Why are bonus buy slots so popular?

Published on 04/14/2025 09:09:03

(Image source)

In the rapidly emerging online casino world, new games, platforms, and features are constantly being introduced to keep the industry evolving. From lurking in the background as simply an entertainment option, online casinos have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence and now feature as one of the most sought-after entertainment avenues in the increasingly influential online world.

However, amongst all the exhilarating elements of game play and exciting animations that new-age online casino games pack into their offerings in abundance, there is one game and one feature in particular that is catching the attention of players and individual online casino markets around the world.

Online slots statistically rank as the most popular online casino game on a global scale due to their simplicity and entertainment factors and due to the fact there are thousands of unique titles to choose from with distinctive styles of game play and in-game objectives. One aspect of game play that particularly appeals to online casino enthusiasts in the virtual slots aisle is the idea of levelling up and potentially play for greater rewards. This is where a little feature called bonus buy comes into its element.

Bag mind-boggling bonuses

Since the first bonus buy game was introduced in 2017 following the release of White Rabbit by Big Time Gaming, the slightly controversial feature has been a significant driver in the success of online slots over the past few years. Bonus buy games are slots where you can buy bonus rounds by investing more of your own finance and therefore skip the steps it would normally take to unlock a bonus round. Bonus rounds tend to offer players the opportunity to play with higher multipliers and win free spins that provide more chances for success.

No guarantees

However, triggering bonus buy rounds does not guarantee success or wins but simply gives players the opportunity to gain greater rewards. The concept of buying bonus rounds was immediately put under the spotlight by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), who subsequently banned bonus buy games from UK-licensed online casinos in 2019. The decision was made to protect players who were at risk of gambling addiction and to help players remain more in control of their finances.

So far, only the Netherlands have followed the example set by the UK, with Sweden currently debating whether they should also ban bonus buy games within their borders. Despite the laws enforced by the UK and Netherlands, players are still finding alternative avenues to access bonus buy slots on international online casinos.

Increased responsibility promoting greater trust

The UK and the Netherlands are recognised as two of the stricter online casino regulators in the world, but their decisions have been taken with the safety of players in mind. However, this does not necessarily mean that other markets are in the wrong and performing otherwise. In countries worldwide where bonus buy slots games are legal and available, the level of responsibility to the player does not change. With more markets pushing through legislation to regulate online casino play and subsequently joining a bulging market, the emphasis on safe gambling has never been greater.

Although bonus buy games require an additional layer of investment, online casinos also have a duty to remain on top of any players entering the “risk zone.” Not just for bonus buy games, but for online casino play overall, the levels of trust in the activity have improved vastly over recent years due to the increased levels of attention paid to player safety and wellbeing. The majority of bonus buy games now offer a range of bonuses to choose from to suit different spending limits.

The message of spending and playing within one’s means and limits is perhaps the greatest lesson emphasized by those operating within the online casino industry. With increased trust and understanding in how seriously online casinos are taking their duty to promote fair and responsible gaming, features such as bonus buy can continue to flourish and provide an additional layer of excitement to each and every individual player. We are likely to witness new innovative features in the future, but for now, bonus buy games remain the talk of the global online casino town.

News Bonus