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Slots Bonus Features

Summary: Triggering a slot bonus feature can be as simple as landing three matching symbols on an active payline. This can launch a bonus round with payout-boosting features like multipliers, respins, wilds, expanding wilds, and cascading reels.

Table of Contents:

Slot Bonus Features

Slot bonus features are ‘next level’ when playing the reels and are the main draw of modern machines for most slot aficionados. Backed by video slot mechanics that came into play in the late 90s, slot machines are now well beyond levers and spinning reels. Slot games are at their peak of creativity and innovation, especially when it comes to bonus features and immersive bonus rounds.

Triggering a slot bonus feature can be as simple as landing three matching symbols on an active payline. This can launch a bonus round with payout boosting features like multipliers, respins, wilds, expanding wilds, cascading reels, and even an incredibly entertaining mini side-game.

Let’s talk about a few slot bonus features that you’ll likely come across.

  • Free Spins & Respins award spins, with no additional wagering or action required.
  • Multipliers, as their name suggests, multiply your winnings anywhere from x1 to upwards of x5,000.
  • Wilds are symbols that can substitute for other symbols on the reels to create winning combinations. Expanding wilds can overtake entire reels, making way for serious winning potential.
  • Scatters can create winning combinations from anywhere on the reels.
  • Cascading reels (Avalanche, Tumbling, Falling reels) are a feature during which symbols fall off the grid and are replaced by new ones, creating multiple winning opportunities on a single spin.
  • Player Picks are an all-time favourite mini-game bonus round during which the onus is on the player to pick and click an option to uncover a hidden bonus or prize.

Types of Slot Bonus Features

Slot games come with a variety of bonus features, each adding a unique twist to the gameplay. Here are some of the most common types you’ll encounter:

Free Spins

Free spins are a staple bonus feature in many slot games, allowing players to spin the reels several times without touching their balance. Any winnings from these spins are credited directly to the player’s account. In some games, free spins come with multipliers that can significantly increase payouts.

How to Trigger Free Spins

Players typically need to land a specific combination of symbols on the reels to activate free spins, most commonly scatter symbols in a slot game. The number and placement of these symbols required to trigger free spins can vary by game, so it’s crucial to consult the game’s rules or paytable beforehand.

Some slots also feature re-triggering capabilities, allowing players to earn more free spins if they land additional scatter symbols during the free spins round. In these cases, the number of free spins might be increased or reset to the original amount, extending the bonus round and increasing the potential for greater winnings.

Variations of Free Spins

  • No Deposit Free Spins: Offered as part of a casino's welcome package, these do not require any initial deposit and allow new players to try slot games risk-free.
  • Deposit Free Spins: As the name suggests, these free spins are awarded upon making a deposit. They are usually part of the welcome bonus or given out as weekly bonuses to regular players.
  • In-Game Free Spins: Triggered within the slot game by landing specific symbols, these may include additional features such as multipliers or special symbols.
  • No Wagering Free Spins: Any winnings from these spins are immediately withdrawable, with no wagering requirements involved.

Respins and Bonus Rounds

First, let’s quickly discuss respins versus free spins. The latter, free spins, are awarded at no extra cost to the player. They’re usually triggered by matching symbols on the reels and can award anywhere from one to an excess of 100 free spins. That means, no additional wagering or action is required, the reels simply spin until the free spins counter runs out. During this bonus, all wins accumulate and are added to your balance as one lump sum upon completion of the bonus free spins round.

Respins on the other hand, can turn a non-winning spin into a winner. In fact, some slots award a respin on a non-winning spin, sometimes locking wilds or scatters in place. They’re basically an advantageous spin opportunity that attempts to turn non-winning spins into winners! They’re often found as a bonus feature in modern slots, but are becoming more commonplace as a buyable bonus in an effort to take another shot at winning with one spin.

