BTG feature buys no longer in the UK

[Reelsoffun]

Yes I specifically reference you in the video trancemonkey, you posted here 12 months ago saying the whole thing would get a sledgehammer taken to it if providers didn't sort their shit out

Extra Chilli allows a £1000 bonus buy that can be gambled and lost in seconds.

That's Responsible Gaming, right there......

It was actually £2000 mate so even worse than you thought lol

 

[thebeast777]

I’ve been playing slots for 40 years. This is a worrying development. Firstly, I would question if UKGC have the legal powers to do this ? Secondly, assuming online casinos are adhering to the correct SOW rules customers should not be gambling to an uncomfortable level so stakes should be irrelevant. The bigger question is , what’s coming down the tracks ? Auto play removal, gaminators stripped or their red/black gamble option, any type of gamble feature including gambling a gained feature for a better feature, progressive jackpots,retriggers on bonus won,

It feels as though this mirrors the FSA/FCA whereby new rules and regulations have to keep being introduced simply to keep everybody in a job and stimulate a workload . If UKGC get away with this it will be a gradual progression of the ruination of UK slots.Problem gamblers should be identified if everybody is doing their job correctly. UKGC should not, in my opinion, be getting involved in any way with game design.

P.S. Look out for the new UK version of roulette with only half the current numbers to reduce volatility !

 

[interlog]

Firstly, I would question if UKGC have the legal powers to do this ?

Well as they dish out and can revoke/remove gambling licenses, I guess that they have the upper hand.

 

[colinsunderland]

I’ve been playing slots for 40 years. This is a worrying development. Firstly, I would question if UKGC have the legal powers to do this ?

They license the games, if they remove the license then the casino's have to remove them. They certainly do have the power to do it.

 

[Jono777]

I can see us all being reduced to shove ha'penny and betting on snails in our gardens before much longer

 

[ChopleyIOM]

I’ve been playing slots for 40 years. This is a worrying development. Firstly, I would question if UKGC have the legal powers to do this ? Secondly, assuming online casinos are adhering to the correct SOW rules customers should not be gambling to an uncomfortable level so stakes should be irrelevant. The bigger question is , what’s coming down the tracks ? Auto play removal, gaminators stripped or their red/black gamble option, any type of gamble feature including gambling a gained feature for a better feature, progressive jackpots,retriggers on bonus won,

On what planet is it a worrying development?

Feature buys are predatory and scummy, online slots managed to be entertaining and enjoyable without them for many years, they're not an 'innovation' that offers the player anything positive, they're simply a way to plaster over the fact that some modern slots are fun-free zones that need a feature buy (and even a feature gamble) to make them even remotely engaging and interesting to play.

Everyone acknowledges that White Rabbit is essentially intolerable without the feature buy, so the problem here is that BTG made a slot that's so dire to play that we feel compelled to buy features, and yet somehow some folks draw the conclusion that feature buys are a good thing and should be defended.

In essence, BTG created the 'problem', and then sell us the 'solution' for 100x our normal stake, and somehow the UKGC are the bad guys for calling bullshit!

 

[goatwack]

I remember the fun we had in school chucking coins at a wall to see who could get it closest

Soon I'll get to re-live those glorious copper-hurling days

*please don't regulate that UKGC

 

[interlog]

I remember the fun we had in school chucking coins at a wall to see who could get it closest

Soon I'll get to re-live those glorious copper-hurling days

*please don't regulate that UKGC

Coppers only though.... no silver coins unless a SOW is completed

 

[Jono777]

WOW! - Cheers you guys, never thought I'd be classed as a high roller, EVER!

Consider myself one now tho, as we used to play that game you describe for £1 coins, usually whilst waiting for a train home from one of our "Slotting exploit excursions"

I was crap at it and if we'd just missed a train could be 10-15 out of pocket before the next one pulled up

 

[deleted_user-20231116]

On what planet is it a worrying development?

Feature buys are predatory and scummy, online slots managed to be entertaining and enjoyable without them for many years, they're not an 'innovation' that offers the player anything positive, they're simply a way to plaster over the fact that some modern slots are fun-free zones that need a feature buy (and even a feature gamble) to make them even remotely engaging and interesting to play.

