Bonus round meaning: a special feature inside a slot game, set off by particular symbols, that plays differently from the normal reels, such as a pick game, a prize wheel, a hold-and-win respin or a set of free spins. It is part of the game's design and its RTP, not an extra offer from the casino.
A bonus round is an in-game feature, not a casino promotion; it costs nothing extra once triggered.
Common types are pick games, wheels, hold-and-win respins, board games and free spins.
Its value is already built into the slot's RTP, so it doesn't change the long-run cost of play.
Rules and paytables, including how the bonus triggers, must be available before you play.
Feature buys aren't offered on slots at UK-licensed casinos, so bonus rounds must be triggered in play.
Means
Special feature inside a slot
Triggered by
Scatters or special symbols (varies)
Extra stake?
No, once triggered
Counted in RTP?
Yes
Where to check
The game's help screen or paytable
Bonus round meaning on a slot
A bonus round is a stage of a slot that breaks away from the base game. You land the trigger symbols, the screen changes, and for a while the game follows different rules: you might pick from hidden prizes, watch a wheel spin, collect cash symbols on locked reels, or play a set of spins with extra wilds or multipliers. When it finishes, the total is added to your balance and the base game resumes.
The phrase causes confusion because casinos also use the word bonus for promotions. A slot's bonus round belongs to the game; a casino bonus belongs to the operator's offer terms. The two can meet, for instance when free spins from a promotion land the trigger symbols, but they are separate things. Our casino bonus glossary keeps the two meanings apart.
Types of bonus round, with examples
Developers mix and rename features freely, so treat the categories below as a rough guide. The examples come from published game specifications; for full rules, check each game's help screen.
Common bonus round types
Type
How it plays
Example slot (published main feature)
Pick game
Choose from hidden items to reveal prizes
Action Bank: Big Bank pick bonus triggered by Golden Vault symbols
Bonus wheel
A wheel picks a prize or a further feature
The Goonies Return: One-Eyed Willy wheel awarding one of six features
Board or trail
Move along a board collecting prizes
Monopoly Big Event: board bonus triggered by scatters on reels 1, 3 and 5
Hold and win / respins
Cash symbols lock in place while the rest respin
Piggy Riches 2 Megaways: Hold & Respin triggered by Lady Pig scatters
Free spins round
A set number of spins with added features
Blood Suckers 2: Blood Rose free spins (plus a Hidden Treasure pick bonus)
Most bonus rounds are triggered by landing a set number of scatter or special symbols in one spin, often three or more. Others build up over time through a collection meter, or start at random. The exact rule is in the paytable, and the Gambling Commission's technical standard on game rules and the likelihood of winning (RTS 3) (opens in a new tab) requires that information, including RTP, to be available before you play.
Trigger chances aren't usually published, and a long stretch without one is normal. Online games in Great Britain can't be adjusted to 'catch up' on a target return, so a bonus round is never 'due'. Our page on volatility explains why high-volatility slots can go a long time between features.
What a bonus round is worth at 10p
Bonus round prizes are usually shown as multiples of your stake, so the same feature pays ten times more at £1 than at 10p. A worked example: a feature paying 40× stake returns £4 on a 10p spin and £40 on a £1 spin. The cap is the game's max win. Big Bass Bonanza lists a 2,100x max win, so the most a single 10p spin could return is £210; at its published RTP of 96.71%, 80 spins at 10p (£8 of play) would return about £7.74 on average, with any single set of spins varying widely.
The important point is that the bonus round's value is already counted in the RTP. A slot doesn't become better value because its bonus is exciting; the house edge applies to the whole game. See RTP and house edge for the long-run maths.
UK rules that shape bonus rounds
Stake limits. Online slot stakes are capped at £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over (from 9 April 2025) and £2 for 18–24s (from 21 May 2025); see online slot stake limits.