Multipliers

Multipliers are exciting features in slot games that increase your payouts by multiplying the value of a winning combination by a specific factor. For example, a 2x multiplier doubles your winnings, while a 3x multiplier triples them. These multipliers can take different forms, such as base game multipliers that apply during regular spins, wild multipliers that not only substitute for other symbols but also enhance your payout, or special multipliers that are activated during bonus rounds or free spins.

Types of Multipliers: Fixed vs. Progressive

Multipliers in slot games can generally be categorized into the following:

  • Fixed Multipliers: These multipliers have a set value (like 2x or 5x) and do not change during gameplay. They can appear in the base game, free spins, or bonus rounds and apply consistently to your winnings.
  • Progressive Multipliers: These increase incrementally with each consecutive win or spin. The multiplier might start at 1x and rise with every win, reaching 5x, 10x, or more.

Strategies to Maximize Multipliers

To maximize the benefits of multipliers, consider the following strategies:

  • Study the slot’s paytable and rules to know when and how multipliers are applied.
  • Since progressive multipliers build up over time, longer gaming sessions may allow you to reach higher multipliers, especially if the game rewards consecutive wins.
  • Playing slot demos is an excellent way to understand how different multipliers work and to develop strategies to benefit from them when playing with real money.
  • Go for slots that offer features like cascading reels or progressive multipliers, as they provide more opportunities for consecutive wins and higher multipliers.

Wild Symbols

Wild symbols are special icons in slot games that can substitute for other symbols (except for scatters and other special symbols) to help create or complete winning combinations. By doing so, these symbols increase the chances of forming a winning line, which can lead to higher payouts. These symbols are usually represented by symbols that represent the theme of the slot being played. For instance, the wolf serves as the wild in the popular Wolf Gold slot.

Types of Wilds

In slot games, Wilds can be found in the following variations:

  • Expanding Wilds: These wilds expand either vertically or horizontally to cover an entire reel, enhancing the potential for multiple wins. They are often triggered by landing another wild symbol or randomly during the game.
  • Sticky Wilds: As the name suggests, sticky wilds remain on the reels for a set number of spins. They are commonly found during free spins or other special. features, where they stay in place to maximize winning opportunities over multiple spins.
  • Shifting (or Walking) Wilds: These wild symbols move across the reels in a specific direction, usually with each spin, until they disappear off the screen.
  • Stacked Wilds: These wilds appear in stacks, filling entire reels or parts of them.

Scatter Symbols

Scatter symbols are also special symbols in slot games. They usually trigger bonus features or free spins, regardless of where they land on the reels. Unlike regular symbols, which need to line up on a payline, scatter symbols can unlock bonuses even if they appear scattered across the reels. A well-known example is the "Book of Dead" slot, where the tomb symbol acts as both the scatter and the wild.

How to Trigger Scatter Bonuses

To activate the bonus features linked to scatter symbols, you need to land a specific number of these symbols during a spin. In most slots, three or more scatter symbols are required to trigger a bonus round or free spins. The exact number and the type of bonus can vary depending on the game.

The type of scatter features you activate while playing slots can vary from one title to another. In some games, scatter symbols trigger a free spin round where you can spin the reels multiple times without using your credits. In others, scatters may activate a mini-game or a bonus round where you can win additional prizes.

Tumbling and Cascading Reels

Cascading or tumbling reels are a delightful experience when playing slots as they can bring multiple wins your way from a single spin. They fall under many names including cascading reels, tumbling reels, rolling reels, falling reels, or even avalanche reels, and they all work in similar fashion. Once an active payline hits, all the symbols that contributed to the win fall out of place, making way for new symbols. These new symbols fill the gaps and hopefully, bring more wins your way. This process of winning symbols falling out and new ones filling in continues until no more wins come of it. It’s really the spin that keeps on giving!

