Buying a bonus and profitability: which machines pay off better


The Bonus Buy feature, which allows you to purchase a bonus round without waiting for it to fall out, has become one of the key trends in the 2025 slots. For high rollers and experienced players, this is a way to speed up the gameplay and immediately get into the high-potential phase of the game. But the profitability of buying a bonus depends on the specific machine, its mechanics, the cost of activation and the real potential for payments.

How bonus buying works

In slots with Bonus Buy, the player pays a fixed amount that is a multiple of the current bet to instantly activate the bonus round.

The cost is usually from 50x to 500x of the bet.
The advantage is the absence of the need to spend bankroll on "idle" backs.
Risk - a high price can lead to quick losses with unsuccessful bonuses.

Factors Affecting Bonus Buy Payback

1. RTP on bonus purchase
Some RTP slots are higher when purchased than in a regular game (for example, + 0.5-1%).

2. Bonus volatility
High volatility gives a chance for a big win, but most bonuses can result below the purchase price.

3. Maximum gain potential
Slots with a ceiling of x20 000 + from the bet are more likely to recoup a large purchase due to rare but powerful drifts.

4. Frequency of "dead" bonuses
The higher the chance that a bonus will bring in less than half its value, the lower its average profitability.

Slots with the best payback Bonus Buy in 2025

Money Train 4 (Relax Gaming)

Bonus price: 100x
RTP on purchase: 96.5%
The reason for choosing: huge potential and a balance between frequent drifts and mega-wins.

Sugar Rush (Pragmatic Play)

Bonus price: 100x
RTP on purchase: 96.5%
The reason for the choice: a chain reaction of multipliers that can repeatedly overlap the cost of the bonus.

Dead Riders Trail (Relax Gaming)

Bonus price: 110x
RTP on purchase: 96.2%
The reason for the choice: a multi-stage bonus with strategy elements, reducing the risk of "empty" spins.

Razor Returns (Push Gaming)

Bonus price: 100x or 200x (Super Bonus)
RTP on purchase: 96.6%
Reason to Choose: Mystery Symbols and high multipliers provide powerful potential.

Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play)

Bonus price: 100x
RTP on purchase: 96.5%
The reason for choosing: high pace, large multipliers up to x500.

When buying a bonus is beneficial

When playing on slots with high return, it is in the bonus round.
If bankroll allows you to withstand a series of unsuccessful purchases.
When the goal is to quickly reach a high winning potential, and not long gameplay.

When best to ditch Bonus Buy

If the bonus price exceeds 150x and the slot does not compensate for this with increased RTP.
With a small bankroll, high volatility can quickly lead to zero.
If the slot has many bonuses with a low payout (frequent "empty" bonuses).

Conclusion
The Bonus Buy function can be a profitable tool, but only in certain machines and with competent bankroll management. Players should choose slots with high RTP when buying, balanced volatility and proven skid potential. In 2025, Money Train 4, Sugar Rush, Dead Riders Trail, Razor Returns and Gates of Olympus remain favorites, which in the hands of experienced players can bring a stable plus over the distance.