Did you know that in 2025, the total gambling turnover in Italy reached the historic record of €165.34 billion? An enormous figure, up 5% compared to the previous year and equal to 7.3% of the national GDP, as certified by ANSA.
The detail that makes even more noise is the online segment: for the first time in history, remote turnover exceeded €100 billion (€100.88 billion to be precise), with a jump of 9.5% over 2024 and 221% compared to 2018, with 4.8 million active players, according to Il Sole 24 Ore.
Among the most sought-after features in ADM-licensed online slots is the bonus buy: the possibility to directly purchase the bonus round without waiting for the Scatters to appear. This guide — updated to 2026 — explains what they are, how they work, how much they cost, and which ones to choose among those available on ADM-licensed operators.
It is also designed for those who follow football and occasionally enjoy a gaming session between matches: a cross-sectional audience that combines sports and digital entertainment.
If you are looking for an up-to-date reference point, Tuttosport’s guide on slot bonus buy ADM Italia 2026 offers a complete comparative analysis, with technical data and checks on real operators.
Methodology: how the slots in this guide were selected
This is not a promotional ranking, but a comparative analysis based on objective technical data. We examined seven slots with bonus buy available on Italian ADM operators, all with a cost between 50x and 100x the base bet and a declared RTP between 96.20% and 97.72%.
Here are the five criteria we used to evaluate them:
- Declared RTP in the bonus game or overall: the higher, the better.
- Bonus buy cost: special attention to titles with the lowest cost (50x), but also to standard ones (80x-100x) and the absolute price.
- Max win and volatility: to understand if a slot is suitable for short sessions or for those seeking extreme wins.
- Actual availability on Italian ADM operators: it’s not enough for a title to exist on the international market; it must actually be playable in Italy.
- Provider reliability and mechanics: including proprietary features like Feature Drop (Big Time Gaming) and X-iter (ELK Studios).
The focus is on quick sessions — those you can play during the break between two matches. That’s why simplicity, entry cost, and the speed of accessing the bonus matter.
What are Bonus Buy slots and how do they work
The bonus buy is a feature that allows you to pay a fixed amount to immediately activate the Free Spin round or the slot’s bonus game, without having to wait for the Scatters to naturally appear on the reels.
In practice, you shorten the wait: instead of spinning dozens or hundreds of times, you buy direct access to the most profitable phase of the game.
The cost? It usually ranges between 50 and 100 times the base bet, although in some high-volatility titles it can go up to 500x. On a slot with €0.20 per spin, a 100x bonus buy costs you €20. On Extra Chilli Megaways, which has the lowest cost in the category (50x), with the same bet you spend only €10.
There is also a mathematical advantage: in many ADM-certified slots, when you use the bonus buy, the theoretical RTP increases slightly. A slot that returns 96% of the turnover in the base game can reach 96.5% or 97% during the bonus buy. The reason is simple: you eliminate the base game spins, which normally have a lower return compared to special rounds, as explained by Sisal in its guide.
Two proprietary systems deserve special mention. Big Time Gaming invented the Feature Drop, which allows you to purchase access to the bonus at any time: it is the provider that created the Megaways mechanism.
ELK Studios developed X-iter, which offers up to five different modes at different prices — not the usual “buy bonus” button, but a real menu of options.
The 7 Bonus Buy slots to watch in 2026
1. Sweet Bonanza – Pragmatic Play
Sweet Bonanza is a 6×5 slot with cluster pays mechanics, among the most popular on ADM operators. It has an RTP of 96.48% and medium-high volatility, with a colorful and immediate theme that makes it perfect even for beginners.
- Bonus buy at 100x the base bet: with €0.20 per spin you spend €20 and get 10 free spins with progressive multipliers.
- Max win of 21,100x the bet: not the highest in the category, but still very substantial.
- During the bonus, bomb multipliers range from 2x to 100x, creating potentially explosive combinations.
Ideal for: those looking for an immediate, visually pleasing title with very high potential wins compared to the bet.
Less ideal if: you have a limited bankroll, because the entry cost to the bonus — €20 with the minimum bet — is among the highest in absolute value.
