Communications are being sent by the UK Gambling Commission to content suppliers, urging them to remove slots that allow bonus purchases.
A casino source told us that the Gambling Commission is contacting game aggregators with directives to eliminate slots offering bonus buy features. This mechanism, often called Bonus Buy Feature Buy or Feature Pass, was first seen in Big Time Gaming's White Rabbit slot back in 2017, and has gained immense popularity among players globally since.
In practice, this means that Microgaming (Quickfire) and SG Digital, both suppliers of Big Time Gaming slots, are expected to exclude titles like Extra Chilli, Book of Gods, and White Rabbit from the UK market until they adhere to the legal standards. Although some major UK gambling companies, such as Sky and Ladbrokes, proactively chose not to offer this feature, other operators regulated by the UKGC have continued to use it.
Big Time Gaming, known for bringing the bonus buy concept to popularity, has stopped using it in their new releases, though it remains widely implemented. Blueprint Gaming is notably one of the leading developers using the bonus buy concept. Relax Gaming , Kalamba Gaming, Barcrest , NextGen Gaming , and Yggdrasil Gaming Some developers are also known to include this option in their slot games.
For many providers, the challenge might be as simple as deactivating the feature or offering dual versions of a game. However, those providers who have deeply integrated the feature into their slot games might need to withdraw them, make necessary changes, and undergo re-evaluation, a process that is both time-consuming and costly. It is rumored that Big Time Gaming may find themselves having to go through this, though confirmation is not available.
The impact of this decision on responsible gambling is a topic of hot debate among gaming communities following the announcement. While no specific deadline has been issued by the UKGC for removing the bonus buy feature, game suppliers are expected to comply promptly.