Speed rules. Since 31 October 2021 a slot spin must take at least 2.5 seconds, with no autoplay or turbo. The Commission's responsible product design standard (RTS 14) (opens in a new tab) guidance exempts bonus games that need no extra stake from the time-to-result requirement.
No celebrating losses. A bonus round paying less than you staked can't be presented as a win.
Feature buys. Paying to jump straight into the bonus round isn't offered on slots at UK-licensed casinos; the games are supplied to Great Britain without it.
None of our partners offers a bonus round as such; what they offer is free spins, and those spins play the normal game, so a feature can land during them. PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers, not Northern Ireland) gives 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each on a first deposit of £10 or more, with no wagering, through its designated offer link only. Coral's and Ladbrokes' spins are on games named in each promotion; the offer lists its selected games, so check the promotion page.
Coral (18+, new players, 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027): deposit and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p, with 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use and no wagering; Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify. Ladbrokes (18+, new customers): spend £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day for 10 days, up to 500 at 10p, claimed by 23:59 each day, valid 7 days, no wagering; PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill, Moneybookers and prepaid card deposits don't qualify. Terms apply. Compare them on the Coral bonus, Ladbrokes bonus and PlayOJO bonus pages.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: set a budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bonus round on a slot?
A bonus round is a special feature within a slot that is triggered by certain symbols and plays differently from the base game. It might be a pick-a-prize game, a wheel, a hold-and-win respin feature, a board game or a set of free spins with added wilds or multipliers. You don't pay extra once it starts; its prizes are added to your balance when it ends. Its value is already part of the slot's RTP. The free spins round entry covers the most common type.
Is a bonus round the same as a casino bonus?
No. A bonus round belongs to the slot game and is part of its design, while a casino bonus is a promotion from the operator with its own terms, such as a deposit match or free spins offer. They can meet: free spins from a promotion play the normal game, so they can trigger the slot's bonus round. Winnings from that would then follow the promotion's terms. Our answer on how casino bonuses work explains the promotional side.
Can I buy a bonus round at a UK casino?
No. Feature buys, where you pay a multiple of your stake to go straight into the bonus round, aren't offered on slots at UK-licensed casinos; games are supplied to Great Britain without that option. Some slots sold elsewhere include it, which is why you may see it in videos or reviews. At a UK casino the bonus round has to be triggered in normal play. Our slot game design rules page lists the other features that are switched off for UK players.
How often does a bonus round trigger?
It depends on the game, and most developers don't publish trigger odds. High-volatility slots often trigger features less frequently but with bigger potential payouts, while low-volatility games tend to pay smaller amounts more often. Results are random, and online games licensed in Great Britain can't be adjusted to hit a target, so a bonus round is never overdue. If a game shows a hit rate or feature frequency, it will be in the help screen. Our volatility entry explains the trade-off.
Do bonus round wins count as cash?
When you are playing with your own money, yes: bonus round wins go to your cash balance like any other win. When the spin that triggered the feature came from a promotion, the winnings follow that promotion's terms. With no-wagering spins, such as those offered by Coral, Ladbrokes and PlayOJO, winnings are paid as cash. With spins that carry wagering, the winnings become bonus funds until the requirement is met, capped at 10x since 19 January 2026. See free spins winnings for more.
Does the £5 stake limit apply to bonus rounds?
The limit applies to the stake per spin, which is set before the bonus round starts, so the feature itself plays at the stake you already chose. Since 9 April 2025 the cap is £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over, and since 21 May 2025 it is £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds. Promotional terms can set a lower maximum bet on top, such as Casumo's £5 per bet while a bonus is active. The online slot stake limits page has worked examples.
Why did my bonus round pay less than my stake?
Because many bonus rounds can pay small amounts, and a feature doesn't guarantee a profit on the spin. A free spins round at 10p might return 50p in total, which is less than the stake that triggered it plus the spins before it. UK rules since 31 October 2021 say a game must not celebrate a return that is less than or equal to the stake, so you shouldn't see fanfare for that result. The game round entry explains how the result is counted.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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