By duozhandian 
Of course. “Special bonuses for slots” is a broad topic, as modern online and land-based slot machines are packed with features designed to increase excitement and winning potential.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the most common and popular special bonuses in slot games.
### 1. **Free Spins (The Most Common Bonus)**
This is the classic slot bonus. You trigger a set number of spins where you don’t wager your own balance.
* **How to Trigger:** Usually by landing 3 or more **Scatter** symbols (often represented by the game’s logo or a special icon).
* **Variations:**
* **Retriggers:** Landing more Scatters during the free spins awards additional spins.
* **Multipliers:** Wins during free spins can be multiplied (e.g., 2x, 3x, or increasing multipliers).
* **Special Expanding or Sticky Wilds:** Often, free spins come with enhanced wild features not available in the base game.
### 2. **Bonus (Pick-Me) Games**
Interactive mini-games where you make choices to reveal prizes (cash, multipliers, more spins).
* **How to Trigger:** Typically by landing 3 or more dedicated **Bonus symbols** on an active payline.
* **Example:** A “Treasure Chest” game where you pick from chests to reveal coin prizes, or a “Wheel of Fortune” you spin.
### 3. **Wild Symbols**
Wilds substitute for other symbols (except Scatters/Bonus) to help form winning combinations.
* **Special Wild Types:**
* **Expanding Wilds:** Expands to cover an entire reel.
* **Sticky Wilds:** Stay in place for a set number of spins (common in free spins).
* **Stacked Wilds:** Appear in a vertical stack on a reel.
* **Walking/Strolling Wilds:** After a win, the wild moves to another reel, creating a new win sequence.
* **Shifting Wilds:** Move across the reels horizontally or vertically.
* **Multiplier Wilds:** Apply a multiplier (e.g., 2x, 3x) to any win they are part of.
### 4. **Scatter Symbols**
These pay based on how many appear anywhere on the reels (not on a payline). Their primary function is usually to **trigger the Free Spins** round.
### 5. **Random/Instant Bonuses**
Features that can occur at any time during the base game, adding surprise.
* **Examples:**
* **Random Wilds:** A batch of wild symbols is added to the reels.
* **Coin Wins / Prize Bombs:** Instant credit prizes awarded.
* **Bonus Guarantee:** A feature that triggers the bonus round after a certain number of spins without it.
### 6. **Cascading / Tumbling Reels (Avalanche, Rolling Reels)**
Winning symbols disappear, and new ones fall into place, creating the potential for multiple consecutive wins from a single spin.
### 7. **Megaways™ & Dynamic Reels**
A patented mechanic (by Big Time Gaming) where the number of symbols per reel changes every spin, offering up to **117,649 ways to win**. Many other “ways to win” and dynamic reel structures exist.
### 8. **Progressive Jackpots**
A jackpot that grows with every bet placed across a network of games until one lucky player wins it.
* **Types:**
* **Standalone:** Linked to a single machine/game.
* **Local/In-House:** Linked to a group of games within one casino.
* **Wide-Area/Network:** The largest jackpots, linked across multiple casinos/games (e.g., Mega Moolah, Divine Fortune).
### 9. **Buy Bonus Feature**
A controversial but popular feature where you can pay a premium (often 50x-100x your bet) to instantly trigger the bonus round or free spins, skipping the base game.
### 10. **Symbol Upgrades & Collection Features**
* **Symbol Collection:** Collect specific symbols (like gems or coins) over spins to unlock a bonus.
* **Symbol Upgrade:** A symbol (often a low-paying one) transforms into a higher-paying symbol for the next spin or during a feature.
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### **How Casinos & Players Talk About “Bonuses”**
The term can also refer to **promotional offers**, which are different from in-game features:
* **For Players:**
* **Welcome/Deposit Bonus:** “Get 100% match up to $200 + 50 Free Spins on *Book of Dead*.”
* **No Deposit Bonus:** “Get $10 Free just for signing up.”
* **Free Spins Offers:** Specific free spins given as a promotion.
* **For Casino Staff (Slots Team):**
* **Player Incentives:** Free play, mailers, or bonus credits awarded to loyal players.
* **Mystery Bonuses:** Random bonuses awarded to players on the floor.
### **Key Tips for Players:**
1. **Read the Paytable:** Every slot’s rules and bonus details are in the paytable. Always check it.
2. **Understand Volatility:** Bonus-heavy slots are often high volatility—wins can be less frequent but bigger when features hit.
3. **Check Bonus Terms:** For casino deposit bonuses, always read the **Wagering Requirements (WR)** before claiming.
In short, “special bonuses for slots” can mean the exciting **in-game features** (like free spins and pick-em games) that make the gameplay engaging, or the **promotional offers** from casinos designed to attract and reward players.