Games

Bonus game

A slot special feature that unlocks extras: free spins, multipliers or a separate mini-game.

Also: bonus round · bonus round · bonus feature

Definition

A bonus game is a special part of a slot triggered by a certain symbol combination or by scatter symbols. It can award free spins, multipliers, or open a separate mini-game with larger wins.

How the trigger works

In most slots the trigger is a scatter symbol. A scatter differs from a regular symbol in that it doesn't have to land on a payline — it's enough for the required number of them to appear anywhere on screen. The most common condition is three or more scatters on a single spin. Some games use different mechanics: a collection meter that fills across several spins, or a randomly triggered feature that needs no symbol combination at all. Inside the bonus game, some titles also allow a retrigger, adding further spins to a round already in progress.

What a bonus round typically pays

Free spins — the most common form, frequently with a multiplier attached.
Multipliers — wins are multiplied by a set factor, which in some games climbs as the round goes on.
Modified reels — sticky wilds, expanding symbols, low-value symbols removed, or extra paylines added.
Pick-and-win mini-game — an interactive stage where you reveal prizes until a terminating symbol appears.
Prize wheel or jackpot round — a separate tier reachable only through the bonus feature.

Bonus games are often the part where a game's biggest wins occur. Triggering one is not the same as winning big, though: most bonus rounds end on a modest amount, and it's the rare outliers that stick in memory and give the feature a bigger reputation than the statistics support.

Buying the bonus

Some slots offer a "bonus buy" feature that lets you purchase the bonus game outright instead of waiting for it. The purchase price is always a multiple of a normal bet, so the same bankroll burns down far faster — one unsuccessful buy can cost as much as dozens of ordinary spins. The feature isn't permitted everywhere, and in some games the theoretical return on a bought bonus differs from the base game; the game's own info sheet states this. If you use it, budget in purchases rather than in spins.

The volatility connection

How often a bonus game arrives, and how much it can pay, depends on the game's volatility. High-volatility slots trigger the feature less often but carry more upside inside it — which is exactly why the base game can feel cold for long stretches. Low-volatility games hand out the feature more frequently, for smaller amounts. The practical consequence: at the same theoretical return, a high-volatility game's session outcomes are far more spread out, so it calls for a smaller stake per spin if the balance is to last until the bonus game shows up.

Judging what a bonus round is worth

When free spins arrive as a promotional offer, their expected value can be estimated: the number of spins times the value per spin gives the total stake, which is then read against the game's return percentage and the offer's wagering requirement. The free spins value calculator handles that arithmetic in seconds — and the result is often more modest than the advertised spin count suggests.

Related terms

Quick facts

Often scatter symbolsTrigger

Free spinsMost common form

A game’s biggest winsPotential

Example: three scatter symbols trigger a bonus game giving 10 free spins with a 3× multiplier — this is exactly where a game’s biggest wins can occur.

How is a bonus game triggered?

Trigger symbols

The bonus game often opens with three or more scatter symbols.

Free spins

The most common form is a free-spins round, often with multipliers.

Separate mini-game

Some games open an interactive bonus part where you pick prizes.

Greatest potential

The biggest wins usually occur in the bonus game.

Frequently asked questions

Can a bonus game be bought?

Some slots have a “bonus buy” feature that lets you buy the bonus game outright. It isn’t allowed everywhere and significantly raises the bet risk.

How often does a bonus game trigger?

Depends on the game and volatility. High-volatility slots trigger the bonus game less often but potentially more profitably.

Guide

Bonus Game (Bonusmäng) — what it is and why it matters in slots

A bonus game, known in Estonian as bonusmäng, is a special slot feature that triggers alongside the ordinary base game and unlocks opportunities that simply do not exist during standard spins. The short definition mentions free spins, multipliers or a separate mini-game, but in practice there is a whole layer of mechanics behind it that gives a slot its depth and makes each session unpredictable. The bonus game is not mere decoration — it is often the part of the game where most of the slot's potential payout is actually realised, which is exactly why an Estonian player should understand how it works before deciding on a budget.

The most common way to open a bonus game is by collecting scatter symbols: when enough of these special markers land on the reels, the slot launches a free-spins round, a fortune wheel, a "pick and click" mini-game, or an entirely separate screen with its own rules. Some slots also offer a bonus buy feature that lets you purchase entry to the bonus round directly, but this option is not always available in licensed Estonian environments and its price usually costs many times a single spin's stake. It is important to grasp that entry into a bonus game is governed by the slot's certified random number generator (RNG), not by the player's skill or by how many spins have already been made.

Local context matters for players in Estonia. By law, wagering real money on games of chance is permitted only for people aged 21 and over, and only in environments holding a remote gambling licence issued by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (EMTA). The slots offered by licensed operators are independently tested and their theoretical return to player (RTP) is publicly verifiable, which reassures the player that the outcome of a bonus feature is not being manipulated by hand. This is why freespin.ee always recommends choosing licensed environments and reading each specific slot's rules, since the trigger frequency and volatility of a bonus game vary considerably from title to title.

Several misconceptions are widespread. The first is the belief that a bonus game is "due" after a losing streak — this is a fallacy, because every spin is independent of the last and the slot owes no one a bonus round. The second is the expectation that every bonus game ends in a big win; in reality a bonus round may produce a modest or even minimal result, since multipliers and free spins guarantee nothing. The third confuses a slot's built-in bonus feature with a casino's bonus offers — a welcome bonus or a free-spins promotion is a completely different thing, even though both use similar vocabulary.

In the end, a bonus game is what makes a slot exciting, yet it does not change the underlying mathematics in the player's favour. Play responsibly: set yourself a clear time and money limit in advance, treat the bonus game as entertainment rather than a source of income, and if you feel your play is no longer under control, use the EMTA self-exclusion register (HAMPI) or seek support. Gambling is intended only for those aged 21 and over.

Wrote and tested

Sander Rebane

Safety and responsible-gaming editor

Fact-checked

Rasmus Oja

Editor-in-chief · casino reviews

Verified July 2026 · Independent, not funded by any operatorRead the methodology