Sweet Bonanza is a good gateway into the world of bonus buy, but it should be played with the awareness that volatility can drain your balance quickly if luck doesn’t turn.
2. Gates of Olympus – Pragmatic Play
Gates of Olympus is a 6×5 scatter pay slot with a mythological theme, an RTP of 96.50%, and high volatility. Here too, the bonus buy costs 100x the bet.
- Multipliers up to 500x during free spins, a much higher value than Sweet Bonanza.
- Max win of 5,000x: lower than other slots on the list, but offset by the power of the multipliers.
- Scatter pay mechanics: each symbol pays based on the number of times it appears on the reels, with no fixed paylines.
Ideal for: those seeking a simple but volatile experience, with potentially very high multipliers.
Less ideal if: you prioritize the highest RTP in the category or lower purchase costs.
Gates of Olympus is an alternative to Sweet Bonanza with similar dynamics but a different risk profile: you win less often, but when the right multiplier hits, the payouts can be significant.
3. Extra Chilli Megaways – Big Time Gaming
Extra Chilli Megaways is the title with the lowest bonus buy cost in the entire selection: only 50x the base bet. With €0.20 per spin, a purchase costs you €10. The RTP is 96.82% and volatility is high, with a max win of 20,000x.
- BTG’s Feature Drop system: you can buy the bonus at any time, with no restrictions.
- Megaways engine with a variable number of ways to win on each spin.
- Low entry cost: ideal for those who want to try bonus buy without risking too much.
Ideal for: those who want to experiment with bonus buy with a reduced initial outlay.
Less ideal if: you are looking for the most extreme volatility or the highest max wins in the category.
Extra Chilli is the most accessible entry point to the Feature Drop system and the Megaways world: a good testing ground before moving on to more expensive titles.
4. White Rabbit Megaways – Big Time Gaming
White Rabbit Megaways is one of the slots with the highest RTP among those available on ADM operators: 97.72%, a figure that makes number lovers’ heads spin. The Feature Drop cost is 100x the bet and the max win reaches 13,000x.
- Unique Feature Drop system: the price to access the bonus decreases every time a BTG coin appears on the reels.
- During free spins, Cake symbols add two extra symbols to each reel, bringing the total up to 248,832 Megaways.
- High volatility, with a depth of mechanics that rewards patient players.
Ideal for: those who maximize theoretical RTP and appreciate complex Megaways mechanics.
Less ideal if: you are looking for the lowest purchase cost or short sessions without learning curves.
White Rabbit is an excellent choice for experienced and number-savvy players: knowing you have almost a 98% theoretical return is a great feeling.
5. The Dog House Megaways – Pragmatic Play
The Dog House Megaways is the enhanced version of a classic dog-themed slot, with an RTP of 96.55% and high volatility. The bonus buy costs 80x the bet, a middle ground between the 50x of Extra Chilli and the 100x of many other titles.
- Megaways engine with up to 117,649 ways to win.
- Max win of 12,305x: not the highest, but still respectable.
- Light and immediate theme, suitable for carefree sessions.
Ideal for: those looking for an intermediate cost and a fun theme.
Less ideal if: you give absolute priority to the highest RTP or the most extreme max win.
A good compromise between cost, entertainment, and potential: it doesn’t excel in any category, but doesn’t disappoint in any either.
6. Dead or Alive 2 – NetEnt / Evolution
Dead or Alive 2 is a Wild West slot with extremely high volatility, among the most extreme available on the ADM market. The official RTP indicated by NetEnt (Evolution group) is 96.80%, with a theoretical max win that can reach 111,111x the bet.
Nine paylines and three different free spin modes with varying risk levels complete the picture.
- Very high volatility: very dry sessions alternated with potentially devastating hits.
- Three free spin modes with different risk profiles and potential.
- Dead or Alive 2 offers a max win up to 111,111x the bet, among the highest in the entire online landscape.
Ideal for: those seeking the maximum win potential and can tolerate long dry spells.
Less ideal if: you play during a short break and don’t want to face such extreme volatility.
Dead or Alive 2 is only for experienced players with careful bankroll management: it can deliver strong emotions, but also empty your balance in minutes.
