The bonus buy mechanic lets you skip to a slot's bonus round immediately by paying a fixed multiple of your bet. Available at MGA-licensed casinos for Irish players (banned in the UK since 2019), it is one of the most searched-for features in online slots. This guide explains how it works, what it really costs, and what Irish players need to know in 2026.
How the Bonus Buy Mechanic Works
Most video slots have a bonus feature triggered by landing scatter symbols (typically 3 or more across the reels). The probability of naturally landing these scatters is built into the game's RNG. A bonus buy bypasses this:
- You pay a fixed multiple of your current bet (typically 50x–200x) to immediately trigger the bonus round.
- The bonus round plays identically to a naturally triggered one — same free spins, same multiplier mechanics, same RNG.
- The cost reflects the mathematical value of skipping the base game to reach the bonus.
The Real Cost — Maths Explained
Suppose a game's bonus round is triggered on average every 300 spins at 1x bet per spin. The expected cost to reach the bonus naturally is 300 spins × €1 = €300. The bonus buy price is set to reflect this expected cost — often priced at a slight premium (e.g. 100x bet = €100 for a game where the bonus RTP portion equates to approximately that cost). The bonus buy does not improve your expected return; it removes the variance of waiting and pays a known upfront cost.
Key point: You are paying for certainty and immediacy, not improved odds. The RTP of a purchased bonus equals the bonus portion RTP of the game.
Bonus Buy vs UK Players
The UKGC banned bonus buys in October 2019 on the grounds that they can accelerate gambling and may appeal to vulnerable players. Ireland has no equivalent ban as of November 2026 — MGA-licensed casinos available to Irish players can offer bonus buys. This is a regulatory difference, not a reflection on safety; at a licensed, MGA-regulated casino, the game's RNG and RTP are independently certified regardless.
Well-Known Bonus Buy Slots
| Game | Developer | Typical Buy Cost | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 100x bet | High |
| Gates of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 100x bet | High |
| Book of Dead | Play'n GO | Varies | High |
| Reactoonz | Play'n GO | Varies | High |
| Fire in the Hole | Nolimit City | Up to 300x bet | Very High |
Not an endorsement. Verify availability and buy cost in-game. 18+ only.
Casino Bonus Funds and Bonus Buys
Most casinos exclude bonus buy features when playing with promotional funds. When you have an active casino bonus, the bonus buy button is typically disabled or excluded in the terms. This is standard practice. If you want to use the bonus buy feature, play with real money rather than bonus funds.
Bonus buy slots available, full game library. Fast payouts. 18+ only, T&Cs apply.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A bonus buy lets you pay a fixed multiple of your bet (typically 50x–200x) to trigger the game's bonus round immediately, bypassing the need to land scatter symbols. The bought bonus plays identically to a naturally triggered one.
No. The bonus buy is priced to reflect the statistical cost of triggering the bonus naturally. You pay for certainty and immediacy, not improved odds. The RTP of the bought bonus equals the bonus portion RTP of the game.
Yes. Unlike the UK (where bonus buys were banned in October 2019), Ireland has no equivalent prohibition. MGA-licensed casinos available to Irish players can offer bonus buy slots.
Most casinos exclude bonus buys when playing with bonus funds — the button is disabled or excluded in the terms. Use real money if you want to access the bonus buy feature.