Other Bonus Features

Bonus Games

Bonus games in slots are unique features that offer extra rewards or interactive experiences beyond regular gameplay. These games can vary widely, including free spins, multipliers, or mini-games that allow for potentially higher payouts. Typically, you activate bonus games by landing specific combinations of symbols, such as wilds or scatters, or by accumulating certain items during play. These bonus rounds often provide a fresh and exciting way to boost your winnings and keep the action engaging.

Bonus Buy Feature

It’s all in the name; bonus buy feature. Many slot machines allow you to forgo the anticipation of triggering a bonus round and instead, buy your way directly in. While it’s not as exciting to seek a trigger, it does get you immediately playing for the biggest payouts of the game.

Be forewarned, if you’re going to bypass the triggering process, it’s going to cost you. The cost can vary of course slot machine by slot machine, but it’s usually calculated as a multiple of your stake for the spin. If you enjoy immediate gratification, and you know who you are, this direct buy-in option is a great idea and gets you playing for potential big paydays pronto!

Interactive Bonus Rounds

Interactive bonus rounds provide a game-within-a-game experience, often requiring player input or choices. These rounds might include tasks like picking objects to reveal prizes (pick-and-click games), spinning wheels for rewards, or participating in arcade-style challenges. A slot might also feature a Gamble Feature, where players have to predict the outcome of a coin flip or guess the correct card to double or quadruple their wins.

Pick-and-Click Bonus Games

Pick-and-Click or Pick Me games are a popular type of bonus round in slots. In these rounds, players are presented with several items on the screen and asked to pick one or more. Each item hides a prize, such as cash rewards, multipliers, or additional free spins. Pick-and-Click Bonus Games often feature a themed background that matches the slot’s overall design.

Jackpot Features

Jackpot slots are a popular type of slot that offers players the chance to win large sums of money. They are known as jackpots. There are two main types of jackpots:

Progressive Jackpots

These jackpots grow with every bet placed on the game across multiple casinos or machines. A small percentage of each wager is added to the jackpot pool, allowing it to grow continuously until someone wins it.

These jackpots can reach millions, as seen with games like Games Global's Mega Moolah, which holds the record for the highest slot win ever recorded. However, the odds of winning a progressive jackpot are relatively low due to the large number of participants and the vast network of connected machines.

Fixed Jackpots

On the other hand, Fixed Jackpots offer a constant prize that does not change regardless of how many bets are placed. These are typically easier to win compared to progressives but have smaller payouts.

The Best Slots with Bonus Features

Free spins, pick-and-click rounds, cascading or tumbling reels, expanding wilds, multipliers, and interactive mini-games are among the most popular slot bonuses today.

Many modern titles seamlessly blend these features, creating more engaging gameplay without overcomplicating the experience.

Here, we've compiled a selection of the most engaging slots featuring standout bonus mechanics currently available at LeoVegas.

Each entry details how these features are activated and explains why they add a layer of excitement to your play.

Big Bass Bonanza

Big Bass Bonanza by Pragmatic Play runs on a 5x3 grid with 10 fixed paylines.

A fan favourite, the game unfolds in a cheerful underwater setting with popping graphics and bright colours.

Symbols on the reels include standard card values (A-10) as lower-paying icons, while higher-value symbols consist of fishing equipment, such as tackle boxes, dragonflies, fishing rods, and various fish.

Big Bass Bonanza runs on a high volatility model and offers an RTP of 96.71%.

The unique Money Symbols, represented by special fish that display prize values, and the progressive Free Spins Round form the heart of Big Bass Bonanza. The bonus triggers when three or more fish scatter symbols land, awarding 10 to 20 spins. During the round, the fisherman wild collects the cash values shown on all visible fish symbols, which can reach up to 2,000x the bet.

If multiple fisherman wilds appear on the same spin, each one collects the full set of prizes. These wilds are tracked in a meter, and collecting four retriggers the feature with 10 more free spins and progressive multipliers of up to 10x. The round can be retriggered up to three times, with a total cap of 50 spins.

