If you’ve watched casino streamers or tried slots on international sites, you might have seen a feature called a Bonus Buy (sometimes called a “Feature Buy”). This option lets you skip the base game and pay a fixed price to unlock the bonus round instantly.
It sounds exciting, but in the UK, you won’t find it. Bonus Buys are restricted under UK gambling rules. Here’s how they work, why players love them, and why they aren’t available at UK-licensed casino sites.
Quick Summary
Bonus Buys add speed and excitement to online slots, but in the UK, they’re restricted for good reason. At licensed casinos, you’ll need to unlock bonuses through normal play, which keeps the experience fair, responsible, and in line with UK gambling standards.
At Finest Casinos Online, we explain how bonuses and features work in every slot review, so you’ll always know what to expect before you play.
👉 Want to find the UK slots with the best free spins and bonus features? Check out our page of the best UK slot sites.
What Is a Bonus Buy?
In most modern slots, the real action happens in the bonus round. That could mean free spins, multipliers, jackpots, or special features where the biggest wins are found. Normally, you have to keep spinning until the right symbols land.
A Bonus Buy cuts out the waiting and lets you jump straight into the bonus feature. The cost is usually between 50x and 200x your stake, and once you pay, the bonus round begins immediately.
👉 Example: If you’re betting £1 per spin and the Bonus Buy costs 100x, you’d pay £100 upfront to unlock the feature.
Why Players Like Bonus Buys
The attraction is obvious: Bonus Buys take you straight to the most exciting part of the slot. Instead of waiting through dozens (or even hundreds) of spins for a rare trigger, you can pay and play the bonus whenever you want.
That’s also why they’re so popular on streaming channels. With Bonus Buys, the action is faster, the stakes are higher, and it makes for more entertaining viewing.
Why They’re Banned in the UK
At casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), Bonus Buys are switched off. Even if the same slot offers them in other countries, the “Buy Feature” button won’t appear for UK players.
The ban is designed to protect players. Bonus Buys can:
- Lead to overspending, because the upfront cost is often very high
- Increase gambling harm by giving instant access to risky, high-volatility features
- Encourage chasing losses, since players can repeatedly buy back into bonuses
By removing Bonus Buys, the UKGC slows down gameplay and reduces features that may cause harm.
Why Streamers Still Use Them
If you’ve ever wondered why a streamer can buy bonuses while you can’t, the answer is simple. Many of them are:
- Playing at offshore casinos that don’t hold a UK licence
- Streaming from countries where Bonus Buys are legal
- Using demo or promotional accounts provided by casinos
⚠️ It might be tempting to join offshore sites just to access Bonus Buys, but it’s risky. Without a UK licence, you don’t get legal protection, and there’s no guarantee you’ll be paid if you win. We do not recommend joining a casino without UK license.
How UK Players Trigger Bonuses
Since Bonus Buys are banned, the only way to unlock bonus rounds in the UK is the traditional one: spinning the reels until the right symbols land.
Some slots trigger bonuses fairly often, while others can take a long time. High-volatility slots usually have rarer bonuses, but the potential rewards are much bigger.
👉 Tip: Always check a slot’s RTP (Return to Player) and volatility rating before you play. It helps set realistic expectations about how often bonuses are likely to appear.
