Oliver Rodriguez
A Bonus Symbol is a special slot symbol used to activate or contribute toward a bonus feature. Depending on the game, collecting or landing the required Bonus Symbols can trigger Free Spins, respins, a pick-and-win round, a bonus wheel or another feature outside normal reel play.
The exact rules vary considerably. Some slots require three Bonus Symbols anywhere on the reels, while others require one specific Bonus Symbol to reach a designated position. A Bonus Symbol can even trigger a completely different feature from the game's Scatter.
This distinction matters because Bonus Symbol and Scatter are not universal synonyms. A slot can use one symbol for Free Spins and a separate Bonus Symbol for another feature.
Casino Critic explains Bonus Symbols and other slot mechanics to help readers understand game rules, features and mathematical characteristics. This guide is informational and does not encourage readers to gamble, deposit money, purchase bonus features or choose any particular slot.
What Does a Bonus Symbol Do?
A Bonus Symbol activates or progresses toward a special game feature when the conditions specified in the paytable are satisfied.
One of the most familiar structures requires three or more matching Bonus Symbols. For example, landing three Bonus icons might open a separate bonus round.
However, modern slots use much more varied trigger conditions. A Bonus Symbol might need to:
- Land three or more times.
- Appear on specific reels.
- Reach a designated position.
- Be collected by another symbol.
- Land during an existing feature.
- Combine with another special symbol.
- Accumulate across several game events.
- Upgrade an ordinary bonus into a Super Bonus.
The symbol itself therefore tells only part of the story. The paytable explains the exact trigger.
How Do Bonus Symbols Work?
A Bonus Symbol forms part of the mathematical model of the slot. When the required combination or collection condition occurs, the corresponding bonus feature activates.
A conventional sequence might look like this:
- The Spin Begins. The RNG determines the outcome according to the game's mathematical model.
- Bonus Symbols Land. One or more special Bonus icons appear.
- The Trigger Condition Is Checked. The game determines whether enough symbols or another required condition has been reached.
- The Bonus Activates. Free Spins, respins, a wheel, pick game or another feature begins.
- Feature-Specific Rules Apply. Wilds, multipliers, cash prizes or other modifiers may become active.
- The Feature Ends. The game returns to normal reel play unless another feature is triggered.
More complicated slots can require Bonus Symbols to move across the grid or be collected before this sequence begins.
The important point is that seeing a Bonus Symbol does not necessarily mean the bonus has triggered. The complete condition must be satisfied.
How Many Bonus Symbols Do You Need?
Three is a common requirement, but there is no universal number.
Some slots trigger a feature from a single Bonus Symbol if it reaches a specific location. Others require three, four, five or more symbols.
The number can also affect the resulting feature. A game might award more Free Spins when four or five Bonus Symbols appear instead of the minimum three.
In other games, additional Bonus Symbols can upgrade the feature to a Super Bonus.
Always check the paytable because the required number cannot reliably be predicted from the symbol's appearance.
Does a Bonus Symbol Pay by Itself?
Sometimes, but many Bonus Symbols have no independent cash value.
Their purpose is often to activate a feature rather than form ordinary paying combinations.
For example, Pragmatic Play's official information for Jane Hunter and the Mask of Montezuma states that its Bonus Symbol does not pay independently. Instead, landing the Bonus on reel five triggers the Treasure Chest Bonus Game.
Other slots can assign direct values to special Bonus Symbols or combine them with coin-collection mechanics.
A Bonus Symbol should therefore never be assumed to have a normal paytable value.
Bonus Symbol vs Scatter – What Is the Difference?
A Bonus Symbol primarily activates a defined bonus feature. A Scatter traditionally pays or triggers a feature regardless of its exact position on conventional paylines.
Modern slot terminology is less rigid. Providers frequently use Scatters to trigger Free Spins, and some games label essentially the same type of trigger as Bonus.
| Feature | Bonus Symbol | Scatter Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Main Purpose | Triggers or progresses a bonus | Often triggers Free Spins or pays independently |
| Needs Payline | Usually no | Usually no |
| Can Have Cash Value | Sometimes | Often, but game-dependent |
| Can Trigger Free Spins | Yes | Very commonly |
| Can Trigger Separate Bonus Game | Yes | Sometimes |
| May Need Specific Reel | Yes | Sometimes |
| Can Be Collected | Yes | Game-dependent |
| Universal Rules | No | No |
A game can contain both symbols with separate purposes.
