Online pokies are perhaps the most popular casino game on the planet. Because so many people now play at online casinos, this type of game has exploded in popularity. It’s grown from the days of old-fashioned offline penny slot machines to state-of-the-art 3D video slots, with immersive gameplay, interactive bonuses, and incredible ways to win.
One of the most extraordinary inventions to come out of the world of slots is the bonus buy. This revolutionary system allows players to skip waiting for the free spins and jump straight into the action. In our bonus buy slots guide, we go over all the details of this game style and show you the best casinos to play these games in 2021.
What Are Bonus Buy Slots?
A bonus buy slot is any online pokies game that lets you pay an upfront fee to enter into the bonus round/free spins. These types of games are relatively new and only came out in 2018. For players that don’t like waiting and want to test out the bonus features on different games, these type of slots represents a fantastic opportunity.
How Can I Play Them?
When you visit an online casino to sign up, look at their game menu. If the site offers bonus buy slots, they will have a dedicated lobby called Bonus Buy or Buy Feature. In this section, you can find all the titles that have the option to pre-purchase the free spins.
When you load into the game, there will be a bonus option, usually a star, to the left of the reels. Click this, and you will see the cost to buy the Feature at the current stake. You can choose to increase the stake & bonus buy price from this menu and click proceed to start the game.
What Are The Benefits Of Buying The Feature?
Just like any slot game, it comes down to luck. But some of the main benefits of buying the Feature are the ability to test out the bonus rounds on different titles. Usually, you would have to play each game, spinning the reels, until you hit the symbols and win the free spins. A bonus buy slot allows you to skip this waiting period, set your stake, and buy your way into the free spins feature.
By doing this at low-medium stakes, you can test out lots of different bonus buy pokies and see which ones offer the best bonus features, such as Scatters, Wilds, Sticky Wilds, Multipliers, Increasing Multipliers, and more. From here, you can then pick your new favourite games with the best winning potential.
How Much Do They Cost To Play?
The cost to buy the Feature varies depending on the title you’re playing. A buy-in amount determines the price, which is a multiplier of the bet. Typically on most games, this is between 20x-150x the stake. So, for example, if you wanted to play a bonus round at $1 spins on Western Gold Megaways, this would cost 50x, so an upfront cost of $50 would start the Feature and begin your adventure.
Some games like Infectious 5, San Quentin, and Aztec Gold Megaways offer incredible maximum wins over 25,000x the bet. These titles can be highly volatile, and the buy-in cost is much higher, usually 80-200x+. So be careful. Because of the volatility, it’s best to start with smaller stakes that you’re comfortable with. Then you can move up once you’ve had a nice win.
What Are The Best Bonus Buy Slots In 2021?
1. Infectious 5 xWays
Infectious 5 xWays is the latest release from NoLimit City and the perfect bonus buy slot to play in 2021. This comic-themed slot features superheroes, xWays, and one of the most captivating winning combo screens in a slots game. You can select from three bonus buy options, with varying stakes & rewards.
Features:
Software: NoLimit City
RTP: 96.02%
Betways: 1024 (up to 110,592)
Max Win: 55,555x
Bonus Buy Costs: 75x, 140x, 555x
2. Aztec Gold Megaways
Aztec Gold Megaways is a popular feature buy choice for many. It runs on the famous Megaways reel system, with over 117,000 ways to win. There are two bonus buy options, one for re-spins & increasing multipliers and one for a maximum megaways round.
Features:
Software: iSoftBet
RTP: 95.99%
Betways: Megaways (up to 117,649 ways)
Max Win: 19,200x
Bonus Buy Costs: 80x, 150x
3. Thor Infinity Reels
Thor Infinity Reels is a truly unique game and an excellent choice to buy the bonus. Featuring the Infinity Reels system, each time you win, a new reel appears on the right. You can generate powerful winning combos, and lucky players can win 888x the stake if they max out the reels in the main game or bonus round.
Features:
Software: Reel Play
RTP: 96.2%
Betways: Infinity Reels
Max Win: 6,055x
Bonus Buy Costs: 100x
4. El Paso Gunfight xWays
El Paso is an old-school Wild West theme slot that features some crazy ways to win cash. There are six bonus buy options. Each one has a different cost, ways to win, and volatility level. It’s best to try this one out small and see how you go first.
Features:
Software: NoLimit City
RTP: 94.09%
Betways: 216 (up to 43,334)
Max Win: 44,440x
Bonus Buy Costs: 80x, 238x, 300x, 400x, 400x, 800x
Do All Casino Sites Offer These Type Of Games?
No. Not all online casino sites offer bonus buy slots, which is a shame. Because they are relatively new, they will start to appear in more places soon, mainly due to how trendy these games are. All it takes is one YouTube search for a bonus buy slot, and you can see 1000’s of videos of gamers showcasing their wins.
If you’re looking to buy the Feature on slots in 2021, we’ve found some great sites with dedicated Bonus Buy/Buy Feature lobbies to make it easy to jump straight into the bonus action. You can check out Casino4u, Casino Rocket, FastPay, KatsuBet, and Wildblaster for the best feature buy selection in 2021.
Some Basic Bonus Buy Slot Tips
When playing online slots, it does come down to luck. Every player will approach a game differently. Some might want to have a quick hit and take the small winnings, while others are keen to keep playing until the free spins show up and hope for a more significant win. We’ve outlined some introductory bonus buy tips to keep in mind when playing these types of slot games.
Start Small: Don’t spend a lot of money when starting. Only bet what you can afford to lose and keep the game’s fun. If you have a big win, you can up the stakes for some more action without risking your initial stake.Test Different Titles: There are many different games where you can buy a feature, and many of them offer unique gameplay, excellent bonus rounds, and other ways to win. It’s wise to test out different bonus slots and determine which ones have the best free spins round and winning potential.Take Profit: If you have a massive win on a bonus buy slot, it’s a good idea to take some of the profit. It’s good to reward yourself for your lucky streak, and you can buy something nice. You can always leave a chunk in your balance so you can keep your bonus buy slot journey going.Don’t Always Expect A Big Win: Slot games a highly volatile. Sometimes you can win big, and sometimes you can win nothing at all. This same principle applies to bonus buys. Just because you’re in the Feature it doesn’t guarantee you a win. Keep this in mind when playing, and try to find the best RTP % and max payout titles for the best potential.Have Fun: This one sounds silly, but it’s true. Online slots are entertaining & fun. Bonus buys increase the action and excitement. So when you’re playing online, sit back, relax, play at affordable stakes, and enjoy the games.
Conclusion
Bonus buy slots are all the rage this year and with good reason. They offer a way to increase the adrenaline when playing exciting slots games. You can find 100’s of bonus buy games to play at reputable online casinos and we recommend trying a few out to find your new favourite game.
Like all forms of gambling, be responsible and only play with money you can afford to lose. These games are great fun, and it’s best to play within your limits and get the most entertainment and value.
