Do Slot Bonuses Increase Your Odds or Just Look Good?

Online slots tempt players with bonuses at every turn. One of the most popular features is the bonus buy, which lets you pay to access bonus games and jackpot features. But just because they look enticing doesn’t mean bonus buys improve your actual odds. Here’s what slot fans need to know about these tempting but tricky features before laying down extra bets.

What Are Bonus Buys?

A bonus buy allows slot players at RocketPlay Online Casino to access a game’s bonus feature by placing an additional wager, usually 20x to 100x the cost of the spin. Instead of waiting to trigger a bonus randomly, you essentially “buy” your way in. Bonus buys often have minimum and maximum bet requirements.

Some slots have bonus buys for:

• Free spins features
• Pick me bonuses like selecting boxes or reels
• Wheel spin jackpot rounds
• Prize drops

The idea is that you pay more upfront for the chance of bigger payouts from the bonus. But are bonus buys actually worth it?

Illusion of Better Odds

Bonus buys create the illusion of boosting your odds to win big. And when that wheel lands on the mega jackpot prize, it’s easy to think bonus buys give you an advantage. But here’s the reality:

As you can see, bonus buys don’t actually increase the slot’s payout percentage. And the bonuses pay out the same average amount whether you trigger them randomly or pay to access them.

Over time, the extra bets required to play bonus buys give the house a bigger advantage. You don’t win more often or payout higher amounts. You simply spend more per spin.

When Bonus Buys Seem Like a Good Idea

Under certain circumstances, bonus buys can feel worthwhile:

• Playing with bonuses funds: Bonus buy bets often don’t count towards playthrough requirements for deposit bonuses. So you can essentially access extra features using the casino’s money. Just make sure bonus buys comply with the terms first.
• Streaming slots play: Slot streamers on Twitch or YouTube use bonus buys to guarantee exciting content for viewers. The big bonuses and jackpots make for good watching, even if they lose money long-term.
• Breaking up normal play: Occasional bonus buy bets can add some excitement without breaking your bankroll. Just set a strict limit first, like 5% of your session bankroll.
• Chasing achievements: Some casinos offer prizes and achievements for reaching certain combinations of bonus features. Buying bonuses can help unlock these faster.

More Ways Casinos Create False Wins

Bonus buys aren’t the only slot features designed to make you think you have better odds than you actually do. Here are some other illusions casinos create:

• Near misses: When symbols land just out of alignment, seemingly just one spot away from a big win. But a near miss has the exact same 1 in X odds as any other spin.
• Expanding reels: When reels appear to grow longer during a spin, seemingly giving you more ways to win. But the odds stay consistent, no matter how many positions appear.
• Asymmetry: When some symbols appear bigger or more frequently than others, suggesting they pay out more often. But despite appearances, all symbols have the same odds.
• Losses disguised as wins: When your “win” amount is less than your bet, but celebratory sounds and visuals play anyway. These try to hide the fact that you actually lost money on that spin.

As you can see, casinos use all sorts of audio, visual and gameplay tricks to make slots seem more generous than their programmed math dictates they actually are. Spotting these illusions is key to assessing if bonus buys or other features are actually worth it or not.

Making Smart Slot Decisions

Slots are designed to tempt emotion over logic with flashy graphics and tempting bonuses. So taking a detached approach is key to playing responsibly. Here are smart strategies to follow:

• Set a gambling budget and loss limit: Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and quit when you hit your stop loss amount.
• Review the rules and math first: Don’t assume flashy features like bonus buys actually offer better odds or higher payouts. Verify the stats first.
• Skip buy-a-bonus side bets: Features that guarantee access to bonuses sound great. But if they don’t actually improve RTP or payouts, they give the house a bigger advantage.
• Avoid slots in the “red”: High variance slots allow bigger wins, but are more likely to pay out less than the stated RTP over time. Check return starts first.

Making informed slot choices takes some of gambling’s thrill away. But approaching play analytically rather than emotionally is the only way to extend your fun and avoid quick losses. If a bonus buy or other feature checks out mathematically, go for it. But be wary of options that simply create the illusion of better odds without boosting your actual chances to win.