Legacy of Dead

Legacy of Dead by Play'n GO runs on a classic 5x3 grid with 10 paylines and immerses players in the mystique of Egyptian tomb exploration.

The reels sit against a backdrop of ancient temple walls adorned with hieroglyphs and illuminated by flickering torches. The game's symbols include standard card royals (10, J, Q, K, A) as lower-value icons, accompanied by thematic symbols like scarab beetles, the deity Anubis, golden pharaoh masks, an explorer, and a burial chamber.

This high-volatility slot has an RTP of 96.58%.

The Free Spins bonus activates when three or more burial chamber scatter symbols appear, awarding 10 free spins and instant prizes of up to 200x your stake.

At the start of this bonus, one symbol is randomly chosen to expand and fill entire reels when it lands, significantly boosting potential wins. Retriggering the bonus round adds an additional special symbol without removing the original, allowing up to nine expanding symbols to be active simultaneously. A coloured bar above the reels keeps track of the activated symbols, further enhancing the excitement as the bonus progresses.

Wolf Gold

Wolf Gold by Pragmatic Play takes place amid rugged canyons and sun-scorched deserts, embracing a North American wilderness theme. The reels feature high-value symbols such as eagles, stallions, pumas, and wolves, accompanied by standard card values (10 through A) that represent the lower-paying symbols.

The game uses a 5x3 grid with 25 paylines, medium volatility, and an RTP of 96.01%. The Free Spins feature is triggered by landing three scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5, granting five free spins. During these spins, the middle reels (2, 3, and 4) combine into one large symbol, creating dynamic visual appeal and enhanced win potential. Additionally, the Money Respins feature activates when six or more moon symbols appear, awarding three respins. Each new moon symbol resets the respin counter, and filling the reels can unlock one of three progressive jackpots, with the Mega Jackpot offering a prize worth 1,000x your stake.

Gates of Olympus

Gates of Olympus from Pragmatic Play is one of the most celebrated slots in the Greek mythology genre.

Set atop Mount Olympus with Zeus levitating beside marble columns, the game is played on a 6x5 grid and features gem symbols (blue, green, yellow, purple, and red) as low-paying symbols and Zeus' attributes (chalice, ring, hourglass, and crown) as premium symbols. The slot offers a 96.5% RTP and extremely high volatility.

Gates of Olympus features a Tumble Mechanic that removes winning symbols and drops new ones to create continuous wins without limits. Multiplier Symbols appear randomly with values up to 500x, applying to total wins after tumbles complete.

The Free Spins Round awards 15 spins, and what makes this feature special is that multiplier values accumulate into a global multiplier that never resets, only growing throughout the bonus round. Landing 3 or more scatters adds 5 more spins with unlimited retriggers.

9 Masks of Fire

Gameburger Studios delivers an African-themed slot on a 5x3 grid with 20 paylines and 96.24% RTP.

The 9 Masks of Fire slot features classic slot icons, such as cherries, bars, bells, and dollar signs, along with four variations of lucky sevens adorned with patterns. These symbols appear against a burgundy background with golden frames and burning flame effects.

The glowing-eyed Mask scatter pays instant prizes up to 2,000x when 3-9 appear, with a flame indicator showing potential wins. Free spins are triggered via shield symbols on reels 2-4, launching a prize wheel awarding 10-30 spins with 2x or 3x multipliers. What sets this feature apart is that Fire 7s can return outcomes without needing to form traditional combinations, while additional Mask scatters continue to appear, allowing for unlimited retriggering.

Buffalo King MEGAWAYS

Pragmatic Play expands its popular wilderness slot with Buffalo King Megaways, bringing a rugged canyon backdrop to a 6-reel format powered by the Megaways engine.

Each reel can show up to 7 symbols, while an additional horizontal reel spans the middle four, allowing for up to 200,704 ways to win. Wildlife symbols, including moose, wolves, cougars, eagles, and buffaloes, appear alongside 10-A card icons, all set against a weathered, natural landscape.

