The growth of the online casino industry can be put down to a number of factors. The step into a digital world of blackjack, roulette, and poker tables, supplemented by a seemingly limitless number of online slots games has revolutionised the way casino play is perceived and accessed. More offerings across the standard games found on physical casino floors all over the world that come with the added value of greater convenience and benefits has propelled the online casino world into the upper echelons of online entertainment.
The brains at the game development companies behind online casino games are constantly at work to improve game play and the levels of interaction with a game. The rapid rise of the industry and the speedy development of games, especially in the online slots section is evidence of the increased capabilities these companies have and the software and coding tools they have at their disposal.
Overall, the digital movement has equipped those developers responsible for supplying online casinos with their arsenal of games with the ability to create and implement a variety of features that keep players on their toes and on the look-out for the next exciting game play element to land. And in the world of online slots, the evolution of game play aspects has so far resulted in online slots grids coming in different shapes and sizes, with the introduction of bonus rounds providing added spice to the game play. It is this bonus aspect that has given rise to one particularly popular feature that millions of online players around the world are utilising.
Buy the Bonus
The concept of buying a bonus round, as opposed to organically reaching one through standard game play, first came to player's attention in 2017, when White Rabbit produced by Big Time Gaming included this feature. Since 2017, bonus buy slots have become a standard offering in online slots games in most markets around the world and despite some elements of contention, remain popular with online slots enthusiasts.
How can you buy the bonus?
Game developers make it relatively simple to activate this feature. Before the reels are spun, there is usually an icon somewhere on the game screen that allows the player to trigger the bonus buy feature. Depending on the game, there might be a few different bonuses on offer that come at different costs. But once you have responsibly selected a suitable bonus within your budget, the bonus is activated and with that, the potential to win free spins, play with higher multipliers or activate other incentives.
Markets against buying the bonus
Since 2017, bonus buy slots have grown rapidly in popularity with the ability to accelerate game play appealing heavily to online slots players. It should also be noted that activating the bonus buy feature is not a guaranteed pathway to a win but merely offers the opportunity to win higher. The growth of bonus buy slots has not been lost on lawmakers, bodies, and organisations responsible for maintaining secure and responsible gambling environments within a market.
A few online casino markets, including one leading player, have voiced their concerns over the ease and danger of bonus buy slots. The United Kingdom is one of the leading online casino markets worldwide and the UK Gambling Commission has more experience than many of the emerging markets combined. In 2019, the UKGC made the bold decision to ban bonus buy slots UK due to the risk the feature posed to problem gamblers. They concluded that bonus buy games prompted players to take more unnecessary risks and potentially spend more than they could afford.
Their decision was backed up by the Netherlands, who even went one step further by approving a law to ban online slots entirely, as well as gambling advertising in April 2024. While the bonus feature is still available in the majority of online casino markets around the world, Sweden have also joined the debate and are considering their stance on bonus buy games. It remains to be seen how this conversation will develop, with many markets reluctant to ban the feature yet.
Future of bonus buys
Game developers will undoubtedly have more ideas up their sleeves for the further evolution and growth of bonus buy games. With the online casino industry in general still in its relative infancy, there is plenty more potential to extract. But with more action comes greater responsibility. The UK and the Netherlands have already put their flag in the sand regarding their take on bonus buys and others could follow their example. But while the feature still exists, many online slots fans will continue to buy their bonuses.
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