Bonus Round

A bonus round is a special feature in a slot machine triggered by specific symbol combinations, typically three or more scatter symbols. Bonus rounds take you out of the base game and into a separate game mode where the potential for large wins is significantly higher. They are often where the biggest payouts in a slot occur.

Common types of bonus rounds include free spins (a set number of spins played at no cost with enhanced features), pick-and-win games (choose from hidden prizes), wheel spins (spin a prize wheel), and cascading multiplier rounds (where consecutive wins increase a multiplier). Many modern slots combine multiple bonus round types within a single feature.

The design of the bonus round is a major factor in a slot's volatility profile. A slot where the bonus round frequently awards modest prizes is lower volatility. A slot where the bonus round rarely triggers but can deliver hundreds or thousands of times your bet is high volatility. Check the game's max win specification to understand the bonus round's potential.

Some slots allow you to purchase the bonus round directly instead of waiting for scatter symbols to trigger it naturally. This feature, called bonus buy or feature buy, typically costs 50 to 100 times the base bet. The cost is calibrated to maintain the game's theoretical RTP, so buying the feature does not change the long-term mathematics.