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Bonus Buy Slots: What They Cost, What They Pay, Whether They're Worth It
Slots with a bonus buy option let you chase huge wins immediately through features. But there are several important factors to consider before you hit the feature buy button.
ByJeremyOlson·Published: May 18, 2026 6:39PM ET·6 min read
Bonus buy slots let you access the bonus round immediately—not after landing 3+ scatter symbols. You select the feature buy option, pay the required cost, and start playing a bonus (e.g., free spins) right away. This sounds exciting, but the price is hefty. Let's discuss how much you pay to buy the bonus in online slots and whether the cost is ultimately worth it.
Typical bonus buy ranges & what this looks like in real dollars
Bonus buy slots require a significant amount to automatically trigger the feature. Average costs range between 50x and 100x the total bet to immediately access the main feature.
Some slots fall outside this spectrum, with 25x–40x on the low end and 200x–500x on the high end. But largely speaking, you'll pay quite a bit relative to your stake to buy the bonus in slots.
Let's look at an example to illustrate the impact on your bankroll:
You're playing a bonus buy slot that charges 100x for the feature.
At the $0.20 minimum bet, you'd pay $20 to unlock the bonus.
At $1 per spin, you'd pay $100 to access the feature.
At $2 per spin, that cost increases to $200.
At $5 per round, the price becomes $500.
Buying the feature isn't simply a shortcut to the bonus. It's a large investment in relation to your spin cost. Using this option means you're effectively packing the price of many spins into a single feature bet. The volatility of the session increases significantly because you're putting so much into each wager.
On the other hand, you get to skip the dozens or hundreds of spins spent trying to land those precious scatter symbols. This provides instant gratification and gives you immediate access to bigger potential wins.
Does buying the bonus impact RTP?
Feature buy slots aren't cheap when it comes to purchasing the feature. But there can be a silver lining in the form of better return to player (RTP).
Some slots have different RTPs between the base game and the bonus round. The feature usually has the higher payback, meaning you're plugging directly into this improved payout percentage.
For example, Olympus Hades Megaways isn't the highest RTP slot with 95.95% payback during base play. However, that figure jumps to 96.43% RTP during Hades Free Spins. While you'll pay 75x to access this bonus, the 0.48% bump in payback is still nice.
When bonus buy slots make sense: bankroll considerations & session goals
Bonus buy slot machines are best when you're willing to brave extreme volatility in exchange for larger possible wins.
Volatile online casino games for real money always have the potential to quickly drain your bankroll. If you're willing to temper expectations for how long a session will last, then you won't be surprised by an abrupt ending.
I recommend deciding on a session limit before you start playing, like in the following example:
You're playing a slot with a $0.20 minimum bet and a 50x bonus buy cost.
0.2 x 50 = $10 per feature at the minimum wager.
You have a $300 bankroll.
You're only willing to risk one-third of your bankroll for the session.
300 / 3 = $100 session bankroll.
100 / 10 = 10 bonus buys for the session.
Bonus rounds aren't usually all-or-nothing affairs. Most of your feature wins will at least return some of the buy-in cost.
You should get plenty of chances to play the bonus round in this case. Of course, your funds likely won't last nearly as long versus flat betting $0.20 per round.
When to skip bonus buys: the variance trap for small bankrolls
Even the best bonus buy slots can become dangerous rather quickly with a small bankroll. Variance is extreme with feature buys, and 1–2 bonus rounds can end your gaming session in no time.
If you're somebody who enjoys getting more entertainment out of online slots sessions, then bonus buys aren't ideal. You might pump $50 into purchasing a feature, for example, only to get a $6 return.
A poor return could tempt you to buy the bonus again in hopes of recouping losses. If you've ever struggled with chasing losses, feature buy slots only increase the temptation.
The perfect scenario for playing these games is having a large bankroll that can withstand the volatility. When this isn't the case, I recommend progressive jackpot slots as an alternative. They offer explosive win potential without forcing you to swing for the fences in a single round.
Best bonus buy slots available at legal US online casinos
I've compiled a list of the best slots to buy the bonus after trying dozens of these games.
Some of my other favorites that are found at regulated U.S. casino apps include:
Extra Chilli Megaways – 50x feature buy; pays up to 24,236x in the bonus.
Gimme the Honey Megaways – 75x feature buy; pays up to 25,500x in the bonus.
Huff N' More Puff Grand – 60x feature buy; pays up to 10,000x in the bonus.
Olympus Zeus Megaways – 75x feature buy; pays up to 50,000x in the bonus.
Triple Cash Eruption – 130x Super Bonus buy; pays up to 1,000x in the bonus.
Wolf Legend Megaways – 75x feature buy; pays up to 50,000x in the bonus.
If you're interested in playing the best online slots with a feature buy option, then check out the casinos below. I personally play at these legal U.S. online casinos and can confirm that they have many of the best slots with the buy a bonus option.
Responsible gambling
All regulated online casinos in the U.S. offer tools to help players gamble responsibly. These options include limits on deposits, wagers, logins, and sessions. Self-exclusion is also available for players who need to spend months or years away from their online gambling accounts.
