The Ultimate Guide to Bonus Buys: Is Instant Access Worth the Cost?

Technically, buying the bonus does not increase your probability of a winning outcome relative to the math model, but it does guarantee immediate access to the game’s highest-paying symbols and mechanics. While the Hit Frequency for a natural bonus trigger might be 1 in 200 spins, a Bonus Buy reduces that "wait time" to zero. However, because you are paying a high premium (often 100x your bet), you start the round at a significant financial deficit that requires a high-multiplier win just to break even.

Many developers, such as Hacksaw Gaming or Relax Gaming, design "Dual RTP" profiles where the Feature Buy offers a slightly higher percentage (e.g., 96.50% vs 96.20%). This is because the Bonus Buy removes the "dead spin" cycles of the base game, focusing purely on the feature’s payout logic. While this looks better on paper, the Extreme Volatility of these rounds means your actual session return can vary wildly compared to the theoretical average.

A Bonus Buy is a flat-fee purchase that guarantees a feature trigger on the very next spin. An Ante Bet (often called a "Feature Chance" or "Double Chance" button) is a smaller per-spin premium—usually an extra 25% to 50% on top of your stake. The Ante Bet does not guarantee a bonus but increases the weight of scatter symbols on the reels, making a "natural" trigger more likely while keeping the base game active.

For high volatility slots, Bonus Buys are high-risk/high-reward. Since high-variance games concentrate their "Max Win" potential within the bonus round, buying the feature is the fastest way to chase the top jackpot. However, these games also have the highest "bust rate," meaning you are more likely to see a "zero-pay" or a return far below your purchase price. At Chase the Scatter, we recommend only using this feature if your bankroll can sustain at least 5 to 10 consecutive buys.

If you are playing from the United Kingdom, Germany, or The Netherlands, you likely won't see the Bonus Buy option. This is due to local regulations (such as those from the UKGC) that ban the feature to protect players from rapid losses. Even if the game provider includes the mechanic globally, online casinos must disable it in these jurisdictions to remain compliant with responsible gambling laws.