Everything You Need to Know About Bonus Rounds in Slots and Which Games To Play

Free spins are the most popular bonus type, offering a fixed number of spins at no cost. These are ideal for players looking for simple gameplay with the potential for decent payouts.

They let you spin the reels multiple times without using your own credits. Triggered by landing scatter symbols, these bonuses often come with added features like multipliers, stacked wilds, or bonus-only reels that increase your chances of hitting big payouts. For example, some games double or even triple winnings during free spins, turning a modest bet into a significant win.

Look for games that allow retriggers (earning additional free spins during the round) or pair free spins with multipliers for maximum value. Slots with high RTPs and free spin rounds tend to offer more consistent rewards.

• Payout Potential: Medium to High
  Free spins often come with added features like multipliers, expanding wilds, or bonus reels, which significantly boost winning chances. Games like Gonzo’s Quest have multipliers that can grow to 15x during free spins.
• Activation Odds: High
  Free spins are among the easiest bonus rounds to trigger, often requiring 3 or more scatter symbols.
• Who It’s For: Players who enjoy straightforward gameplay with moderate volatility.

Bonus Buy bonus rounds allow players to bypass traditional gameplay triggers and directly access the game’s feature-packed bonus round by paying a fixed cost. This eliminates the need to wait for scatter symbols or bonus triggers, offering instant access to the slot’s most exciting and potentially lucrative gameplay.

This feature is perfect for players who prefer immediate action and are willing to trade upfront cost for the chance to dive straight into high-payout opportunities. Bonus buys often come with increased RTPs during the purchased round, offering better value than waiting for a natural trigger.

• Payout Potential: Medium to High
  The potential depends on the bonus round’s mechanics, with features like multipliers, jackpots, or free spins offering payouts that can exceed 5,000x your stake. Games like Fruit Party shine, offering cluster-pays with random multipliers of up to 256x during the bonus.
• Activation Cost: High
  Bonus buys typically cost 50x to 100x your stake. While expensive, they eliminate the variability of waiting for a natural bonus trigger, making them ideal for players who value time efficiency over gradual progress.
• Who It’s For: Players who prefer high-risk, immediate-reward gameplay.
  Bonus Buy rounds cater to experienced players who understand slot volatility and want to fast-track their access to high-payout features.

Re-spins are a variation of free spins, with specific symbols locked in place while the rest of the reels spin again. These bonuses are particularly thrilling as they often build anticipation for larger wins.

Re-spins are especially valuable in games with sticky or expanding wilds, as these features compound your chances of winning. Look for slots where re-spins are tied to progressive jackpots or multipliers for even more potential.

• Payout Potential: Medium
  While individual wins can be smaller, the ability to stack symbols during re-spins can lead to big payouts, especially in games with sticky wilds or multipliers.
• Activation Odds: Medium
  Re-spins are less common than free spins and are often tied to triggering symbols, like bonus icons or wilds.
• Who It’s For: Players who enjoy strategic gameplay and the thrill of chasing big combinations.

Pick-and-click bonuses are interactive features that let you select from a set of options to reveal instant rewards. These prizes can include cash payouts, multipliers, or entry into additional free spins. The outcome is random, but the decision-making aspect adds a layer of player involvement that makes this bonus particularly engaging.

Games with multiple pick rounds or escalating rewards are ideal for players who enjoy strategy. Check the paytable to see the range of potential prizes and look for pick bonuses with guaranteed payouts, even if they’re small.

• Payout Potential: Medium to High
  The payout depends on what you select. Some games include rare jackpot prizes hidden among the options.
• Activation Odds: Medium
  These bonuses are triggered less frequently but often reward larger prizes.
• Who It’s For: Players who enjoy decision-making and interactive features.

The simplest bonus type, instant-win features reward players with a cash prize immediately upon activation. These are perfect for players who value quick rewards.

These are typically triggered by landing a combination of bonus or scatter symbols and result in a cash prize directly added to your balance. While smaller prizes are common, some slots tie instant wins to progressive jackpots, offering life-changing sums.

Instant-win bonuses are best for players who value simplicity and quick results. Look for games with tiered instant-win prizes, where higher bets can unlock larger rewards.

• Payout Potential: Low to High
  Instant-win bonuses vary widely, ranging from small cash prizes to massive jackpots in progressive slots like Mega Fortune.
• Activation Odds: High
  Instant-win features are relatively common and easy to trigger.
• Who It’s For: Players who prefer low-stress gameplay and quick wins.

This bonus combines chance and anticipation, requiring you to spin a prize wheel to determine your reward.

You spin a prize wheel, and the segment it lands on determines your reward, which can range from cash payouts to multipliers or entry into additional bonus features. The excitement lies in the unpredictability, as each spin could lead to a jackpot.

Wheels with fewer high-value segments tend to offer better odds for bigger prizes. Look for games where the wheel includes secondary bonuses, such as free spins or jackpot entry.

• Payout Potential: Medium to High
  The prize wheel can award free spins, multipliers, or even jackpot entries. The biggest payouts are rare but possible.
• Activation Odds: Medium
  These bonuses aren’t as frequent but tend to offer higher rewards than base game payouts.
• Who It’s For: Players who enjoy a mix of suspense and variety.

Pathway bonuses take you through a series of escalating challenges, with each level offering better rewards. The goal is to complete all stages without losing, which typically ends the round and returns you to the base game. Rewards might include multipliers, cash payouts, or jackpot prizes.

Slots with second-chance mechanics—where losing doesn’t automatically end the round—provide a better balance between risk and reward. These games are ideal for players who enjoy more strategic, multi-layered gameplay.

• Payout Potential: High
  Completing all stages often results in significant payouts or jackpots. Games like Monopoly Megaways feature escalating rewards tied to your progress.
• Activation Odds: Low to Medium
  These are harder to trigger but deliver big rewards if you complete the path.
• Who It’s For: Players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay.

Though not traditional bonus rounds, wild symbols often play a big role in bonus features. Wilds bonuses focus on enhancing winning combinations. Depending on the game, wild symbols might expand to cover reels, stick in place for multiple spins, or carry multipliers that amplify payouts.

While wilds often appear in the base game, they become more powerful during bonus rounds, frequently interacting with other features like free spins or re-spins.

Look for slots that combine wild bonuses with features like cascading reels or progressive multipliers for the biggest payout potential. Slots with stacked wilds or sticky wilds tend to be more rewarding in the long term.

• Payout Potential: Medium to High
  Wilds multiply winnings or create additional winning combinations.
• Activation Odds: High
  Wild bonuses are commonly triggered, making them a consistent feature in many games.
• Who It’s For: Players who want consistent features that enhance both base and bonus gameplay.