7. Nitropolis 3 – ELK Studios
Nitropolis 3 is a futuristic-themed slot with ELK Studios’ X-iter system, offering up to five bonus buy modes at different prices — not just a simple button, but a real menu. The RTP is 96.20% (the lowest in the selection), with a cost of 100x and a max win of 50,000x.
- X-iter system with five options: from the cheapest to the most expensive mode, each with different features.
- Max win of 50,000x: second only to Dead or Alive 2 on this list.
- Innovative theme and refined design, suitable for those looking for something different from the usual.
Ideal for: those who appreciate the flexibility of X-iter options and an original theme.
Less ideal if: you prioritize the highest RTP, as here it is the lowest value in the selection.
Nitropolis 3 is a valid choice for variety and innovation, less suitable for those seeking the highest theoretical return.
Bonus buy and football: when slots fill the breaks between matches
The link between online slots and the world of football is closer than you might think. Digital casinos, with their football-themed slots, try to speak the language of fans: a playful language different from classic video games, but just as immediate.
A concrete example? Betsson Sport has become the Official Main Partner of Inter, as reported by FcInterNews in an article about partnerships between Inter and online gaming portals.
And during the Derby della Madonnina, Betsson’s gaming activations — interactive games like Wheel of Fortune, Football Rise, and Plinko — showed how gaming intertwines with the football context: the spectacle of the derby signed by Betsson Sport brought digital entertainment directly into the stadium.
It is precisely in this context that the bonus buy finds its natural audience: short sessions, pre-match or halftime breaks, where the possibility of immediately accessing the bonus game reduces downtime and fits the pace of football fans.
This is not about promoting gaming as a necessary habit, but about describing a behavior that already exists.
Where to play them: ADM operators and regulatory framework 2026
The bonus buy is legal in Italy. Slots with bonus buy are regularly available on ADM-licensed operators and the feature is part of the certified game: no gray areas, no tricks.
These slots are present on at least 9 Italian ADM operators, often with dedicated sections and filters that allow you to find them in seconds.
But the regulatory framework has recently changed: since November 13, 2025, 52 new licenses have come into force, assigned to 46 operators (previously there were 208 under extension).
Each license costs €7 million one-off, for an estimated revenue of €364 million, and lasts up to nine years with no automatic renewal, as reported by Targatocn.
What does this mean for you, in practice? That when you play on an ADM operator you are in a regulated context, with controls and safeguards. The risk of losing money remains — gambling is still gambling — but at least you know that the slot you are using is certified and that the bonus buy works exactly as stated.
Caveats, limits, and responsible use of bonus buy
Before you hit the “buy bonus” button, keep a few things in mind. The cost of the bonus buy can reach up to 500x the bet in certain high-volatility titles: on a slot with €1 per spin, we’re talking about €500 for a single purchase.
And the purchase does not guarantee a win higher than the amount spent: you can spend €20 for a bonus buy and win €5, that’s it.
The increase in RTP in the bonus buy is theoretical and does not eliminate the negative variance of individual sessions. You can have a 97% RTP over a thousand purchases, but over ten consecutive purchases you can easily lose everything.
There are protection tools. Through the ADM portal, cross-operator self-exclusion is active, which blocks access to remote gaming at all licensees: it can be indefinite (revocable only after at least 9 months) or for a fixed period up to 270 days.
Self-exclusion via RUA blocks access to all 52 ADM licensees. And if you need to talk to someone, the National Toll-Free Number 800 558822 is free and anonymous.
Final verdict
ADM bonus buy slots are a legal, regulated feature now widespread on many Italian operators.
The best choice depends on your gaming profile: if you want to keep the entry cost down, Extra Chilli Megaways at 50x is the most accessible starting point. If instead you aim to maximize theoretical RTP, White Rabbit Megaways with its 97.72% is the right answer. Dead or Alive 2 remains an extreme option, only for experienced players with adequate bankrolls.
In all cases, bonus buy is not a shortcut to winning: it is a tool that reduces waiting time by increasing the cost per session. Use it with clear limits and only within ADM operators: you already know the difference between entertainment and risk.