Everyone acknowledges that White Rabbit is essentially intolerable without the feature buy, so the problem here is that BTG made a slot that's so dire to play that we feel compelled to buy features, and yet somehow some folks draw the conclusion that feature buys are a good thing and should be defended.

In essence, BTG created the 'problem', and then sell us the 'solution for 100x our normal stake, and somehow the UKGC are the bad guys for calling bullshit!

Blueprint has improved the feature buy concept on some of their games, imo. Not all slots have a cost of 100x stake, some have 20x, 50x, 80x etc. Buying the 20x feature on safari gold megaways or the 50x feature on gods of olympus can't be compared to the 100x stake buy on Vikings Unleashed where you can buy 10 bonuses in a row and lose the gamble on all of them.

It's a bit unfair to blame it all on BTG, and to say all feature buys are predatory and scummy, when many of them play just fine without buying it.

Feature buys are still better than Kingmaker, where you are just building a multiplier that ends up triggering before it reaches a level where it can pay back what you invested in the game.

 

[thebeast777]

On what planet is it a worrying development?

Feature buys are predatory and scummy, online slots managed to be entertaining and enjoyable without them for many years, they're not an 'innovation' that offers the player anything positive, they're simply a way to plaster over the fact that some modern slots are fun-free zones that need a feature buy (and even a feature gamble) to make them even remotely engaging and interesting to play.

Everyone acknowledges that White Rabbit is essentially intolerable without the feature buy, so the problem here is that BTG made a slot that's so dire to play that we feel compelled to buy features, and yet somehow some folks draw the conclusion that feature buys are a good thing and should be defended.

In essence, BTG created the 'problem', and then sell us the 'solution for 100x our normal stake, and somehow the UKGC are the bad guys for calling bullshit!

It’s not just feature buys , it’s what might be coming down the road as I mentioned previously . Its “ regulatory creep” where regulators keep looking for new reasons to grow their departments .As soon as they’ve got all the Casinos behaving they need new developments to create work for themselves. Consumer choice should not be hampered for those who can’t control themselves. There’s plenty of tools on these sites problem gamblers can use to moderate their behaviour.

 

[shadow123]

A little list of games I wont be playing again if they do come back without bonus buy.

Extra Chilli - might just as well play bonanza as it will be well nigh impossible to get 12 free spins.
Money train, one of the best bonus buy games out there but the base play is really dire.
Book of gods, again dire base play but the feature buy was very fair at 15 spins for 80x buy and often retriggered.
White rabbit, another fair feature buy with 15 spins for 100x,unplayable base game

Some I will be pleased to see the back of

Machina never played it but the buy stake is piss taking to the highest degree
The Super 300 shields thing , never seem such scripted rubbish on a bonus buy, either pays sod all or 1 in 100
may get to the top of the ladder.
Fat Santa, more scripted rubbish and costly buy
Rainbow riches gem thing, words cannot describe how bad the buy is but what would you expect from Barcrap.

 

[lotusch]

Best news ever, I wish all the other gaming authorities would follow suit...
Ban this crap for once and for all...

Even Youtube is polluted with 10's of gambling channels now solely making feature buy videos.
10 feature buys for £1000 or even £2000.

And many many many times they end up in the minus, as expected of course.

I watched a few and was thinking, who on earth would pay £100 for a feature buy and get £6.80 back.
Do that a few times and bye bye money.

Hideous, and I am happy at least the UKGC woke up!

 

[EkJR]

I’ve been playing slots for 40 years. This is a worrying development. Firstly, I would question if UKGC have the legal powers to do this ? Secondly, assuming online casinos are adhering to the correct SOW rules customers should not be gambling to an uncomfortable level so stakes should be irrelevant. The bigger question is , what’s coming down the tracks ? Auto play removal, gaminators stripped or their red/black gamble option, any type of gamble feature including gambling a gained feature for a better feature, progressive jackpots,retriggers on bonus won,

It feels as though this mirrors the FSA/FCA whereby new rules and regulations have to keep being introduced simply to keep everybody in a job and stimulate a workload . If UKGC get away with this it will be a gradual progression of the ruination of UK slots.Problem gamblers should be identified if everybody is doing their job correctly. UKGC should not, in my opinion, be getting involved in any way with game design.

