge, but you can often view hit rates on developers’ homepages. This information is not readily shared on slot paytables. As a rule of thumb, a hit rate of around 20-30% is a target when looking at bonus features.
It’s important, therefore, to test out slots that interest you to see whether the hit rates are up to scratch. Many U.S. online casinos offer demo-play slots that let you try the games before you commit. We have also reviewed the top new sweepstakes casino games and bonuses for April, which allow you to play with virtual currency.
Final thoughts
The Bonus Buy slot feature can be an advantage if you choose the right games with the most generous payouts. Weigh up whether upping your stakes is worth the risk — especially if the slot has a low bonus hit rate to begin with.
Above all, always play slots for free first to gauge their volatility.
