Slots with Bonus Games

Why Do Slots Have Bonuses?

Most slot providers design slot machines with bonus games, but why do they offer them? Well, it’s simply due to the fact that they’re incredibly popular with players. Most players will pick slot machines with bonus games over those without, so the software providers know that offering at least one bonus game should give their slot machine a boost in popularity.

People love slots with bonuses because they’re exciting and break up the monotony that can come with simply spinning a set of reels time and time again. If you know that free spins could start or expanding wilds could suddenly appear, the excitement rises. The bonus then starts and the adrenaline rush hits, as you know the bonus is going to be exciting, plus it could lead to a big prize.

When we look at why we play slots, we do so for the excitement, as well as the prizes (read more on the psychology of gambling here). There’s really not much else that can boost these excitement levels more than a superbly designed slot bonus.

The Various Types of Slot Bonuses

You’ll find that there are absolutely loads of different types of bonuses, and software providers seem to be thinking of new ones on a constant basis. That’s part of the fun of playing a new slot though: you get to experience a new bonus game, which has a slightly different way of pumping up excitement.

You can generally put bonuses into a few different categories though, and that’s what we’ve done below…

Free Spins Bonuses

Free spins are found at a huge number of slots and they’re regarded by many as the best bonus slot games. They do exactly as their name suggests, as they give you free spins. What’s more, while the free spins are active, you’ll often find that an extra feature is activated. For example, many slots will add a multiplier to all prizes won during the free spins.

Some of the best bonus slot machines with this bonus are Immortal Romance, Jumanji, Book of Oz, Dazzle Me and Bonanza. All these games can be played for free right here at this site.

Second Screen Bonuses

You’ll also find that many slots have second screen bonuses. These are simply bonuses that take place away from the reels. A common second screen bonus is a picking game, where you’ll have to select from different options and win prizes. Some are much more complex though, which can make them exceptionally enjoyable.

There are loads of free slot games with bonuses of this type to play on this site, however some of the best are South Park, Ted, Blood Suckers, Top Cat and Mermaid’s Millions.

Gamble Bonuses

Next up, we’ve got Gamble bonuses, but what exactly are they? Well, they allow those who have just won some money to risk it for a bigger prize. Generally, you’ll need to predict whether the next card will be red or black, or whether a coin will land on heads or tails. Guess correctly and double your money, but guess incorrectly and you’ll lose the money you’ve just won.

You’ll find Gamble games at quite a few slot machines, including Avalon, Safari, Reel King, Geisha and Book of Ra.

How Are Bonus Games Triggered?

There are many ways to trigger bonus features at online slots, however the most popular has to do with the scatter symbol. While normal symbols must be lined up on a prize to award a prize, scatter symbols can be anywhere. At many slots, getting a specific number of scatters on the reels will win you an instant cash prize, plus it will also start the slot bonus, which is often free spins. Also, it’s often the case that the more scatters used to activate the bonus, the better the bonus will be.

Some bonuses will instead start when you manage to get certain symbols on a payline. Often, this method is used when the game already has another bonus that is activated using the scatter symbols. Sometimes the symbols need to be next to each other on the payline and start from the first reel, while other times they can be anywhere on the payline.

Occasionally, a bonus will activate once you’ve collected enough of something. For example, there might be a special symbol and every time one spins into view, it will be added to your tally. Reach the required number and the feature starts. This type of bonus really rewards those who spend a significant amount of time playing an online slot.

Perhaps the most exciting way for bonuses to activate is completely randomly. You won’t need to spin anything in on the reels – the bonus will just suddenly start. Generally random slot bonus features are quite quick, doing things like adding extra wilds to the reels or granting a respin. They can activate regularly though, plus they can lead to some impressive prizes.

There are also many other ways for slot bonus features to activate though, and you’ll find new slots with bonuses launching all the time, often with exciting and innovative ways to start the features. You can learn how to use these features right here at this site, where we offer loads of the best free slot games with bonuses around. You can then play the ones you like for real money at a casino.

How Much Can Be Won with Bonus Games?

The amount that can be won from bonus games really varies from slot to slot. On one end of the scale, there are some bonuses that can lead to nothing. On the other hand, other bonuses can lead to prizes worth thousands of pounds, or even a jackpot.

When it comes to free spins, you’ll usually find that most of them only offer a small prize, however there might be one or two free spins that lead to a big payday. Bonuses where you pick from different options usually give you the chance to win a significant prize, however you have to be lucky enough to select it in order to win it.

Some slots even award a progressive jackpot using a bonus game, including Mega Moolah – the slot that holds the record for the largest ever progressive jackpot paid out online. In this game, the progressive jackpot bonus game launches randomly. If you can collect enough icons of the correct colour, you’ll win the huge jackpot!

Experience the Best Slot Bonuses for Free

It’s clear to see that online slots with bonuses are some of the best games around, offering loads of excitement on every spin, thanks to their exhilarating features. You’ll find many of the best bonus slot machines right here on this site, ready to be played for free. All have the same bonus features as the real money game, but you won’t have to spend any of your hard-earned money to experience them.

Once you’ve played a few free slot games with bonuses on this site, you can then head over to one of our recommended casinos and play the slot for real money. If you’re lucky, you might activate the bonus feature and scoop a huge prize!