P.S. Look out for the new UK version of roulette with only half the current numbers to reduce volatility !

It's partly down to political lobbying tbh. There is a small, but powerful, movement at Westminster who have been lobbying for the last few years.

Personally I see nothing wrong with banning feature buys, they can cause serious problems. I'm sure most have lost massive balances on numerous Chilli buy gambles in the past.

 

[dealer wins]

Its a hard one to call. One one hand we should be allowed to spend our (taxed) money on what we want, but on the other hand there are people with a gambling addiction. But a gambler will find a way to bet at his level and piss his money away one way or another, whatever the UKGC does or doesnt do.

But I still think that you should be allowed to spend your money on what you want, whether that be a £1000 spin of an online slot if one desires.

A £1000 spin to one person could mean as much as a 50p spin to someone else, in Vegas I have sat next to someone betting $5000 hand on blackjack, whilst my 3 red chips satin the next box to his.

Otherwise slowly but surely the state and its regulators (who by their very nature will want to implement measures just to keep them in a job) gets more and more control over peoples right to spend their money how they want to.

 

[EkJR]

It’s not just feature buys , it’s what might be coming down the road as I mentioned previously . Its “ regulatory creep” where regulators keep looking for new reasons to grow their departments .As soon as they’ve got all the Casinos behaving they need new developments to create work for themselves. Consumer choice should not be hampered for those who can’t control themselves. There’s plenty of tools on these sites problem gamblers can use to moderate their behaviour.

It's gambling though mate so it needs to be heavily restricted by it's very nature. It is highly addictive and the market has previously been so deregulated it has spawned a huge issue with gambling in the UK. They are now reigning that in as they realise that cutting the red tape previously has backfired.

 

[dealer wins]

Still think we should be able to bet what we want, on what we want to, with our own money!

I can go to Betfair exchange and place a £10000 bet, (Which I have done many times all be it covering the side for an arb but Betfair dont know that), but I am now restricted from using a £20 feature buy. Its just crazy!!

 

[shadow123]

Bring back the wild west from 10 years ago, no one looking at everything you were doing,whinging about
how much you were spending or where it came from.At the end of the day we are all adults and should be
free to spend what we earn how we like.

 

[irish-ranger]

It’s not just feature buys , it’s what might be coming down the road as I mentioned previously . Its “ regulatory creep” where regulators keep looking for new reasons to grow their departments .As soon as they’ve got all the Casinos behaving they need new developments to create work for themselves. Consumer choice should not be hampered for those who can’t control themselves. There’s plenty of tools on these sites problem gamblers can use to moderate their behaviour.

Min pricing on alcohol
Smoking taxed to the hilt
Fobts slashed
Why should this be any different it’s corrupt/toxic and ripping lives apart good work from the gambling commission may they keep the good work up.

 

[dealer wins]

All fantastic until you get a SOW from your travel agent when booking a week away, or spending too much in Tesco over the last 4 weeks, or when buying a new car etc etc

 

[colinsunderland]

All fantastic until you get a SOW from your travel agent when booking a week away, or spending too much in Tesco over the last 4 weeks, or when buying a new car etc etc

If you buy a new car cash, then you should be getting a SOW done on you, if its over £15k they will certainly submit a SAR and I would be very surprised if many dealers would take it from you anyway If its bank transfer, card or anything, then its assumed the bank will have done any SOW checks needed, and the dealer won't have to. You know, like casinos shouldn't really need to

 

[dave1888]

Thanks a bunch ukgc! Now what will my prize be for a giveaway? No white rabbit buys sorry guys...great! And on top of this Extra Chilli buys have been very profitable for me. This seriously sucks just delete my favourite slot! No worries. Jobsworth sods!

