Beginner's Guide to Understanding Popular Video Slot Bonus Features

While most people approach online slots with a “press the button and see what happens” mentality, we always encourage new players to take the time to learn how the casino games work.

Not only does this increase your enjoyment of the titles you try, but it can also help you avoid wasting your bankroll on bad bets.

Top 15 Online Slot Bonus Features

To get you started, here is a quick look at some of the most popular bonus features you find when playing at your chosen real money casino.

1. Free Spins:

Triggering the free spins feature while playing a slot machine gives you a set number of spins at your current bet level without requiring an additional stake.

These free games are often played on a special reel setup that comes with enhanced features, different symbol configurations, or additional ways to win. Some free spin rounds can also award additional spins, allowing the feature to continue for longer.

2. Respins:

This bonus feature is similar to free spins in that you get to play for no additional stake, but the exact mechanics can vary between games. In some cases, you get a set number of respins that tick down when no qualifying symbol lands, but reset to the maximum amount when another qualifying symbol lands.

These games often go hand in hand with sticky symbols and the chance to win a jackpot. Both are described later in this post.

3. Bonus Buy:

In many cases, the top payout is only available during a bonus game. The Bonus Buy feature allows players to access these rounds instantly by paying an enhanced fee rather than waiting for it to trigger organically. The cost can range considerably between games, with some Bonus Buy options costing several times the normal bet.

These bonus rounds generally use the same core mechanics as they would have had they been triggered through gameplay, although some casino games may alter the bonus configuration when it is purchased. Availability can also depend on the player's jurisdiction.

4. Wild Symbols:

Wild symbols are one of the most common special features in any slot game. These symbols will substitute for any paying symbol to complete a winning combination.

Check the rules to see if the Wild can complete all winning combinations, or if it has restrictions on which symbols it can substitute for. Some Wilds can also have additional features, such as multipliers, expansion or the ability to become sticky.

5. Sticky Wilds:

During the bonus round and respins, Wilds can become sticky symbols which lock in place while the reels spin again.

This allows you to accumulate consecutive winning combinations from the same Wild symbol.

6. Walking Wilds:

A fun innovation on the Sticky Wild is the Walking Wild, where the Wild symbols move across the reels between spins.

The most common option is for the Wild to stay on its row and either move left or right, but in some cases the developers have allowed the Wild to jump around the reels and land on random spots.

7. Expanding Wilds:

The Expanding Wild is one of the more visually impactful variants of this feature.

Rather than a winning combination having to pass through the spot the Wild occupies, the Wild can expand to fill the entire reel, or cover additional positions on the reels, allowing it to complete multiple winning combinations.

8. Scatter Symbols:

Scatter symbols are the most common special symbol on the reels of a slot machine that can offer free spins, bonus mini-games, or other rewards.

Collecting a preset number of Scatters will often be the trigger for activating the associated bonus game, although some games award a direct cash prize or another reward. Scatters also typically don't need to land on a specific payline to activate their feature.

9. Win Multipliers:

A win multiplier can be applied when specific conditions are met during a spin or bonus round.

This will see a winning combination or other qualifying reward increase in value anywhere from x2 up to whatever multiplier level the developer wants to offer.

10. Cascading/Tumbling Reels:

Cascading Reels are a fun way for developers to allow players a chance to string together consecutive wins.

Whenever a winning combination is formed, those symbols are removed with new symbols falling onto the reels to take their place. Get lucky, and these symbols will form new winning combinations.

11. Pick-and-Click Bonuses:

These bonus games are fantastic for engagement as they offer an interactive way for players to reveal prizes.

The feature can also be themed to fit the slot. Playing a pirate-themed casino game? The mini-game can centre around selecting several available treasure chests to reveal what loot they contain. Simple but immersive.

12. Hold & Win:

This is a popular bonus feature in slots that offer respins. Once the feature is triggered, special symbols land on the reels and lock in place while respins come into play.

Respins count down until another special symbol lands on the reels, and then they reset. The aim is to collect reward-bearing symbols, or better yet, fill all available spots to win the jackpot prize.

13. Mystery Symbols:

Mystery symbols can also feature transforming mechanics. This can mean low-value base game symbols transform into Wilds or any other high-value symbols.

Some software providers go as far as to include blank symbols, which only reveal their paying value when special conditions are met.

14. Wheel Bonuses:

One of the bonus rounds that can be triggered by landing specific symbols, collecting Scatters, or meeting other conditions is the Wheel Bonus. This mini-game allows players to spin a segmented wheel containing win multipliers, free spins, or jackpot prizes.

Some prize wheels are tiered and contain segments that launch even higher-value prize wheels with bigger multipliers and jackpot rewards.

15. Progressive Jackpots:

Nothing is more exciting than being awarded a jackpot win. These come in two formats: fixed jackpots and progressive jackpots.

Fixed jackpots offer a preset prize value. Here, the jackpot amount remains fixed regardless of how many players have played the game or how long it has been since the last jackpot was won.

Progressive Jackpots use a fraction of qualifying bets or spins to fund a growing prize pool. These jackpots have minimum seed values and can feature different prize tiers, with the value growing until the relevant jackpot is won.

Getting Started with Top Slot Entertainment

Now that you’re armed with insights and information, all that is left is to take your knowledge for a spin. We recommend a two-tier approach.

First, check out our collection of free-to-play demo games and practice before you spend any money.

With a few practice spins under your belt, the next step is to choose a trusted online casino that offers free spins or a generous deposit bonus to new players. These bonuses will allow you to get more playtime from your deposit by boosting your account balance.