Slot machine bonus features explained
Did you know – playing your favourite online slot machine isn’t just about spinning the reels. It’s about unlocking all the hidden bonus features too! That’s right – while traditional slots started the craze, modern slots have ramped up the excitement to new levels with a range of thrilling extra features. Which means that you’ll find your slots play more immersive, more exhilarating, and more rewarding than ever before!
But what exactly are these bonus features, and how do you find them? That’s what we’re here for – to give you a deep dive into the most common online slot machine bonus features, how to trigger them, and how to leverage them to boost your adrenaline and your winnings too. Let’s go!
Slot Machine Bonus Features Explained
Let’s start right at the beginning. What exactly are online slot bonus features? Essentially, each slot you play is made up of two parts: the main game that you see when you log on, and the bonus round (or rounds) that you’ll need to trigger or activate in some way. You may also sometimes see this referred to as ‘the second screen’.
Why are bonus rounds there? For you, the player! Thanks to the innovative minds behind today’s online slots, these in-game mechanics are designed to offer you more. More ways to win, more ways to enjoy your gaming, and more ways to add thrills to each session. Whereas previously, online slots simply involved you matching a certain number of symbols in order to win, today’s slots are far more sophisticated and complex, adding elements of storytelling, skill. And huge winning potential.
What are slot machine bonus features?
Before you rush out to spend all your money on slots, however, it’s important to understand that bonus features don’t automatically guarantee you a win. What they do is offer you a higher chance of winning than you might usually have in the base game. Additionally, the prizes they offer are often higher than those available in the main game. And could be more jackpot-focused too. So while you might not be assured a win, you can still count on heart-pounding slots action!
Triggering Bonus Features:
When certain symbols, such as scatters or bonus icons land.
Randomly during play in the base game.
Purchased directly via the bonus buy option (common in high volatility slots where wins aren’t as frequent).
When will the extra features trigger? It could be when you least expect it. Every spin is a potential bonus opportunity waiting to happen!
Popular online slot machine bonus features
Now that you know a little more about why bonus features exist, let’s take a look at which ones you’re most likely to run into while you play, and what makes each of them worth getting excited about.
1. Free spins
Free spins are the indisputable king of bonus features, and it’s easy to see why. Everyone wants to trigger them – because not only are they exciting, they’ll give you extra chances to spin the reels without spending your own money, which means big thrills and big value too!
What it is:
Just as it sounds, a free spins bonus gives you a certain number of spins absolutely free. There’s no need to spend your own money, and your account balance won’t decrease. Even better, you’ll still be able to win real money while you play. And you could trigger additional bonus features during your round as well, from multipliers and wilds to expanding symbols and more.
How it’s triggered:
Typically, you’ll need to land a particular number of scatters (sometimes wilds) on the reels, most usually a minimum of three. While that might sound like a lot, the symbols can land anywhere – so even if they don’t land on a designated payline, they’ll still count.
This feature can be iconic
Depending on what your particular slot has in store for you, the number of scatters that land determines how many free spins you’ll earn, such as:
3 scatters – 10 free spins
4 scatters – 15 free spins
5 scatters – 20 or more free spins
Why you’ll love them:
Free spins bonuses are all about big excitement and big wins. Even more so if they’re combined with other features like sticky wilds, expanding symbols, multipliers and more. All it takes is one free spin with enough jackpot potential attached, and your winning dreams could soon become a reality! So if you’re in the market for a new type of online slot, look for those that offer free spins and see what fate and fortune have in store for you!
Wild Symbols: Your Best Allies on the Reels
2. Wild symbols
If scatters are your key to free spins rounds, wilds are your best friends during regular play in the base game. Look out for high-value symbols, usually represented by the word ‘WILD’, and the more that land, the more rewards you’ll have rolling in!
What they do:
Think of wild symbols as you would the wild card in a pack. Just as the wild card is one that can substitute for any other card, so is the wild symbol one that can substitute for any other symbol on the reels (with the exception of bonus symbols and scatters).
Why does this matter? Because if a wild lands on a payline along with enough other matching symbols, it’ll help form a winning combo for you, often turning what would be a losing spin into a hugely valuable one!
Thanks to the creativity and ingenuity of slots developers, there are a huge range of wilds that can be found as in-game mechanics, including:
Standard wilds: Symbols that substitute for regular symbols to help create winning combos.
Expanding wilds: Symbols that can stretch across an entire reel, boosting win potential.
Sticky wilds: Symbols that stay in place for a number of spins, helping to create winning opportunities.
Walking wilds: Symbols that move from one end of the reels to the other, one spin at a time.
Stacked wilds: Symbols that appear in stacks, often covering entire reels.
Shifting wilds: Symbols that shift position after each spin, sometimes triggering respins at the same time.
