Bonus Buy Feature: What You Need to Know

The Bonus Buy feature lets players pay a fixed price to jump straight into a slot’s bonus round, rather than waiting to trigger it by normal spins. Prices are usually shown as a multiple of your base bet or as a fixed credit amount, and the purchase immediately triggers free spins, respins, or other bonus mechanics. That convenience sounds good on paper, but it changes how you manage risk, and it can change short-term results dramatically.

How providers price the purchase — common patterns

Different studios and titles handle buy pricing differently. Many games set the buy at a multiplier of the current stake — commonly somewhere between 30x and 100x the base bet for free-spin buys — though exact numbers vary by game, version, and jurisdiction. Some games reveal the expected payout profile for the buy; others do not. Because providers and casinos set the terms, always check the buy price in the game’s paytable before committing real money.

Rewards and real benefits

Paying for a bonus round gives you:

Immediate access to a game’s highest payout mode, which can be efficient if you’re chasing a big hit in a limited session.
Clear control of how much you’re spending to try for bonus-round outcomes.
Potentially higher win variance in a short session, since bonus rounds often concentrate payout potential.

If you like short, decisive sessions and understand the cost per attempt, Bonus Buy can be a useful tool. For a deeper sense of how a bonus round plays out in practice, check a title’s review — for example, see our Big Bass Bonanza Megaways Slots write-up.

Risks, bankroll impact, and volatility

Buying bonuses raises volatility. Every purchase is effectively one concentrated gamble: you’re trading multiple spins for one high-variance attempt. That means:

Faster bankroll depletion if you don’t hit.
Bigger up-and-down swings than pure base-play.
Potentially worse long-term value versus patient play, depending on the game’s math and buy pricing.

Not every slot offers a Bonus Buy. Simple classics, like the 3-reel Captain Cash Slots, usually don’t have purchased bonus rounds — they’re designed around short spins and steady play. Read our Captain Cash Slots review to see what that style looks like.

What to check before you hit “Buy”

Before you commit, verify:

The buy price relative to your standard bet and total bankroll.
Whether the game lists a different RTP when using the buy feature, or any provider notes about expected returns.
Maximum bet limits, coin sizes, and session-size risk (e.g., Big Bass Bonanza Megaways has a max bet of $100 and up to 25 free spins in its free-spins feature).
Casino and jurisdiction rules — some regulated US casinos disable buy features or limit them by state.
Any bonus and wallet rules on the platform you’re using; promotional credits or sweepstakes currency often can’t be used on buy features.

Bonus Buy and promotional currencies — a cautionary note

Platforms that use promotional coins or sweepstakes currency handle purchases differently. For example, Fliff Sportsbook uses Fliff Coins and Fliff Cash in its promotional ecosystem, has a Welcome Purchase Bonus code (“VIBONUS”) that gives $300 in Fliff Coins for a $100 purchase as of January 24, 2026, and offers no slots or live casino on the platform. Because Fliff Coins are for promotional play and not redeemable for cash, they won’t substitute for real-money purchases on casino titles, and Fliff’s product is sportsbook-focused. Read more about Fliff Sportsbook to learn about its promos and limits.

Strategy tips that actually help

Treat each buy as its own line item in your budget. Decide beforehand how many buys you’ll attempt per session, and don’t exceed that cap.
Consider smaller bet sizes if the buy cost scales with your stake; you can run more buy attempts and reduce variance per attempt.
Compare historical hit frequencies and payout variance for the bonus round if that data is available.
Don’t use promotional credits or sweepstakes balances without confirming they’re accepted for buy features.
Remember that wins from purchased bonuses are not guaranteed; play responsibly and set loss limits.

Terms, regulation, and fair play

Always read the game’s paytable and the casino’s terms and conditions. Regulated US platforms are required to disclose game rules and certain limits, but not all buy features are allowed in every state. Check your state’s rules, the casino’s T&Cs, and any wagering or cashout limits tied to promotional balances before you buy. The math behind a bonus buy can look good in one session, but there’s no substitute for understanding the odds and the cost-per-attempt.

For many players, Bonus Buy is a powerful option when used with discipline — it accelerates access to big bonus mechanics, but it also concentrates risk. Treat it like a deliberate strategy choice, not a shortcut to guaranteed payouts, and keep terms and responsible-play limits front of mind as you play.