Bonus buy slots are online slot games that let players pay a fixed price to enter a bonus round immediately. Also called feature buys or feature drops, these mechanics remove the wait for a naturally triggered bonus and provide direct access to some of a slot’s most entertaining features.
For players in markets where the feature is permitted, bonus buys can offer a fast route to free spins, bigger multipliers, cascading wins, expanding wilds, prize wheels, and, in some games, jackpot opportunities. The trade-off is the cost: a feature buy can be expensive, often priced at up to 100 times the regular stake or more, depending on the game and the version offered by the operator.
Understanding the price, volatility, return-to-player percentage, local rules, and total session budget is essential. This guide explains what bonus buy slots are, how the different formats work, and why players in Great Britain should not encounter them at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.
