Bonus Buy Feature: What You Need to Know

The Bonus Buy (also called Feature Buy) is a game option that lets you pay a fixed price to trigger a slot’s bonus round or free spins instead of waiting to land the required scatter combination. It’s designed for players who want immediate access to the most exciting parts of a slot — the free spins, multipliers, or special bonus mini-games — without relying on luck to trigger them naturally.

How it actually works on a practical level

When a game offers a Bonus Buy, the price is usually shown in the game info or on the spin screen. That price is often expressed as a multiple of your current bet — for example, 50x, 100x, or 200x your bet — and when you confirm the purchase the round starts right away under the bonus rules. Many modern slots support a range of buy options (full buy, half-buy, or even a “respin” buy), so always read the feature description before you confirm.

How to calculate the cost in real money (easy formula)

To estimate a buy cost you need two pieces of info: your bet per spin and the buy multiplier.

Bet per spin = coin size × coins per line × number of paylines.
Buy cost = bet per spin × buy multiplier.

Example: Rumpel Wildspins Slots has 20 paylines and coinsPerLine = 1. If you set coin size to $0.05, your bet per spin is $0.05 × 1 × 20 = $1. A 100x feature buy would cost $100. You can preview and change coin sizes in the game before you buy. See the Rumpel Wildspins Slots review for game details and bet options.

Does buying the bonus change RTP or volatility?

It depends. Some providers keep the base RTP identical whether you trigger the feature naturally or buy it, while others offer a separate advertised RTP for the feature-buy path. Volatility effectively increases when you buy because you skip base-game variability and invest a lump sum into a single outcome. Always check the in-game help or provider info for any RTP differences before you buy. If the game includes multiple buy levels, each may have different risk/reward characteristics. For a game-by-game look, check titles like Magic Princess Slots.

Smart strategy: when a Bonus Buy makes sense

Buying a bonus can be attractive if:

You have a specific bankroll and want to target bonus rounds only.
Free spins or bonus rounds are where the majority of a game’s payout potential sits.
You’re testing a volatile game and want many samples of the bonus round quickly.

But consider the downsides: a feature buy concentrates risk into a single transaction, it can drain your bankroll fast, and it removes the thrill of natural triggers. Use smaller buy multipliers, or practice in demo mode before spending real money.

Pitfalls, rules, and things to check first

Before buying:

Confirm the buy price and how it’s calculated at your chosen bet level.
Check whether the feature-buy alters RTP, and whether that RTP applies to real-money play in your region.
Review any limits on maximum buy amounts or how feature wins count toward promotions.
Look at wagering or sweepstakes rules if you’re playing at sweepstakes-style sites; promotional modes can have separate redemptions and playthroughs.
Make sure your casino allows feature buys in your state and that the game provider supports the buy option for regulated play.

If you play at Scarlet Sands Casino, for example, check the game listings and support pages for local availability and rules before you buy.

Money management tips for feature buys

Treat Bonus Buys like high-risk plays. Limit how much of your bankroll you’ll spend on buys, and set per-session caps. Consider spreading your budget across several smaller buys rather than one oversized purchase, and always use demo mode to confirm the bonus mechanics and entertainment value before staking real money.

Responsible play and legal checks

Feature buys can accelerate wins and losses. Use deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion tools if you feel the urge to chase buys. Also verify that the operator and games are licensed for your state and that local rules permit feature buys. If you’re unsure, contact casino support or consult the operator’s terms.

Quick checklist before you hit “Buy”

Confirm bet size and compute the buy cost.
Check RTP and whether the buy path has a different RTP.
Review casino and provider rules for feature buys and promotions.
Try the bonus in demo mode first.
Set strict bankroll limits and stick to them.

Want a closer look at how specific games present their bonuses? Read the Rumpel Wildspins Slots review and the Magic Princess Slots review to see how free spins and bonus mechanics play out in popular titles.