Slots with Bonus Buy
Bonus buy slots let you skip the wait for special features and jump straight into free spins or other high-value rounds for a set price. They are popular among Canadian players, but rules differ depending on the province. To play responsibly, you should understand how they work, how much they cost, and the risks involved.
What Are Bonus Buy Slots?
Bonus buy slots are regular online slots with an extra feature: you can pay a fixed multiple of your stake to access the bonus instantly instead of waiting for scatter symbols. Depending on the game, the buy price can start at 40x your bet and go up to 500x or even more for “super” versions. Once purchased, the bonus round plays out exactly as if you had triggered it naturally.
In Canada, availability depends on licensing. International casinos with licences from the Malta Gaming Authority, Curaçao eGaming, or the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission generally allow bonus buys. In Ontario, casinos regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) restrict or disable these features in some games, so not every slot with a bonus buy button elsewhere will include it there.
You’re not improving the odds when buying bonuses—you’re paying to speed up access to high-volatility features.
How Do Bonus Buy Games Work?
When you click the buy button, the slot either launches directly into free spins or guarantees that the required bonus symbols land on the next spin. The math remains the same as in the base game. Return to Player (RTP) is often identical, though in some games it is adjusted slightly for bought features. Check the info panel of each slot to confirm the figure used by your casino.
This means that bonus buys don’t guarantee bigger wins. They simply condense the risk and variance into a shorter period.
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Popular Slots with Bonus Buy
With thousands of games now offering bonus buys, here are some notable options that combine strong payouts with exciting features. Always check the paytable and volatility before buying.
- White Rabbit Megaways: Step into the tale of Alice in Wonderland, with 248,832 possible wins each round and a maximum win of 10,000 times your bet. This colourful game from Big Time Gaming has high volatility and a payout rate of over 97%. Buy the bonus for 100x your bet, and watch for the pink cakes that expand the reels!
- Money Train: Set in the Wild West, this popular game from Relax Gaming is the first in a series. With a payout rate over 96%, 40 paylines, and a max win of 20,000 times your bet, it’s packed with potential. If you don’t want to wait for free spins, pay 80x your bet to enter the bonus round.
- Extra Chilli: Another well-known Megaways game from Big Time Gaming, offering up to 117,649 win ways, high volatility, and nearly 97% in payout rate. The top prize is 20,000 times the bet, with a growing multiplier helping you hit wins. Buy the bonus for only 50x your bet and gamble for even more free spins.
- Sweet Bonanza: This game from Pragmatic Play has been a top favourite for years with its colourful theme. With over 96% payout rate, medium volatility, and a max win of 21,000x, this slot also offers an extra bet feature to double the chance of winning free spins.
- Medusa Megaways: Face the mythical creature from Greek mythology in this game from NextGen, which can reward up to 50,000x your bet. With a payout rate over 97% and high volatility, it delivers intense play from the start. Buy free spins for 100x your bet, watch the multiplier grow, and reset if you’re not satisfied.
- Dead or Alive 2: Another Wild West-inspired slot, this time from NetEnt. It offers a 96.80% payout rate, high volatility, 9 paylines, and a massive top prize of over 100,000 times your bet. Invest 100x your bet in a round of free spins for the biggest wins, with five different wild symbols in play.
- Ramses Revenge: Explore the ancient Egyptian temple and see if you can find Ramses’ treasures! This slot from Relax Gaming offers a payout rate of over 96%, sharp graphics, animated features, high volatility, and 4,096 ways to win. If you don’t want to wait for the right symbols, you can buy a round of free spins for 80x your stake, with walking wilds helping you raid the treasure chamber!
- Money Train 2: Make time for this sequel to the popular Wild West game from Relax Gaming. With a 96% payout rate, high volatility, and a max win of 50,000 times your stake, this game delivers action-packed play with 40 fixed paylines. Buy the bonus for 100x your stake to access endless free spins with high multipliers and unique features.
- Genie Jackpots Megaways: Meet the friendly genie and enjoy various bonus features in this slot from Blueprint Gaming. With a payout rate of over 96%, up to 15,625 possible ways to win each round, and high volatility, this game is worth a look. Buy the bonus for 100x your stake and choose from four different features, each with generous rewards of up to 250,000 coins.
- 300 Shields Extreme: Another top game from NextGen, inspired by ancient Greece. Feel like a true Spartan as the 95% payout rate, high volatility, 25 lines, and max win of up to 17,000x your stake move you through each round. The bonus buy costs only 60x your bet and offers different levels, each with unique multipliers, up to 300x at the highest level!
