A bonus buy lets you pay a fixed price to skip the base game and go straight to the free spins. It sounds like a shortcut. In practice, it is the fastest way to spend a slot budget.
The short answer
- What it is: a button that starts the bonus round straight away for a fixed price.
- The price: shown as a multiple of your stake, usually somewhere between 80x and 250x.
- The RTP: the buy often has its own RTP, which can be higher or lower than the base game.
- The risk: one buy can cost as much as 100 or more normal spins, all at once.
- Availability: not offered to UK players, and restricted in some other markets.
How a bonus buy works
- You choose a stake first. The buy price is a multiple of it, so at a 1 stake, a 100x buy costs 100.
- You pay once. The bonus round starts immediately, with no base game spins.
- The bonus pays what it pays. Some buys return less than the price, many return a lot less, and a few return far more.
- Some slots offer several buys. Higher tiers cost more and start with better conditions, such as more scatters or a stronger feature.
Real examples from slots we’ve reviewed
| Slot | Buy price | Buy RTP | Base RTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power of Thor Megaways | 100x | 96.97% | Up to 96.55% |
| Mental | 80x | 96.26% | Up to 96.06% |
| Release the Kraken 2, standard | 100x | 96.03% | Not confirmed |
| Release the Kraken 2, VIP | 250x | 96.05% | Not confirmed |
| Itero, Wrath of Jupiter | 129x | About 96.2% | Not confirmed |
| Itero, Gift from the Gods | 200x | About 96.25% | Not confirmed |
RTP Warning: These figures are the published or listed settings. Casinos can run lower versions. Always check the game info panel before you buy.
What a bonus buy really costs
The long-run cost of a buy is its price multiplied by the house edge (100% minus the buy RTP).
- Power of Thor Megaways: 100x at 96.97% costs about 3.03x your stake per buy on average.
- Mental: 80x at 96.26% costs about 2.99x per buy.
- Release the Kraken 2 VIP: 250x at 96.05% costs about 9.88x per buy.
- Itero Gift from the Gods: 200x at about 96.25% costs about 7.5x per buy.
What this means: per unit staked, a buy at a higher RTP is slightly cheaper over the long run. But you stake 80 to 250 times as much in one go, so your money runs out far sooner.
Why buys feel better than they are
- No waiting: the dull part of the session disappears, so it is easy to lose track of how much you’ve spent.
- Big numbers: a 40x return on a 100x buy feels like a win on screen, but it’s a 60x loss.
- Short sessions: a 200-unit budget lasts 200 spins at 1 per spin, but only 2 buys at 100x.
- Volatility goes up: results swing more because each decision is so large.
A worked example
Say your budget is 200 and your stake is 1.
- Spinning normally: about 200 spins. At a 96% RTP, the expected loss is about 8.
- Buying at 100x: 2 buys. At 96.97%, the expected loss is about 6, but the range of outcomes is enormous. Losing most of the 200 in two buys is common.
- The takeaway: the long-run cost can be similar, but the buy session ends in minutes and the swings are much bigger.
When a bonus buy might make sense
- You’ve already set a fixed entertainment budget and chosen in advance how many buys it covers.
- The buy RTP is confirmed in the game info, and it’s at least as good as the base game.
- You accept that most buys return less than the price.
When to avoid bonus buys
- You’re chasing losses. A buy is the quickest way to deepen them.
- You’re on a small budget. One or two buys can end the session.
- You can’t see the buy RTP. Without it, you don’t know the price you’re paying.
- You’re in a market where buys aren’t allowed, such as the UK. Use the normal game instead.
Set a deposit limit with your casino before trying any bonus buy. If gambling stops being fun, take a break and use the support links in our footer.
Related guides
- RTP explained: What is RTP?
- Risk explained: Slot volatility guide