Modern slots are about more than just spinning reels and matching symbols. They now offer an array of exciting bonus features designed to boost both your winnings and your overall gaming experience. Whether you’re exploring the latest titles at an online platform like casino ritzo or playing classic favorites, understanding these mechanics is key.
This guide explores common slot bonus features and how they work.
What are bonus features in slots?
Bonus features are special game elements that provide extra opportunities to win beyond standard gameplay. These features enhance the experience by offering rewards like free spins, multipliers, respins, and dedicated bonus rounds.
Types of bonus features
Here are some of the most popular features found in modern slots:
Bonus games or rounds
Bonus games are mini-games within a slot that offer unique gameplay. They are usually triggered by landing specific combinations of bonus symbols and can range from simple “pick-and-win” games to complex interactive experiences.
Examples: 3 Coins Egypt Hold and Win, Space Cows to the Moon.
Free spins
Free spins allow you to play a set number of rounds without deducting coins from your balance. These rounds often include multipliers or extra symbols to increase payout potential. You might find such features available at Casino Ritzo, offering players a chance to boost their winnings.
Respins
Similar to free spins, respins let the reels spin again for free. However, they are usually limited to one or two spins and often feature “sticky” symbols or expanding wilds that stay in place.
Example: 3 Pots Riches Extra: Hold and Win.
Wild symbols
Wild symbols act like jokers in a deck of cards, substituting for other symbols to complete winning combinations. Some slots feature expanding or sticky wilds for even greater win potential.
Example: Grab More Gold.
Scatter symbols
Scatter symbols are often the key to unlocking bonus rounds. Landing a specific number of scatters anywhere on the reels — not necessarily on a payline — can trigger free spins or mini-games.
Example: Fire Temple Hold and Win.
Multipliers
Multipliers increase your payout by a specific factor. For instance, a 2x multiplier doubles your win, while a 5x multiplier quintuples it.
Example: 3 Hot Chillies Hold and Win.
Pick-and-click bonuses
These interactive features let you choose from several options to reveal hidden prizes, such as cash, multipliers, or free spins.
Example: Fruity Megaways.
Wheel of fortune
Inspired by the famous game show, this feature presents a spinning wheel divided into segments. Players spin the wheel to win rewards, multipliers, or entry into a secondary bonus round.
Example: Immortal Ways Diamonds.
Boost feature
The boost feature randomly improves your chances of winning or increases the prize size by enhancing symbols, adding extra wilds, or multiplying wins.
Example: 5 Wild Buffalo, Giza Nights: Hold and Win.
PowerNudge
If a potential winning combination is just off the screen, the PowerNudge feature allows the reels to shift slightly to bring the win into play.
Copy reels
This feature duplicates symbols from one reel onto one or more adjacent reels, creating synchronized columns that make it much easier to hit a winning combination.
Bonus reels
Some slots activate special reels during bonus rounds. These reels are often loaded with high-value symbols or multipliers not available during the base game.
Example: Money Cart 2.
Win guarantee
A win guarantee ensures you walk away with a minimum prize during a specific feature, such as a free spin round, regardless of the spin outcomes.
Modifiers
Modifiers are random in-game events that alter the mechanics — such as changing the grid size or swapping symbols — to increase your win potential for a specific spin.
Collection feature
This requires players to collect specific symbols or tokens over several spins. Once the target is reached, a special round or prize is unlocked.
Example: Wolf Strike Hold and Win, Diamonds Power Hold and Win.
Treasure chest
Treasure chests act as containers for hidden rewards. Landing a chest symbol or reaching a milestone allows you to open it for prizes like cash or free spins.
Example: Empire Gold: Hold and Win, Pearl Diver 2: Treasure Chest.
Increase your prize feature
Also known as a “gamble” feature, this allows you to risk your current winnings for a chance to double or quadruple them through a mini-game.
Jackpot feature
Jackpots offer the chance for significant payouts. There are two main types:
- Progressive: The prize grows over time as a portion of every bet is added to the pool.
- Fixed: The prize is a predetermined, unchanging amount.
Example: Vegas No Limit Wins, Mad Hit Supernova.
How to trigger slot bonus features
While every game is different, most features are triggered in two ways:
- Symbol combinations: Landing a specific number of Scatters or Bonus symbols on the reels.
- Random triggers: Some features activate purely by chance during any spin, adding an element of surprise.