 

[Andy Walker]

I don't need to point out that Bonus / feature buys have been an option on the various megaways slots from day one on the vast majority of them no matter the provider be it BTG, Blueprint or SG etc. Most UK based Casinos have either never enabled the feature buy portion of the slots or they have disabled them for quite some time. This throws up quite a few questions which I would direct at BTG the licence holders did their market research identify a potential issue with the bonus buy *you can read from that what you will* from feedback from Casinos and or game testers, its clear that the games are designed to run in both modes buy or not buy. Why did some Casinos choose to run the disabled versions and why did Casinos choose to backtrack from the enhanced versions and disable the buy the feature mode. Were there any moral issues or housekeeping chats from the lawyers.

Next to go will be the locking reels buys from the likes of slots like Book of OZ where for many times your stake you can hold over various reels in hope of landing a feature or line win and before I forget the turbo spins that run at a million miles per hour from eg Red Gaming etc.

 

[EkJR]

"Been buying Extra Chilli Gambles in the last 5 years? Lost your home and emptied your bank account as a result? Robbing Bastard Casino Claims can help you get your money back. Simply fill out our online form and we will process the claim every step of the way for you."

Tell you, if it comes out that those are banned for any kind of questionable mathematics then that's what will be happening! I will be first in the queue

 

[johnnymcc1966]

I'm in favour of this,on the surface of it at least but would still like to see the reduced cost feature buys as a reward for using the game a lot. I realise this will probably not be able to be implemented but I do think it would be better.The other way of doing it would be to do a bonus guarantee of say half the cost of the feature buy, but again I realise it most likely won't happen.

 

[nutnut]

No feature buys
Max bet 10 pound per spin
24hr max withdrawal time length
Once withdraw is requested auto locks it
Ban free spins on starburst
Ban BGT from polluting us with new slot releases to 1 per every 10years

Vote for me at next gambling commission elections

 

[Jono777]

...you forgot the part about letting us actually WIN from time to time....

 

[johnnymcc1966]

What next? The gamble ladders on Reel King / Captain Venture?

That's The Bandit's Slots out of business!

 

[Reelsoffun]

No feature buys
Max bet 10 pound per spin
24hr max withdrawal time length
Once withdraw is requested auto locks it
Ban free spins on starburst
Ban BGT from polluting us with new slot releases to 1 per every 10years

Vote for me at next gambling commission elections

You mean BTG ?

I would also like you to add

Slots defaulting to min bet on loading and you get my vote too

 

[Greigssy]

Blueprint games are still running with feature buys at Will Hill, strange as they've removed all other software with the buy option.

 

[L&L-Jan]

Blueprint games with a feature buy should be back in the next 24 to 48 hours - but then without the feature buy

 

[Borgie]

Blueprint games with a feature buy should be back in the next 24 to 48 hours - but then without the feature buy

I am confused - which does not take much lol - are they coming back with or without the feature buy ?

 

[L&L-Jan]

Yeah the games with feature buy will be available without feature buy in the next 48 hours. E.g. Buffalo Rising will be offered with no feature buy option.

 

[johnnymcc1966]

Just looked at LeoVegas and Genie Megaways still has feature buy. Is this only L and L doing this at the moment?

 

[goatwack]

So will there be a blanket ban on all BTG feature buys, or is it for the fine-swervers only? I'd like to still be able to fritter the odd feature- buy on White Rabbit without being castigated by our masters, the UKGC

And let's face it, without purchasing the feature on said White Rabbit there really is no point in playing it. BTG may as well pull the game then!

 

[Siohmy]

Really torn on this one.

We are not all equal. This applies to many things but for the purpose of this thread I guess the key elements are relative wealth and addictive nature. To take the line that bonus buys are bad for everyone and banning them is not great.

I personally do not like them. They are simply a quick method for casinos to maximise the throughput of money with little regard of the consequences. However, many people can afford to play these and many people enjoy these. I can’t help but feel there are other options than a blanket ban which could be used here. Of course, banning is both a simply and easy “win” for the UKGC to show they are doing something to tackle problem gambling and there are many which should have been addressed before this.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, the easiest thing from a player point of view, which I use, is to set a bet limit. This genuinely has worked wonders for me. Sometimes when I have a crap session it is tempting to hit the bonus buys (and I do not consider myself in any way an addicted gambler case). Having set my limit at £5 I cannot buy any features.