In Jane Hunter and the Mask of Montezuma, for example, Scatters trigger Free Spins while the distinct Bonus Symbol activates the Treasure Chest feature. This is why the terms should not automatically be used interchangeably.
Bonus Symbol vs Wild Symbol
A Wild normally helps create regular winning combinations by substituting for eligible paying symbols. A Bonus Symbol is generally associated with feature activation.
| Feature | Bonus Symbol | Wild Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Main Function | Activates or progresses a feature | Substitutes for eligible symbols |
| Substitutes for Regular Symbols | Usually no | Usually yes |
| Can Trigger Bonus Game | Commonly | Sometimes |
| Can Carry a Multiplier | Game-dependent | Common variation |
| Needs Several Symbols | Often | Usually no |
| May Have No Direct Payout | Yes | Yes |
Hybrid mechanics are possible. A provider can design a Bonus Symbol that also substitutes for paying symbols.
ELK Studios' Fish and Bird provides an example: its Bonus Symbols can contribute toward the bonus while also substituting for paying symbols.
Bonus Symbol vs Mystery Symbol
A Mystery Symbol initially hides its eventual identity or feature. A Bonus Symbol has a known purpose associated with feature progression or activation.
The two can nevertheless interact.
A Mystery Symbol can reveal a Bonus Symbol if the game allows it. ELK Studios' Catemple, for example, includes a Mystery Symbol capable of revealing several feature symbols, including Bonus and Super Bonus outcomes.
This creates a two-stage interaction: the Mystery feature first determines what the symbol becomes, and the resulting Bonus Symbol then follows its own rules.
What Can a Bonus Symbol Trigger?
Free Spins are one of the most familiar outcomes, but Bonus Symbols can activate much more than additional spins.
Depending on the game, a Bonus Symbol can lead to:
- Free Spins or Free Drops.
- Respins.
- Pick-and-win features.
- Bonus wheels.
- Cash-prize features.
- Hold-and-win rounds.
- Separate bonus grids.
- Jackpot features.
- Feature upgrades.
- Super Bonus rounds.
This flexibility is why Bonus Symbol is best understood as a functional category rather than one fixed mechanic.
What Is a Bonus Game?
A Bonus Game is a special game mode activated by conditions defined in the slot. It can use the same reels as the base game or move to a completely different interface.
Free Spins are one type of Bonus Game, but the terms are not interchangeable.
A Treasure Chest feature, bonus wheel or separate Hold-and-Win grid can also qualify as a Bonus Game without awarding conventional Free Spins.
Some modern slots also contain several bonus levels. An ordinary Bonus Symbol may trigger the standard feature, while a rarer Super Bonus Symbol activates an enhanced version.
What Is a Super Bonus Symbol?
A Super Bonus Symbol is an enhanced version of a conventional Bonus trigger. It generally activates a stronger version of the feature or upgrades a standard bonus.
The precise advantage varies by game.
ELK Studios uses this distinction in several releases. Ryze 2, for example, has both Bonus and Super Bonus Symbols, with either capable of triggering its corresponding feature when it reaches the required area.
Catemple also distinguishes between Bonus and Super Bonus outcomes. Its Super Bonus expands the Collect Zone compared with the standard Bonus.
"Super Bonus" therefore does not describe one universal feature – it indicates an upgraded bonus defined by the individual game.
10 Real Slots With Bonus Symbols
Bonus Symbols are easier to understand through actual games because developers use the term for several different trigger structures.
The following 10 examples demonstrate conventional Bonus triggers, collected symbols, moving Bonus Symbols, Super Bonuses and separate bonus games.
| Slot | Provider | Bonus Symbol Function |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Hunter and the Mask of Montezuma | Pragmatic Play | Triggers Treasure Chest Bonus Game |
| Brick House Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | Wheel Bonus Symbols trigger separate rewards |
| Himalayan Wild | Pragmatic Play | Bonus Symbol interacts with Free Spins |
| Orbitfall | ELK Studios | Bonus Symbol reaching top row triggers Bonus Game |
| Fish and Bird | ELK Studios | Collected Bonus Symbol triggers Bonus Game |
| Ryze | ELK Studios | Bonus Symbol reaches key mould to trigger Free Drops |
| Ryze 2 | ELK Studios | Bonus and Super Bonus triggers |
| DeadEye | ELK Studios | 3+ Bonus Symbols trigger Bonus Game |
| Catemple | ELK Studios | Collected Bonus triggers Bonus Game |
| Cygnus 6 | ELK Studios | Bonus Symbol reaching leftmost column triggers Bonus |
These examples demonstrate that Bonus Symbols do not always behave like conventional three-Scatter triggers. Several modern games require the symbol to move, be collected or reach a specific part of the grid.