How Much Does a Bonus Buy Cost?
Bonus buy prices vary widely. Standard options usually range from 50x to 120x your stake, while advanced versions can exceed 500x. Here’s an example: if you bet $1 and the bonus costs 100x, you’ll spend $100 on a single round. Ten such rounds equal $1,000 at risk, often within minutes. This is why bankroll planning is crucial.
Below is a table with popular bonus buy slots available to Canadian players and their typical costs:
| Name | Provider | Payout Rate | Bonus Buy Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fat Panda | Pragmatic Play | 96% | 70/300x |
| Cash Truck 2 | Quickspin | 96% | 85/250x |
| Toro Shogun | ELK Studios | 94% | 100/500x |
| Fire in the Hole | Nolimit City | 94% | 60/157/500x |
| Sword of Shoguns | Thunderkick | 96% | 120x |
| Piñata Wildz | Booming Games | 95% | 70x |
| Sticky Bees | Pragmatic Play | 95% | 100x |
| Dead Riders Trail | Relax Gaming | 96% | 50/90/250x |
| Mighty Masks | Hacksaw Gaming | 96% | 40/120x |
| Big Bamboo | Push Gaming | 95% | 99/179/300/608x |
| Starburst XXXtreme | NetEnt | 96% | 10/95x |
| Cluster Tumble | Relax Gaming | 96% | 100/200x |
| Country Farming | Pragmatic Play | 96% | 100x |
| Everest | Four Leaf Gaming | 96% | 60x |
| Mental | Nolimit City | 96% | 80/230/1000x |
| Dead Man’s Gold | ELK Studios | 94% | 100/500x |
| Pho Sho | Betsoft | 94% | 90/126/160x |
| Raptor Doublemax | Yggdrasil | 96% | 100x |
| Wicked Kitty | Fantasma Games | 94% | 65x |
| Cash Defence | Print Studios | 96% | 28/94x |
Note: Many providers include multiple buy levels, each with different volatility and rewards.
Canadian Regulations
Ontario follows strict AGCO standards. All online slots must spin for at least 2.5 seconds, autoplay is disabled, and certain bonus buys are not permitted. Because of this, Ontario players may notice missing buttons or modified versions of popular games. In other provinces, bonus buys are usually available on international casino sites, but it still depends on the operator’s licence and the game’s configuration.
Controversies and Risks
Bonus buys draw criticism because they compress risk into fewer spins, making it easier to spend large amounts quickly. Regulators argue this can fuel unhealthy habits. Remember that buying a feature does not change the odds—your expected return remains the same as playing normally, but you face larger swings in a shorter time.
Set a clear limit on how many buys you will make and stick to it. A good rule is to only buy with winnings rather than deposits.
Things to Keep in Mind
Budget Management
Decide on a maximum spend before playing and stick to it.
Understand Game Mechanics
Review volatility, RTP, and slot features in the paytable.
Use Personal Limits
Set deposit caps, loss limits, or session timers where available.
Test in Demo Mode
Try the game for free before paying to buy bonuses. Learn the pace and features risk-free.
Not sure how “demo” play compares to promotional spins? Here’s the difference between free demo games and free spins.
Pros and Cons of Bonus Buys
-
Pros
- Instant entry into bonus features
- More control over gameplay pace
- Chance to trigger high-value rounds without waiting
- Helpful for learning a slot’s bonus mechanics
-
Cons
- High upfront costs per feature
- Returns often don’t cover investment
- Higher risk of fast spending
- Restricted in Ontario and some other markets
- Volatile results can lead to long losing streaks
Popular Providers of Bonus Buy Slots
Several developers consistently include bonus buy options in their games:
- Pragmatic Play: A leading studio with hundreds of titles, most including bonus buy features.
- Quickspin: Known for detailed mechanics and games like Cash Truck 2 with multiple buy levels.
- Yggdrasil: Offers feature buys in series such as Vikings and Raptor Doublemax.
- Nolimit City: All releases come with bold themes and buy options, often at multiple price points.
The Future of Bonus Buys
Bonus buys are not going away. Developers continue to add flexible levels and unique twists, while regulators keep debating how these features should be offered. Canadian players should expect continued variety on international sites, while Ontario will likely keep tighter restrictions.
Summary
Bonus buy slots offer a shortcut to free spins and bonus rounds, but they come at a high price. They are best used in moderation with strict limits in place. In Canada, your access depends on the casino’s licence—international sites usually allow them, while Ontario-licensed casinos may restrict or remove them. Always check the game info screen before you play.
