Bonus buy slots were first introduced in the UK in 2017 and were a huge hit. But then, upon some lengthy deliberation, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the governing body that regulates casinos and any gambling establishments in the UK, decided to ban them for the good of the people.

Therefore, the short answer to this is no. Bonus buying features are not available in the UK.

But there is more to it, and in this post, we will explore bonus buy slots further. Discussing what they are, whether they still exist and why they were banned in the UK.

What Are Bonus Buy Slots?

Bonus buy slots are exactly what they sound like; slots that allow you to buy access to the bonus features. Modern slot games are not short on extra features, including extra spins, jackpots, pick-me rounds, and more! 

However, in order to activate or trigger these bonus features, you typically need to satisfy a certain requirement, such as collecting ‘x’ number of tokens or landing certain symbols in certain positions. 

Because slot games are so unpredictable and random, there’s no telling if or when this may happen. 

So, to avoid the wait and to be able to just get to it, some modern slot games have a bonus buy feature where you can gain access to the bonus feature straight away for a certain cost.

Some sites may refer to a bonus buy as a feature buy or feature drop. Furthermore, a feature buy slot is no different from other slot games, save for the fact that it gives you the option to buy your way to the bonus.

Slots Where You Can Buy The Bonus – Do They Exist?

Bonus buy slot games still do exist outside of the UK. So, if you are based outside of the UK, then you may still be able to access this feature in slot games. However, while the slots themselves may still be available in the UK, the bonus buying feature will not be. 

All trustworthy online casinos in the UK are licensed and regulated by the UKGC, and as part of this, they do not allow bonus buying. We strongly advise against playing slot games anywhere that doesn’t comply with the rules and regulations imposed by the UKGC due to a potential lack of security and accountability. 

It is best to play at licensed casinos, such as King Casino, to ensure that your information is protected and you can enjoy a secure and fair gambling experience.

Why Were Bonus Buy Slots Banned?

The UKGC is constantly looking for ways to improve gambling experiences for all casino game players. Therefore, they took an executive decision to ban this feature to protect players from problem gambling and using money they cannot afford to lose.

Bonus buying allows players to go straight to the bonus features by spending more money. However, bonus buying does not improve your chances of winning or guarantee that you will win at all; it just gives you access to bonus features without having to trigger them randomly. 

As a result, the UKGC saw it fit to ban this feature because, ultimately, it encouraged players to spend more money. 

Conclusion

Due to its potential to cause problem gambling and encourage uncontrollable spending, bonus buying has been banned in the UK since 2019. So if you are in the UK and you find a casino that allows bonus buying, that casino is not regulated and licensed, which means it may be unsafe and untrustworthy.

The slot games themselves are still available; they just no longer offer the bonus buying feature if playing in the UK.

Always ensure you are playing at a trusted casino like King Casino, where you can find hundreds of incredible slot games.

*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this slot game are subject to change at any time.