Master the Basics, Then Start Winning
Why you’ll love them:
Wilds are one of the foundations of online slots games, and they’re crucial to the mix. Not only do they help create winning combinations to boost your bankroll, they create anticipation and momentum as well. More wilds means more excitement and hopefully more winnings too. And that’s something we’re definitely going wild about!
3. Multipliers
If there’s one word online slots players love to see, it’s multiplier. And if you’re new to the slots game, we bet it’ll become a favourite word of yours too!
What they do:
As the name suggests, multipliers multiply your winnings, boosting them by a specific factor. Find these valuable symbols on the reels and you’ll usually see them marked by a certain number, such as 2x, 3x, 10x, or sometimes even up to 100x or more. Apply that multiplier to your winnings and you’ll see them skyrocket, particularly when two or more multipliers land at the same time.
How do multipliers work? Let’s say you win $10, and you’re lucky enough to have a 5x multiplier working for you. That’ll take your winning total from $10 to $50 instantly. Because a 5x multiplier applied to a $10 win = $50. Easy!
Now, let’s say you get multipliers of 3x and 5x at the same time as your $10 win. The multipliers will then be added together. Giving you a combined total of 8x, which will ultimately give you a winning total of $80! So the more multipliers you find, the more rewarding your slots experience will be!
Where to find them:
Spin the reels and you’ll see that multipliers can appear in several forms:
As part of a wild symbol.
During free spins rounds.
As progressive multipliers that increase with consecutive wins.
Triggered randomly during the base game.
Multipliers in slot machines are exciting for more than one reason
Why you’ll love them:
Multipliers are transformative in slots games, with the power to turn minor wins into major payouts. Look out for games where they appear and add them to your must-play list. You’ll multiply your excitement and hopefully your winnings too!
4. Pick-and-win games
We love a game within a game, and that’s exactly what pick-and-win games are. Extra chances to win prizes, have fun, and get the most out of your slots experience in every way!
What they are:
Also known as pick-me games or pick-and-click bonuses, pick-and-win games are interactive mini games that can appear during slots play – sometimes randomly, sometimes when triggered. When you come across one, you’ll be presented with a choice of options, usually in the form of treasure chests, coins, gift boxes or similar. Each of these will hide a prize such as cash, free spins, or multipliers, and it’s up to you to choose between the boxes and claim the reward that’s revealed.
Where to find them:
Pick-and-win games most often feature in slots with actual themes, such as pirate treasure hunts, adventure slots or even ancient Egyptian mysteries. Trigger the feature and you’ll instantly add elements of strategy and excitement to your game. Giving you more slot machine interactivity, more winning opportunities, and more exhilaration!
Why you’ll love them:
There’s a sense of control behind pick-and-win games. The feeling that you’re in charge, and you’re controlling your own destiny. Being able to make your own choices makes the game feel more personal and engaging – and the sense of satisfaction you’ll feel when you win a prize is second to none!
The Bonus Wheel: Where Luck Takes the Lead
5. Bonus wheels
Looking for the chance to spin the wheel of fortune? That’s exactly what you’ll get with bonus wheels. Your chance to add more sizzle and more rewards to your slots game.
What they are:
You’ve seen bonus wheels on TV game shows before, and slots bonus wheels work in exactly the same way. Trigger this bonus feature in the game and you’ll be able to hit the spin button for the chance to win amazing prizes! Just one click, and you could be living large with a cash prize, a multiplier, more free spins or respins, or even a jackpot amount to take home!
Why you’ll love them:
There’s just something so compelling about being able to spin a prize wheel. The feeling of control you get by being the one in charge, and the anticipation you feel as it spins round and round, bringing you closer to huge prizes. It’s completely captivating, and it could be the feature that helps you hit that slots jackpot you’ve always wanted!
6. Jackpots
This brings us neatly to the biggest and best bonus feature of them all – the jackpot! Ranging from five to six and sometimes even seven figures, slots jackpots have the power not just to change your day, but change your life with a single spin. And it’s exactly that sense of hope and anticipation that makes slots so enduringly enthralling.
What they are:
Play online slots long enough and you’ll find that jackpots usually fall into one of three categories:
Fixed jackpots: These types of slot machine jackpots have a set amount that they pay out when winning conditions are met, such as 5,000x your original stake.
Local progressive jackpots: These are linked to a group of machines on a single website, hence the word ‘local’. As the name suggests, the jackpots progress or grow based on contributions from players. Each time a bet is placed at a connected casino, a portion of that bet goes into the jackpot, contributing to the total prize pool.
Networked progressive jackpots: These are the big ones, and the ones where you’re most likely to find the seven-figure payouts you’re looking for. Rather than being linked to games on just one website, these progressives are linked across a network of multiple casinos and platforms around the world. With the jackpots are increasing exponentially with every bet placed. Win one of these and you’ll see your slots dreams come true in an instant!