Buffalo King Megaways runs at high volatility and offers a 96.52% RTP.

The game features cascading reels that trigger consecutive wins when matching combinations are removed and replaced by new symbols. The Free Spins round activates with 4, 5, or 6 scatters, awarding 12, 17, or 22 spins plus instant returns of up to 100x. A standout mechanic lies in the multiplier system, where wilds carry individual 2x, 3x, or 5x values that stack within a single tumble sequence before resetting between spins. Retriggers are possible, with 5 extra spins awarded for every three scatters. An Ante Bet can be activated to double the chances of triggering free spins, and a bonus buy is also available for 100x the stake.

Book of Dead

Play’n GO’s Book of Dead follows adventurer Rich Wilde into the depths of ancient Egyptian tombs in search of legendary treasures. The slot features a 5x3 grid with 10 adjustable paylines and includes symbols such as Rich Wilde himself, the deities Anubis and Horus, as well as A, K, Q, J, and 10 card values.

High volatility and a 96.21% RTP round out the game’s setup.

The Free Spins round activates when three or more Book scatter symbols land, awarding 10 spins with the potential for retriggers. Before the round begins, one symbol is randomly chosen to become a Special Expanding Symbol, which expands to fill entire reels and pays even when not on adjacent positions. This mechanic opens the door to wins of up to 5,000x if five Rich Wilde symbols fill the screen. A gamble option is also available, allowing base game wins to be doubled or quadrupled by correctly guessing the colour or suit of a hidden card.

Immortal Romance

Games Global’s Immortal Romance follows a gothic vampire storyline featuring four central characters: vampires Michael and Troy, and humans Sarah and Amber.

Set against a dark cathedral backdrop with gargoyles perched above the reels, the 5-reel, 3-row slot runs with 243 ways to win and medium volatility. The RTP is listed at 96.86%.

Symbols include 9-A card values, gothic imagery like a castle, quill, and spellbook, along with the game’s central characters.

The Chamber of Spins feature in this slot isn’t a typical free spin feature; it operates on a tiered progression system where new bonus rounds unlock based on how many times the feature has been triggered.

Starting with Amber’s 10 spins at a 5x multiplier, triggering the feature five times unlocks Troy’s 15 spins with Vampire Bats creating up to 6x multipliers, then 10 total triggers grant access to Michael’s 20 spins with Rolling Reels and progressive multipliers. Finally, 15 triggers unlock Sarah’s 25 spins featuring Wild Vine symbol transformations.

The slot also comes with a randomly triggered Wild Desire feature that can turn up to 5 reels completely wild for potential wins exceeding 12,000x.

Sweet Bonanza

Pragmatic Play’s Sweet Bonanza serves up a vibrant candy-themed world on a 6x5 grid, replacing traditional paylines with a cluster pay system that awards wins for eight or more matching symbols anywhere on the screen.

The reels are filled with bright fruit symbols like apples, plums, watermelons, grapes, and bananas, alongside gem-shaped candies in green, blue, red, and purple.

This medium-to-high volatility slot offers a 96.51% RTP.

The Tumble feature removes winning symbols after each return, dropping new ones from above to potentially create consecutive wins without limit. Before spinning, a bet level is selected: 20x allows for bonus buys at 100x the stake, while 25x disables the buy option but increases the chance of landing scatters.

Four or more lollipop scatters trigger 10 free spins with instant returns of 2x, 4x, or 80x for 4, 5, or 6 scatters, respectively. The standout element appears in the free spins round, where random multiplier bombs land with values from 2x to 100x and apply to the total return of that spin. When multiple bombs appear, their values are combined. Three or more scatters during the bonus add 5 extra spins.

9 Pots of Gold MEGAWAYS

Gameburger Studios takes its popular 9 Pots of Gold slot and gives it the Megaways treatment, creating a highly volatile instalment that builds on the original’s formula.