1. Jane Hunter and the Mask of Montezuma – A Separate Bonus Trigger
Jane Hunter and the Mask of Montezuma provides an especially useful example because Pragmatic Play separates its Scatter and Bonus functions.
Three to five Scatters trigger 10 to 20 Free Spins. The Bonus Symbol has a different job.
It appears only on reel five during the base game and triggers the Treasure Chest Bonus Game. The official game information also specifies that the Bonus Symbol itself does not pay.
This demonstrates why Bonus and Scatter should not automatically be treated as synonyms.
2. Brick House Bonanza – Wheel Bonus Symbols
Pragmatic Play's Brick House Bonanza uses dedicated Wheel Bonus Symbols alongside its separate Scatter mechanic.
Landing at least six Scatters activates the main Free Spins feature. Three or more Wheel Bonus Symbols instead trigger a separate reward mechanic.
The Wheel Bonus can award one of several outcomes, including the Mega Bank, Windmill or Brick House features, or a random jackpot.
One slot can therefore contain several completely independent routes into special features.
3. Himalayan Wild – Bonus Symbols Inside Free Spins
Himalayan Wild provides another variation. Its Free Spins are initially activated by three Scatter symbols appearing on the required reels.
Bonus Symbols then become relevant inside the Free Spins round.
The mechanic demonstrates that a Bonus Symbol does not necessarily initiate the first bonus trigger. It can instead modify, extend or interact with a feature that is already active.
This is an important distinction when reading a paytable containing several special symbols.
4. Orbitfall – A Moving Bonus Trigger
ELK Studios' Orbitfall abandons the conventional "land three symbols" formula.
The game uses a 6-column grid with six to eight rows. A Bonus Symbol must reach the top symbol row to activate the Bonus Game.
Doing so awards five Free Drops.
The symbol's location and movement therefore matter as much as its presence. Simply seeing the Bonus Symbol elsewhere on the grid does not satisfy the trigger condition.
5. Fish and Bird – Collect a Bonus Symbol
Fish and Bird from ELK Studios uses a collection-based system.
Collecting a Bonus Symbol triggers the Bonus Game, while collecting a Super Bonus Symbol activates the enhanced Super Bonus with Super Collectors.
The game adds another unusual property: Bonus Symbols can also substitute for paying symbols.
This is a clear example of a hybrid Bonus Symbol whose role extends beyond feature activation.
6. Ryze – Reach the Bonus Key Mould
Ryze is a cluster slot where special symbols move through a changing grid.
A Bonus Symbol must reach the Bonus Key Mould below the grid. Once it reaches that destination, seven Free Drops are awarded.
The Super Bonus uses a related but enhanced structure.
This demonstrates why modern Bonus Symbols sometimes function more like objectives that need to travel across the board rather than conventional Scatter-style triggers.
7. Ryze 2 – Bonus and Super Bonus Symbols
Ryze 2 develops this structure further with separate Bonus and Super Bonus outcomes.
A Bonus or Super Bonus Symbol reaching the bottom of the grid triggers the corresponding feature.
During the standard Bonus, Multiplier Wilds remain sticky. The Super Bonus enhances the feature further by beginning each Bonus Drop with an Orb Overload.
The symbol therefore determines which version of the feature starts, not simply whether a feature occurs.
8. DeadEye – Three Bonus Symbols and Bullet Collection
DeadEye uses a more recognisable numerical trigger. Three or more Bonus Symbols activate the Bonus Game.
The symbols continue to matter after the feature starts because each Bonus Symbol landing inside the Bonus can carry up to two bullets.
Collecting six bullets adds a Free Spin, after which the bullets are used to unlock Wilds, multipliers or additional spins.
The Bonus Symbol consequently acts as both a trigger and a resource within the feature.
9. Catemple – Bonus, Super Bonus and Mystery Interactions
Catemple uses several interconnected special symbols.
A collected Bonus Symbol triggers the standard Bonus Game with three win drops and a two-row Collect Zone. Additional Bonus Symbols can increase the number of win drops.