How they’re triggered:
This differs from game to game, but usually, jackpots can be won either randomly or through specific bonus rounds, such as spinning a wheel or collecting jackpot symbols.
Why you’ll love them:
Because they’re literally life-changing. Just one spin and you could go from ordinary player to multi-millionaire in literal seconds. And even if you’re not playing a network progressive, any kind of jackpot could be transformative to your playing experience and your life. Everybody wants a slots jackpot, and if you’re consistent enough and lucky enough, one day that big winner could be you!
Get to Know Your Slot Reels
7. Cascading reels
Think that the only way to play slots is by spinning reels? Think again! With cascading reels, you’ll enjoy a whole new way to play – one that’s fun, engaging and hugely explosive at the same time!
What they are:
Also known as avalanche reels, cascading reels will spin as usual until they come to a stop. That’s where the similarity to traditional slots ends, though, because as soon as you find a winning combo on a cascading reels slot. The matching symbols will explode off the reels, leaving space for new symbols to cascade into place below. If the new symbols create new winning combos, the process will keep repeating itself, meaning you’ll keep winning over and over from the same single spin.
Why you’ll love them:
Apart from the fact that cascading reels are purely just fun to play, many slots operators will incorporate multipliers into the mix as well. So the more winning combos you create from a single spin, the more the multiplier will increase and boost your total at the same time. You’ll have fun, you’ll enjoy a dynamic new way to play, and you might reap significant rewards at the same time. What’s not to love?
Why Respins Keep the Game Exciting
8. Respins
Do you like free spins rounds? Do you want more of the same? Then get ready for respins. Your chance to spin again and hopefully win again, all for free!
How they work:
As you might have guessed, respins allow you to spin the reels again after a regular spin – either randomly, or when triggered by a specific combination of symbols. During your respin, one or more symbols or even reels will lock into place while the others spin again.
Often, respins can be retriggered if a certain symbol lands during the respin, giving you even more opportunities to win. And if you can’t wait for the respins to trigger on their own, some slots will even allow you to purchase respins to help give you the outcome you’re looking for. Spin again and who knows what could happen!
Why you’ll love them:
Respins often come with added perks, such as sticky wilds, growing multipliers, or expanding reels, making them far more rewarding than standard spins. So look out for them and take advantage when they hit – they could be your ticket to jackpot glory!
Watch the Reels Grow for Bigger Wins
9. Expanding reels & Megaways
Just when you thought you were getting the hang of online slots, in come expanding reels and Megaways to make things interesting. Forget about traditional slots reels setups. These features take classic reel configurations and turn them on their heads, offering extra thrills and extra winning potential at the same time.
What they are:
Expanding slot machine reels. Trigger this feature and you’ll see either an increase in the number of symbols per reel, or in the number of reels themselves. This type of feature will often come into play during a free spins round. Increasing the reel format from say 5×3 to 5×5, and instantly increasing your winning opportunities too.
Megaways slots – pioneered by Big Time Gaming, the Megaways mechanic is one that randomizes the number of symbols on every reel with every spin, creating up to hundreds of thousands of possible paylines, and countless payout possibilities.
Why you’ll love them:
Because innovations like expanding reels and Megaways keep life interesting! You’ll enjoy gameplay that’s dynamic, unpredictable and endlessly entertaining, and it’ll remind you of why you love gambling online in the first place. No two spins are ever the same, and your win potential can soar. More reels, more ways to win, more excitement from beginning to end!
Exploring Even More Ways to Win
10. Feature/Bonus buys
Don’t want to wait for features to trigger on their own? You don’t have to! That’s what the feature buy (or bonus buy) is for. A shortcut for impatient players to enjoy all the added features a slot has to offer, without the wait.
So rather than betting for an unknown amount of time and waiting for the features to activate on their own, you’ll be able to simply throw money at the problem and fast forward all the way to the bonus games in an instant. No judgement here. There’s so much excitement to be had. We don’t blame you for wanting to skip the queue and take the fast track to super-win potential!
How it works:
To take advantage of the bonus buy, you’ll need to pay a set amount (often 50x to 100x your stake) in order to instantly trigger the free spins or main bonus round. Once you do, you’ll go straight to the main attraction with no waiting needed!
The pros:
You’ll have instant access to the most exciting part of the game.
You won’t need to test your patience by waiting for features to trigger on their own.
The cons:
Bonus buys can be expensive, particularly on high volatility slots. Not every game or casino offers a bonus buy option, so even though you’re prepared to pay the price, the option might not be available to you.
Level Up Your Slot Game with These Pro Tips
Our top tip:
Bonus buys can get you in on the action instantly, but be cautious about using them. They’re a high-risk, high-reward approach that’s best suited to players who understand volatility and bankroll management. If you need to keep a tight rein on your finances, it’s best to wait for luck to intervene rather than spending money that you may not have.