9 Pots of Gold MEGAWAYS features 6 reels with up to 7 symbols per reel, generating up to 117,649 ways to win at full capacity.

Staying true to the Irish leprechaun theme, the slot displays four-leaf clovers, harps, Celtic hats, and golden 7s as premium symbols against a vibrant countryside backdrop. The Epic Strike feature delivers instant cash prizes when landing at least 3 Epic Strike scatters (pots of gold with rainbows), awarding up to 2,000x.

Free spins are triggered by spelling G, O, L, D with four scatter symbols, granting 10 free spins plus 5 additional spins per extra scatter. The free spins feature includes a progressive win multiplier that increases after each Rolling Reels cascade with no upper limit, a notable mechanic worth looking out for. Retrigger scatters can appear during the feature, with every 4 collected adding 4 extra free spins.

A bonus buy option is also available in some versions, offering 10, 15, or 20 free spins at set prices based on the chosen amount.

Slot Bonus Features FAQ

What are the most common slot bonus features?

Free Spins, Multipliers, Expanding Wilds, Re-Spins, and Bonus Games are some of the most popular bonus features found in slots.

How do I trigger bonus features in slot games?

Bonus features are typically triggered by landing specific combinations of symbols on the reels. For example, landing a certain number of scatter symbols anywhere on the reels often activates Free Spins or a bonus game. Bonus symbols usually need to appear in a particular sequence to unlock bonuses. In some cases, wild symbols can trigger additional features when they appear in certain patterns. Some slots also have random bonus rounds that can activate spontaneously during gameplay without needing any specific symbol combination.

Can slot bonus features really increase my winnings?

Yes, bonus features like free spins, multipliers, jackpots, and wilds can significantly boost your winnings by increasing the payout or providing extra opportunities to win.

What is the difference between fixed and progressive jackpots?

A fixed jackpot has a set payout amount that does not change, regardless of how many times it is won. In contrast, a progressive jackpot grows with every bet placed on the game. A portion of each wager is added to the jackpot pool, allowing it to build up until someone wins. After a progressive jackpot is hit, it resets to a base amount and begins accumulating again.

How do I choose a slot game with the best bonus features?

To select a slot game with the best bonus features, look for games offering a variety of bonuses like Free Spins, Multipliers, and Bonus Games. Choose games with features you enjoy, such as cascading reels or pick-me games, and check the game’s Return to Player (RTP) rate. Generally, a higher RTP suggests a better chance of winning over time.

How do you trigger free spins on a slot machine?

This really depends on the specific slot machine you’re playing, but in many cases, it’s as easy as landing three matching “Free Spins” symbols on the reels. Exact combinations, active paylines, and symbol graphics vary of course, but you get the just of it.

Once a free spins bonus round is triggered, the free spins begin rolling immediately and automatically. Whatever number you’ve been awarded is displayed on the game matrix and will count down with every spin. Note, that all wins are accumulated and will be added to your balance once the free spins round completes.

More good news ~ many slot machines’ free spin bonus rounds can be re-triggered. Meaning, you can trigger free spins while enjoying them, and these additional awarded spins will be added to the counter for more chances of winning big.

What triggers a jackpot on a slot machine?

It really comes down to what game you’re playing. The millions dollar+ jackpot of Mega Moolah is awarded when the jackpot wheel bonus feature is triggered, which can happen randomly on any spin. When the bonus feature pops up, you’re one spin away from landing one of its four progressive jackpots. Other jackpot slot machines, like Book of Atem WowPot! give players a chance to spin the jackpot wheel only after a certain amount of specific symbols have been collected through play on the reels.

Always remember that each slot machine works and awards prizes and jackpots differently. Be sure to check the paytable for each game or pay close attention to its intro upon launching the slot. For many slot games, you’re going to need to bet the max in order to win the life-changing multi-million dollar big ones.

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