Collecting a Super Bonus Symbol instead activates the Super Bonus with an expanded three-row Collect Zone.
Catemple also has Mystery Symbols capable of revealing either Bonus or Super Bonus Symbols, demonstrating how two special-symbol mechanics can interact within one game.
10. Cygnus 6 – A Position-Based Bonus Trigger
Cygnus 6 uses another positional trigger.
The Bonus Symbol must reach the leftmost column to activate the feature, which initially awards seven Bonus Drops.
Additional Bonus Symbols can retrigger the feature.
This makes the Bonus Symbol part of the game's movement system rather than a conventional symbol that simply needs to appear three times on one spin.
10 Slot Providers That Use Bonus Symbols
Bonus Symbols are among the most widespread feature triggers in online slots. They appear across both traditional reel games and newer cluster, cascade and feature-heavy releases.
| Provider | Common Bonus Symbol Use |
|---|---|
| Pragmatic Play | Bonus games, wheels and special features |
| Play’n GO | Free Spins and dedicated bonus rounds |
| Relax Gaming | Bonus rounds and feature-heavy modes |
| Hacksaw Gaming | Bonus modes and feature triggers |
| Push Gaming | Free Games and special bonus features |
| ELK Studios | Bonus, Super Bonus and positional triggers |
| Nolimit City | Feature triggers and enhanced bonus modes |
| Wazdan | Free Spins, Hold the Jackpot and bonus features |
| Yggdrasil | Free Spins and proprietary feature triggers |
| Blueprint Gaming | Free Spins, bonus games and jackpot features |
The major difference is not whether these providers use Bonus Symbols – most established slot developers do – but how the trigger is implemented.
Traditional games often require a fixed number of symbols. Modern grid slots increasingly use collection, movement and progression mechanics.
Which Providers Use More Complex Bonus Symbols?
ELK Studios is particularly useful for demonstrating unconventional Bonus triggers. Orbitfall requires its Bonus Symbol to reach the top row, while Ryze uses a key mould and Cygnus titles can require the symbol to travel toward the left side of the grid.
Pragmatic Play also provides examples where multiple trigger symbols have separate purposes. Jane Hunter and the Mask of Montezuma distinguishes between Scatter-triggered Free Spins and a Bonus-triggered Treasure Chest feature.
Relax Gaming, Hacksaw Gaming, Push Gaming and Nolimit City frequently integrate bonus triggers into larger feature systems involving multipliers, Wilds, collectors or persistent modifiers.
Complexity itself is not an advantage. A complicated Bonus Symbol does not imply higher RTP or better expected returns.
Can One Bonus Symbol Trigger a Feature?
Yes. Although three-symbol triggers are common, some games require only one Bonus Symbol if another condition is satisfied.
Orbitfall is an example. A Bonus Symbol reaching the top row activates its Bonus Game.
Fish and Bird similarly focuses on collecting the relevant Bonus Symbol rather than landing three conventional triggers simultaneously.
The number of symbols required therefore cannot be assumed from other slots.
Can Bonus Symbols Trigger Free Spins?
Yes. Free Spins are one of the most common features associated with Bonus and Scatter symbols.
Depending on the slot, the trigger may award a fixed number of spins or vary according to how many symbols appear.
Some games also allow Bonus Symbols to award additional Free Spins once the feature has begun.
Others use a Bonus Symbol for an entirely different feature while reserving Free Spins for Scatters.
Can Bonus Symbols Retrigger a Bonus?
Yes, in some games. Bonus Symbols appearing during an active feature can award additional spins, drops or another extension.
Cygnus 6, for example, allows its Bonus feature to be retriggered.
Other games prevent the original Bonus Symbol from appearing during the feature or use a different symbol for retriggers.
A bonus therefore should not be assumed to be retriggerable unless the rules explicitly state it.
Can Bonus Symbols Have Multipliers?
They can. Modern games frequently combine feature triggers with numerical values, multipliers or other modifiers.
A Bonus Symbol may carry a multiplier itself, contribute to a global multiplier or activate a feature where multipliers become persistent.
Other Bonus Symbols have no monetary value at all and function only as triggers.
This is another reason to separate what triggers the feature from what determines the payout inside the feature.
Can a Bonus Symbol Be a Wild?
Yes, if the game explicitly combines those functions.
Fish and Bird provides a real example: its Bonus Symbols can substitute for paying symbols while also participating in the collection mechanic that triggers the Bonus Game.
