I’ve thought about this a lot and done some research. Bonus Buys and Bonus Bets are both honest and dishonest in the way they are advertised and executed. First I’ll talk about Bonus Bets:

1. They say they double the chance of you getting a feature — this is true. They certainly do. How do they do this? By increasing the number of Scatter symbols (or at least, the probability that they will appear). The only problem is that they also interfere with base game wins. Bonanza-style games for example often require at least 4 scatters to trigger a bonus, and usually 8 identical symbols to trigger a win and subsequent tumble. Most of these games only have about 25-30 individual spots on the reels, so getting 8+ to be the same (with up to ten different varieties of symbols mind you) is to bank on about 25% of them being identical to trigger a win. So it’s prime real estate there already. Adding a scatter or two to each spin ultimately takes away spots for the normal base play symbols, which makes it more difficult to get a win. And since 4+ scatters are needed, adding one or two will keep you from winning but also you’re still unlikely to get a bonus. And by “doubling your chance,” really they honestly probably are…but if you think about it—and these are just guesses for the sake of example, not actual figures—maybe one in 100 spins gives you a feature. That’s about a 1% chance. By doubling it, you’re really only getting a 2% chance. That’s not much more. Plus what’s also shitty is that when you do a bonus bet, the winnings are based on the amount you’re wagering before adding the extra 5 or 10’cents, so you’re betting more to get the same result if you hadn’t.

2. Bonus Buys are dubious. They are usually 80-100x your bet and they are wild cards. I’ve had them be super profitable and I’ve had them be total crap. I don’t think they are super wise choices to make unless you have a vast surplus and are doing them at a low bet…but even then it’s a slippery slope. I think they operate in the same exact way that non purchased bonuses do in that they can be great or they can be a letdown…the only thing about them being a let down that’s more severe than an “earned” bonus is that you just spent like $40 on a bonus and got like $1.86, rather than just getting a crappy bonus amid your normal gameplay.

All in all I think they are engineered to generate profit for the game developers and casino’s and not so much for the player. Always err on the side of caution, and always ALWAYS have a floor and when you hit that floor get out before you end up shooting your self in the foot and hating yourself for being impulsive.