I’ll explain how a typical **bonus slot game** works, including common features and mechanics.
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## **1. What is a Bonus Slot Game?**
A **bonus slot** is a type of online or land-based slot machine that includes special **bonus rounds** or **bonus features** beyond the base game spins.
These features are triggered by specific symbols or combinations and offer players extra chances to win, often with different gameplay mechanics.
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## **2. Common Bonus Features in Slot Games**
### **a) Free Spins**
– Triggered by landing a certain number of **Scatter symbols**.
– Player gets a set number of free spins, sometimes with **multipliers** or **special expanding/sticky wilds**.
– Often can be **retriggered** during the bonus round.
### **b) Pick-and-Click Bonus**
– Triggered by bonus symbols.
– Player selects from hidden items on screen to reveal instant prizes, multipliers, or additional spins.
### **c) Wheel of Fortune Bonus**
– Spin a prize wheel to win multipliers, cash prizes, or entry to another bonus level.
### **d) Cascading Reels / Avalanche Feature**
– Winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into place, potentially creating consecutive wins from one spin.
### **e) Expanding Wilds / Sticky Wilds**
– Wild symbols expand to cover entire reels or stick in place for several spins.
### **f) Bonus Board / Trail Games**
– Move around a game board by rolling dice or picking steps, landing on different rewards or mini-games.
### **g) Progressive Jackpot Bonus**
– Some slots have a separate bonus game where you can win a progressive jackpot by triggering a special round or picking symbols.
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## **3. Example of a Bonus Slot Game Structure**
**Game:** *Gonzo’s Quest* (popular example)
– Base game has **Avalanche feature** (cascading reels).
– Landing 3 or more **Free Fall symbols** (Scatters) triggers **Free Falls bonus** (10 free spins with increasing multiplier per avalanche).
**Game:** *Book of Dead*
– Landing 3 or more Scatter symbols triggers **10 free spins** with a special expanding symbol chosen randomly at the start.
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## **4. How to Trigger Bonus Rounds**
– Usually need **3 or more Scatter symbols** anywhere on reels.
– Some slots use **bonus symbols** that must appear on certain reels (e.g., reels 1, 3, and 5).
– In some newer slots, bonus rounds can be **bought** (via “Feature Buy”) for a multiple of the bet.
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## **5. Tips for Playing Bonus Slots**
1. **Check the paytable** — understand how to trigger the bonus and what each feature does.
2. **Bet size matters** — sometimes higher bets increase odds of triggering bonus (but not always).
3. **RTP (Return to Player)** — bonus features often contribute significantly to the slot’s overall RTP.
4. **Volatility** — high-volatility slots have less frequent but bigger bonus rounds; low-volatility slots have smaller but more frequent bonuses.
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## **6. Popular Bonus Slot Games**
– *Starburst* (expanding wilds)
– *Mega Moolah* (progressive jackpot wheel bonus)
– *Bonanza* (free spins with unlimited win multipliers)
– *Immortal Romance* (multiple different bonus features with story choices)
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If you’d like, I can explain **how to design a simple bonus slot game mechanic** or detail the **math behind bonus round frequency and RTP contribution**.