But wait, there’s more!
We’re not done yet. Take a quick look at even more bonus features you might be lucky enough to come across during your gameplay.
Scatter symbols: We’ve mentioned them previously, but in case you’re not familiar with them, scatters are special high-value symbols that often activate slots features when 3 or more of them land on the reels at the same time. Why are they called scatters? Because they don’t need to appear on a payline in order to trigger anything. Just having them scattered randomly on the reels (sometimes specific reels) is enough.
Bonus symbols: These are similar to scatter symbols but will usually trigger a different kind of bonus round. If a slot has more than one feature on offer, it’ll most often employ scatters as a way of triggering one feature. And bonus symbols as a way of triggering another. It’s worth noting that while scatters can usually appear anywhere on the reels in any order, bonus symbols will need to appear in a specific combination in order for their bonus to be activated.
Random bonus rounds: We love these because there’s no rhyme or reason to them. One minute you’re spinning the reels and the next, BOOM! Bonus round randomly activated! There’s no need to place any extra bets and no need to activate any features. It’s just luck on your side when you need it most.
Step Into the World of Retro Arcade Fun
Arcade games: If you’ve never tried these before, you’re in for a real treat. Arcade games are some of the most exciting bonus rounds you can find in online slots. Typically, these features come in the form of a game-within-a-game. Usually played on a different screen, complete with eye-catching visuals and fun sound effects.
Also known as mini-games, arcade games can take on a range of formats from shooting games to small slot machines and more, each of them uniquely designed to excite
and delight. Also don’t worry. You won’t need any extra skills to play them, but you will need to prepare for just how thrilling they can be!
Why bonus features matter
Why indeed? Are they really necessary to have around, and do they perform any kind of function other than adding more excitement and more thrills?
Actually, yes. In fact, bonus features do more than just spice things up. They’re vital to understanding a slot’s volatility, return to player (RTP) percentages, and potential payout structure. Let’s take a look.
Volatility
Each different bonus feature is suited to a particular type of volatility. So whether you’re a fan of low, medium or high volatility, here’s what you can expect:
Low to medium volatility: Games with frequent small bonuses, such as mini pick-and-win games – perfect for more casual players.
High volatility: Games with hugely rewarding features such as 100x multipliers or expanding free spins – ideal for thrill-seekers after big wins.
RTP
Want to try and boost your RTP percentages? Slot machine bonus features can help! Look for slots with free spins that offer added extras like multipliers or sticky wilds. As these can significantly increase your RTP value, particularly if there’s an option to retrigger them. More than just fun, they’re great value too!
Entertainment value
Speaking of value, that’s exactly what slots bonus features provide, specifically when it comes to your casino experience. That’s because the exhilaration of slots lies in their variety. That from spin to spin, you never know what you’re going to get. Bonus features add to this anticipation, elevating your enjoyment into the stratosphere!
How to make the most of slot machine bonus features
Want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to slots features? Here’s to reap the rewards you deserve:
Check the paytable:
Want to know if a slot is worth playing? Check the paytable to find out. You’ll have all the bonus mechanics, trigger conditions, and potential payouts laid out before you. Helping you decide whether it’s worth placing your bets or not.
Know your volatility level:
Prefer the ongoing momentum of steady small wins over infrequent larger ones? Then don’t blow through your bankroll on high volatility slots. Stick to low or medium-volatility slots instead.
Look for retrigger potential:
There’s always more value to be found in bonus features that retrigger themselves, such as free spins or repins. Look for slots that offer retriggers over one-and-done bonuses. And make your money work for you.
Play for free first:
Trying a slot for the first time? Then before you wager your actual money, test it out in demo mode first. You’ll learn how its features trigger and whether they suit your play style, all without risking your own cash.
Don’t rely on features alone:
Just because a slot has bonus features available doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll trigger one or all of them during a gaming session. So don’t rely on them to boost your bankroll, because you could be out of luck. Instead, manage your budget wisely as you usually do, and look at bonus features as extra thrills rather than guarantees.
Your Bonus Adventure Starts Here
As you can see, slot machine bonus features are more than simply extras. They’re an integral part of slots design that add to the entire gambling experience. Rather than simply placing bets automatically, you’ll be drawn into a mini adventure. One that can surprise you, challenge you, and (if you’re lucky) reward you generously as well.
Whether you love the simplicity of wilds, the thrill of jackpots, or the unpredictability of cascading reels. Understanding how slots bonus features work can give you a deeper appreciation for online slots themselves. And teach you how to get the most fun out of every spin.
So next time you log onto your online casino and load your favourite game, pay attention to any high value symbols, triggers, and mini-games on offer. Because you might just discover that the real magic of slots isn’t the spin itself. It’s what happens after the reels come to a stop. Good luck, and happy gaming!