Are Bonus Slots a Smart Play or a Money Sink?

Bonus buy slots give players the option to buy a bonus round by paying a fixed price rather than hitting a combination of symbols. This format at Brango Casino Canada allows you to trigger bonus features on demand rather than leaving it entirely up to chance. But are bonus buy slots ultimately a smart play or an expensive gamble? There are reasonable arguments on both sides.

The Good: Why Some Players Love Bonus Purchase

Bonus buys offer some potential advantages that make them enticing to certain players:

More Control and Less Bankroll Risk

Instead of betting spin after spin, hoping to trigger a hard-to-hit bonus, you can access lucrative bonus rounds at any time for a set fee. This gives you more control over when you engage with potentially profitable bonus features. And if you don’t hit the bonus within your budgeted bankroll in a normal slot, buying the bonus outright prevents overspending while chasing it.

Bigger Bonuses

In some games, buying the bonus gives you access to enhanced bonus features you couldn’t otherwise trigger. These might have more free spins, higher multipliers, or bigger potential payouts compared to the standard bonus round.

Excitement and Convenience

For players who find hitting bonuses thrilling, being able to trigger them instantly can heighten the enjoyment of the game. And for those with limited time, buying bonuses right when you start playing avoids having to wait around gambling for one to hit.

The Bad: Downsides to Keep in Mind

Of course, bonus buys aren’t all upside. Here are some of the potential pitfalls:

No Guarantee of Profit

Just because you paid to access a bonus round doesn’t mean it will pay out winnings.

Like any slot feature, you could still come out behind or barely break even after your upfront investment. Wins aren’t automatic.

Higher Volatility

Bonus buy new slot games slots tend to have especially high variance. The swings between big wins and losses can be dramatic. Bankrolls can take a quick beating if you hit a cold streak. Chasing losses by buying more bonuses seldom ends well.

Easy to Overspend

With the instant gratification of on-demand bonuses, it’s easier to get carried away and drain your bankroll faster than you intended. Some players underestimate how many bonus buys they can sustain before going broke.

Analyzing the Odds

Whether bonus buys slots make mathematical sense, which comes down to comparing the fixed cost of the buy-in versus the potential payout. To illustrate, here’s a breakdown of three popular bonus buy games:

As the data shows, even among bonus buy slots, the house edge can vary dramatically. Gates of Olympus provides the best value, with players gaining an expected 15% return per bonus over time. But games like Money Train 2 are clearly overpriced, taxing 20% of players’ money. Running the numbers is key to determining if any particular bonus buy makes practical sense.

Strategies to Improve Results

If you do opt to play bonus buy slots, these tips can help control costs and maximize payout potential:

• Set a strict limit on the number of buys per session beforehand
• Quit while you’re ahead after a big win rather than pressing your luck
• Start bonus rounds with lower bet sizes first to test the volatility
• Avoid chaining too many bonus buys in succession
• Focus bonus play on slots with the highest average return

Bonus Purchases Can Go Either Way

Ultimately, there’s no universal answer to whether bonus buy slots are “worth it.” Games with a mathematical edge, like the Gates of Olympus, represent good value. But in overpriced slots, they’re likely to drain bankrolls over time. Players’ personal gaming style and risk tolerance are also factors. Used selectively, bonus buys can add profitable excitement, but they usually work best in moderation as part of a varied gaming strategy. Approach with eyes wide open—the convenience of on-demand bonuses doesn’t guarantee they’re a smart play.