In 2025, many top slots offer Feature Buy buttons and Ante Bets that boost bonus odds. They’re tempting—and expensive in variance. This guide shows how to read the true price, spot any RTP change, and run short, intentional blocks that won’t snowball into “just one more buy”.

Quick wins before you click

  • Open Help → RTP section: check if Buy/Ante changes RTP (up or down) vs base game.
  • Compute effective cost: Buy price ÷ base stake = “X spins” you’re skipping—log it.
  • Cap the block: 10–12 minutes or 1–3 buys max. Flat unit. Stop on timer or after a new equity peak.

Feature Buy vs. Ante Bet: what’s different?

  • Feature Buy: pays a lump sum (e.g., 75×–200×) to jump straight to the bonus. Volatility spikes; RTP may differ from base.
  • Ante Bet: +x% stake each spin (often +25%) to increase bonus chance. More attempts, gentler swings.
  • Hybrid titles: some enable both; read separate RTP lines for each mode in the info panel.

Reading the true price (simple math)

If a buy costs 100× your base stake, that’s like compressing roughly 100 base spins of attempt-cost into one roll of the dice. If your typical block covers ~200 spins, two buys can equal a whole session’s budget. Treat buys as a separate, smaller bankroll lane.

Low/Med volatility titles

Prefer Ante Bet for smoother progress. Use short buy samples (1–2) only after confirming RTP parity.

High volatility “super bonuses”

Tiny unit. One buy per block. Exit on first green peak—don’t chain buys after a near-miss.

RTP-aware picks

Favour games where Buy/Ante has equal or higher RTP than base. Avoid hidden reductions.

10–12 minute block (copy & use)

  • Min 0–2: Confirm base RTP and Buy/Ante RTP. Set flat unit (1–2% roll). Define a hard timer.
  • Min 2–9: If Ante: steady spins, no stake creep. If Buy: 1 attempt, log result, pause 60s.
  • Min 9–12: Optional 2nd attempt only if you’re calm and on-plan. End at timer or −15% from peak.

Pro tip — “green/amber/red” notes

Green: clear RTP lines, affordable price. Amber: RTP drops with Buy/Ante—reduce volume. Red: unclear help text or price > 200×—skip for this block.

Bankroll split for Buy/Ante play

  • 60% Core spins: standard sessions without modifiers—data baseline.
  • 30% Event/Ante: only during boosted windows; keep timer strict.
  • 10% Buy lane: 1–2 buys per block; never re-use this slice the same day.

Common traps (and clean fixes)

  • Chaining buys after a near-miss: pause, log, next window. Momentum ≠ edge.
  • Ignoring RTP notes: re-read after toggling modes; screenshots help future you.
  • Stake creep with Ante: the extra % already increased risk—keep the base unit flat.

Author’s view: Feature Buys are time machines, not shortcuts. When you price them honestly and keep sessions short, they add variety without hijacking your bankroll.

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