Bonus hunting: how to look for profitable features

Introduction

Modern slots are increasingly focusing not only on the base game, but also on bonus functions. It is frispins, retrievers, multipliers and special modes that determine the final profitability of the machine. It is no coincidence that many professional players use the strategy of "bonus hunting" - a targeted search for slots where bonus rounds really bring benefits.

1. What is bonus hunting

Bonus hunting is an approach to choosing and playing machines, in which the frequency and value of bonus functions, and not just RTP or volatility, becomes the key factor. Players try to understand:
  • How often the bonus is activated
  • what real return it gives;
  • are there additional mechanics (retriggers, Sticky Wilds, multiplier progressions).

2. Criteria for choosing profitable features

Activation frequency

The function can be powerful, but if you need hundreds or thousands of spins to activate it, the value decreases dramatically. Experienced players analyze the frequency of launching the bonus in demo modes and from reviews on the forums.

Average bonus return

Not only the fact of activation is important, but also its result. Exempli gratia:
  • in many slots, freespins yield only 10-20x of the bet;
  • in top games, bonuses bring 50-200x and higher.

Presence of retriggers

If the bonus can be extended or repeated in one session, this significantly increases the profit potential.

Multipliers and accumulative mechanics

Slots with increasing multipliers (for example, x2, x4, x8 and higher in one bonus) or with symbol accumulation allow you to achieve large payouts even at the average rate.

3. Practical techniques of bonus hunting

1. Testing in a demo - several hundred spins allow you to understand the frequency of activation.
2. Studying player reports - forums, Telegram groups and YouTube streams provide real bonus data.
3. Filtering by providers - different developers have different approaches:
  • Pragmatic Play - frequent bonuses with average payments.
  • NoLimit City are rare but explosive features.
  • Play'n GO - balanced bonuses with the ability to retrigger.
  • 4. Bet at the optimal level - bonuses can behave differently at minimum and average rates.

4. Examples of slots with lucrative bonuses

Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play) - freespins with growing multipliers up to x100.
Dead or Alive 2 (NetEnt) is a rare but incredibly lucrative bonus with Sticky Wilds.
Money Train 2 (Relax Gaming) - bonus with cumulative multipliers and unique symbols.
The Dog House Megaways (Pragmatic Play) is a bonus with sticky Wild symbols that can keep the payout until the end of the round.

5. Bonus hunting pitfalls

Psychological trap: Waiting for a bonus can drag out a session and increase costs.
Marketing features: bright animation does not always mean real profitability.
High volatility: Many "explosive" bonuses are rare, and the player must be prepared for long unprofitable stretches.

Conclusion

Bonus hunting is a working strategy if approached analytically. Experienced players track the frequency of activation, study real reports and choose exactly those machines where bonuses do not just "entertain," but actually increase the chances of significant wins.