Bonus Buy Pokies in Australia

How Bonus Buy Slots Work

Bonus Buy is a relatively new feature in online pokies. It allows you to directly purchase entry into the bonus round without spinning and waiting for it to trigger. As such, this feature eliminates the standard pokie mechanic where playing the main game in the hopes of landing a combination that activates the bonus. Instead, you pay a set fee upfront to immediately access the bonus feature, so you can bypass the potential hundreds of spins needed to activate the game’s bonus round organically.

Only playing the bonus game sounds like an easy pathway to riches, as most online pokies’ maximum wins can be found here. But you must remember that using the Bonus Buy feature isn’t for free, and the price can be steep.

You may find pokie games where the Bonus Buy feature costs as little as 50x the base bet. But, the average is 100x, although it can also be far more expensive. This means that to profit from the bonus you must win more than 100x of your base bet during the bonus, which can be a tall order. It can be done, of course, but it’s just as likely that you’ll win less and sometimes nothing.

Pros of Bonus Buy Slots

Using the Bonus Buy feature offers many benefits, and here, we’ll explore all the main ones. Consider these points when deciding if Bonus Buy is the right strategy for you.

1. Instant Access to Bonus Rounds: Most players who play pokie games do so to trigger the bonus, since this is where most big wins await. Bonus games are always the most exciting part of the game and where you can expect the biggest thrills. The Bonus Buy feature allows you to enter it whenever you want, and you can bypass the main game altogether.
2. Increased Chances of High Payouts: Bonus rounds often come with multipliers and other special features, increasing the potential for more significant wins. These features are usually rare or unavailable in the base game. So, if you aim to get the maximum payout in a pokie, the bonus game is where you’re likely to get it.
3. No Dependence on Luck for Triggers: Even though the bonus round in many pokies might trigger every 200 spins on average, there is no guarantee of this happening. Experienced players know that playing 500 or more spins is not uncommon without landing a bonus game. With the Bonus Buy feature, you can bypass all the seemingly endless spins required to get to the long-awaited bonus.
4. Customisable Options: Some slots allow you to choose from different bonus rounds using the Bonus Buy feature. For example, you can choose between different volatility levels or choose to buy the jackpot feature or a free spins game. In pokies with these options, you’ll often get a random bonus version if you trigger it organically from the base game.
5. Potential Faster Return on Investment: If you win big on one or several Bonus Buys in a short sequence, you can substantially boost your bankroll. Increasing your bankroll by an equal amount can often take hundreds or thousands of spins if you only play the standard main game.
6. Access to Exclusive Features: Some pokies have Bonus Buy features where you can buy boosted bonus rounds. These are often perks gained by triggering the bonus by more than the minimum required bonus symbols. For example, you may get extra spins, more wilds, or any other feature that allows for more or bigger wins.

Cons of Bonus Buy Slots

Bonus Buys are exciting, potentially rewarding, and offer the biggest thrills during your pokie play sessions. But it’s not as simple as being fast-tracked to big wins, as it also has its downsides. Let’s dive into the pitfalls that await when using this game mechanic.

1. High Buy-in Cost: Bonus Buy features often require a significant upfront payment. The typical cost is 100x your base game bet, but it can also go much higher, like 500x your bet. This means you need a big win to recover the cost and a massive win to make a profit.
2. No Guarantee of Wins: Even though you’ll likely get a big win from a bonus round, there are no guarantees it will happen. If unlucky, you can win just a small amount or nothing at all. If this happens, you’ve wasted a large amount on the bonus instead of collecting the wins you could have gotten by wagering on regular spins in the base game.
3. Increased Volatility: Bonus Buy slots tend to be highly volatile, meaning the results can swing drastically between big wins and substantial losses. And, as in all high-volatility pokies, the bonus game can be even more volatile than the base game. You can get lucky and get a huge win, but you can also hit an unlucky streak, winning next to nothing on many bonus rounds in a row.
4. Erosion of Bankroll: Repeatedly using the Bonus Buy feature can quickly deplete your bankroll. Since the cost of each bonus is high, you can quickly lose hundreds of dollars if the bonuses aren’t paying out enough to recover your cost. The fact that you can lose a lot in just a matter of minutes is one of the reasons why this feature is considered high-risk from a responsible gambling perspective.
5. Reduced Enjoyment of Base Game: Modern slot games are made for enjoyment. They have intricate and detailed graphics, a soundtrack reflecting suspenseful moments in the game, and lots of different game mechanics and bonus features to keep you engaged. The highs and lows make them fun to play, which is why players love them.

By repeatedly using the Bonus Buy feature, you keep the thrills at max for an extended period, which dulls your senses and makes the base game seem boring. This again takes away the enjoyment of the game, and it becomes more about gambling and winning big than about having a good time.

Responsible Gambling Considerations

The Bonus Buy feature raises a lot of responsible gambling concerns. The ability to repeatedly buy into bonus rounds can quickly deplete your bankroll, as the upfront cost and the thrill of chasing big wins may lead to overspending. This makes it essential to set limits before playing and stick to a predefined budget for Bonus Buys.

Bonus Buy slots may also encourage higher stakes as you attempt to maximise potential rewards. Without careful planning, this can lead to unsustainable betting and significant losses.

One of the greatest concerns, along with the potential big wins, is the speed at which you can lose a large amount. This game feature is one of the worst ones for players who are susceptive to chasing losses. Knowing that one lucky bonus game can be enough to win back all your losses is a powerful thought to overcome, and it often proves too much, especially to players who are already vulnerable to problematic gambling behaviours.

Since the Bonus Buy mechanic is considered one of the most harmful features of online pokies, from a responsible gambling perspective, several gambling authorities have banned it. This means that players in certain countries cannot buy a bonus.

We in Australia have access to the feature. If you want to use it, consider setting daily, weekly, or session-based limits to maintain control. Many online casinos also provide tools like deposit and loss limits to help manage spending.

Is Bonus Buy the Fast Track to Big Wins?

Bonus Buy slots offer the chance for big wins but come with significant risks. These high-volatility games always have uncertain outcomes, and the bonus round doesn’t always guarantee a payout that covers the buy-in cost.

These slots’ high-risk, high-reward nature can lead to dramatic bankroll swings. A single spin might deliver a substantial win, while the next could result in a total loss. This volatility might appeal if you enjoy the thrill of chasing big wins, but you must also accept the risk of losing your investment if the bonus round falls short.

Your experiences will vary widely from bonus round to bonus round and from game session to game session. Sometimes, you’ll win big, and other times, you might have devastating losses. The one thing that’s always for sure is that it’s all up to Lady Luck, and you can’t count on her to always be on your side.

So use the Bonus Buy feature carefully, and walk away when you’ve won the amount you aimed for. While playing at any online casino, your luck will never hold forever, so cash out and take your wins when you get them.