That is an exception rather than a rule.
Most Bonus Symbols should not be assumed to substitute for ordinary icons unless the paytable specifically identifies them as Wild or substitute symbols.
Can Mystery Symbols Reveal Bonus Symbols?
Yes. A Mystery feature can include Bonus Symbols in its reveal pool.
Catemple demonstrates this directly. Its Mystery Symbol can reveal several feature symbols, including a Bonus or Super Bonus.
However, many games exclude Bonus and Scatter symbols from Mystery transformations.
The possible outcomes always depend on the individual feature rules.
Are Bonus Symbols Random?
Bonus Symbols appear according to the game's RNG and mathematical model. Their frequency and trigger conditions are determined by the provider's game mathematics.
The player cannot make a Bonus Symbol appear by stopping the reels at a particular moment.
Animations showing a symbol almost landing or moving toward a trigger position do not provide control over future random outcomes.
Previous spins also do not make a Bonus Symbol "due."
Do Bonus Symbols Guarantee a Win?
No. Triggering a Bonus Game does not necessarily guarantee a profit from the overall game session.
Some features can have minimum awards or specific guaranteed components, but those rules apply only where the provider explicitly defines them.
A bonus can produce a result smaller than the stake used to trigger it naturally over preceding spins.
Bonus does not mean guaranteed profit.
Does a Bonus Symbol Increase RTP?
The presence of Bonus Symbols does not automatically increase RTP. Bonus rounds and their trigger probabilities are already included in the game's mathematical model.
A feature-heavy slot can have a lower RTP than a simple slot with no separate Bonus Symbol.
Some games are also available in several approved RTP configurations.
For that reason, the active RTP should be checked in the actual game rather than estimated from the number or complexity of bonus features.
Bonus Symbol vs Bonus Buy
A Bonus Symbol is part of the game's normal feature mechanics. A Bonus Buy is an optional function that allows eligible players to pay an additional amount to access a specified feature directly.
They are therefore different concepts.
| Feature | Bonus Symbol | Bonus Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Part of Reel Mechanics | Yes | No |
| Can Trigger Naturally | Yes | Not applicable |
| Requires Additional Feature Purchase | No | Yes |
| Available in Every Jurisdiction | Game-dependent | No |
| Guarantees Profit | No | No |
| Defined by Game Rules | Yes | Yes |
Purchasing a feature does not guarantee that its payout will exceed its cost. Bonus Buy availability can also differ by jurisdiction because of local gambling regulations.
Common Mistakes About Bonus Symbols
Bonus Symbols appear simple, but providers use them in enough different ways that assumptions can easily become inaccurate.
The most common mistakes include:
- Treating Bonus and Scatter as Identical. They can activate completely separate features.
- Assuming Three Symbols Are Always Required. Some games use one collected or position-based Bonus Symbol.
- Assuming Bonus Symbols Pay. Many exist solely to activate features.
- Expecting Every Bonus to Award Free Spins. Wheels, respins, pick games and other formats are possible.
- Assuming Bonus Symbols Cannot Substitute. Hybrid symbols exist in selected games.
- Assuming a Bonus Guarantees Profit. Feature outcomes remain part of the game's mathematical model.
- Confusing Bonus Symbols With Bonus Buys. One is a reel mechanic; the other is an optional paid feature.
- Assuming Previous Spins Affect the Trigger. A run without a Bonus does not make one due.
- Ignoring Super Bonus Symbols. Some games use separate standard and enhanced triggers.
- Ignoring Position Requirements. A Bonus Symbol may need to reach or land in a specific location.
The paytable should always take priority over assumptions based on another slot.
How to Check Bonus Symbol Rules
Before interpreting a Bonus Symbol, open the game's information or paytable screen and identify exactly what conditions activate the feature.
Check:
- How Many Bonus Symbols Are Required.
- Where They Can Appear.
- Whether They Need to Be Collected or Moved.
- Which Feature They Trigger.
- Whether Additional Symbols Improve the Bonus.
- Whether the Bonus Can Be Retriggered.
- Whether Bonus Symbols Have Their Own Payout.
- Whether They Substitute for Other Symbols.
- Whether a Super Bonus Version Exists.
- Whether the Rules Change During the Bonus.
This is particularly important in modern grid slots, where a Bonus Symbol may need to travel through several positions before it actually activates anything.