Now I know everyone has the ability to do this but maybe the casinos could push this option a little more? Make it more transparent. I know, they are in a business of making money but most can manage their play and this would show far more willing to help as opposed to ”When the fun stops, STOP”.

Why can’t they add a banned slot feature where you can remove certain slots from your options?

Why have they not done more in the past to check affordability of the player?

Responsible gamblers will still gamble even with all three of the above actioned. Difference is those who may have a problem at least have a chance. Maybe not to quit but to limit their exposure.

The truth is online casinos could not care less unless forced to and the existence of bonus buys, reel re-spin buys and bonus gambles just confirms this.

 

[Mouse75]

Sat and thought about this a little more.

Why always the most dramatic action (IE: removing the games altogether)

Simply 'grey out' the feature drop button (you know like they did with auto spin ,they're good at that!)

Reduction coins remain the same so from where I am sat from would not even affect the RTP, players would still get their "free feature" via the final reduction coin just not at a time they chose to.

Sky vegas do not grey our the features v=buys - they just simply aren't there on BTg or Blueprint games - think this is a big plus in SKY's favour

 

[Mouse75]

Just got told by Blueprint it wouldn't take them long to remove the feature buy on the games, but the rumour goes that BTG would have to redo their feature buy games. Only BTG can confirm.

this makes sense - on some sites there is not an option to feature buy on Blueprints

 

[Reelsoffun]

Yeah we cant play a £10 feature buy anymore but can play a £100 spin on many slots which can be gone in a second I know what i would rather have available.

Like others have said bonus buy if used correctly, wisely was actually more cost and time effective than playing some slots on normal play....I can see something had to be done but to blanket ban them all was not the way to go IMO.

 

[Mouse75]

Just looked at LeoVegas and Genie Megaways still has feature buy. Is this only L and L doing this at the moment?

Thats because LEOVEGAS and its sister sites are scam artists - they will leave it running as long as possible as they are really just about the bottom line and dont give a damn about the player

 

[Balthazar]

7 pages deep and no one asked the real question: Do we want the government to make the gambling world more friendly for problem gamblers?

 

[Mouse75]

Its now 17.25 on Monday,

Interesting to note that some casinos have already actioned this, and these games are no longer available to the UK - Casumo, Will Hill and presumeably others.

However an equal number gave not done so - such as Videoslots.

Does this give us an indication of good and bad casino practises??

(Ducks down behind barricade...)

 

[irish-ranger]

Its now 17.25 on Monday,

Interesting to note that some casinos have already actioned this, and these games are no longer available to the UK - Casumo, Will Hill and presumeably others.

However an equal number gave not done so - such as Videoslots.

Does this give us an indication of good and bad casino practises??

(Ducks down behind barricade...)

Fair point but this says a lot more about the casinos which haven’t implemented this who will obviously sail as close as they can screwing every last penny they can...

 

[Reelsoffun]

Or that they have not had the notification yet? wasn't it a letter sent out which if my post is anything to go by could be days more lol

 

[Jono777]

Its now 17.25 on Monday,

Interesting to note that some casinos have already actioned this, and these games are no longer available to the UK - Casumo, Will Hill and presumeably others.

However an equal number gave not done so - such as Videoslots.

Does this give us an indication of good and bad casino practises??

(Ducks down behind barricade...)

Not really. In most cases a specific time frame will be set, some will act straightaway, others will wait until the last minute!

 

[paul7388]

I want my Chilli back

 

[goatwack]

I want to go back to the good old days of 72 hours ago

 

[thr0b]

I want my Chilli back

It’s still at Videoslots

 

[Jono777]

I want to go back to the good old days of 72 hours ago

Ideally about 16 years ago would do me fine

"Hey Jon, have you heard, you can now play slots online!"

"Fuck off!"

 

[paul7388]

It’s still at Videoslots

Not much good when i have no money to play there lol. Only account with money at moment is WH and they took my chilli away