Typically, within the gambling scene, ‘bonus hunting’ refers to players occasionally abusing promotional offers in order to secure the most lucrative welcome bonus. However, the emergence of gambling streamers has given the term an entirely new meaning. Nowadays, some gambling streamers on platforms such as Twitch create a large portion of their content by engaging in bonus hunting while playing slots.
Put simply, streamers engaging in bonus hunting are trying to win bonus games on numerous slots and save them for later. Once they have collected a certain number of bonus features, or reached a predetermined budget limit, they reopen the games and play the bonus rounds back-to-back.
There are various reasons why people enjoy following streamers who practise bonus hunting. This type of gambling experience can be both thrilling and entertaining, with the process of revealing different bonus features resembling content creators unboxing mystery boxes.
If you are interested in how bonus hunting works and how streamers create their gambling content, we suggest you keep reading.
What Is the Whole Bonus Hunting Ordeal?
Bonus hunting became a popular category among casino streamers thanks to the Twitch streamers of CasinoGrounds. There are a few simple steps that define the process of slot bonus hunting, which viewers can often watch on Twitch:
- Players place bets on different slots that offer bonus features such as free spins
- Each game is played until a bonus feature is triggered
- The game is exited before the bonus round starts
- All collected bonus features are then played back-to-back at the end of the stream
Viewers and followers are typically invited to take part in the bonus hunt both before and during the stream. The community chat is where the bonus hunting usually starts, with everyone able to join the relevant thread and leave a comment predicting what the results of the hunt will be.
Stream viewers can also recommend a slot they enjoy so that the streamer can include the game in the bonus-hunting venture. If you cannot think of a suitable slot, you can check the various slot reviews available online and find a title that seems interesting and offers great bonus features.
Another highly entertaining element of bonus-hunting streams is when the streamers trigger a bonus-pick feature while playing slots during the stream. Such bonus games often allow players to choose between several options, each revealing a different type of reward or a specific number of free spins.
While it is far easier to determine which option most viewers support when using map voting, it is ultimately up to the streamer to choose the polling system for bonus-pick moments during streams.
Is Bonus Hunting Used Only by Twitch Streamers?
It is true that the concept of bonus hunting on slots became popular on Twitch, largely thanks to the CasinoGrounds streamers. It is not well known who first started streaming with this concept, but bonus hunting certainly rose to prominence among gambling streamers thanks to LetsGiveItASpin and NickSlots, who pioneered streams of this kind.
Even though the concept of slot bonus hunting became popular on Twitch, it can be adopted by any creator on any streaming platform that allows such content. If you are interested in this type of endeavour and have always wanted to try streaming while playing your favourite slots, you can give bonus hunting a try.
Bonus hunting became popular mainly because of the high level of engagement it offers viewers. Chasing the goal of triggering bonus rounds on multiple games is a high-risk experience that not everyone can afford, which is why many viewers are content to watch their favourite streamers play slots they find entertaining.
As soon as the “Guess the win” thread opens on the forum of the Twitch streamers launching the bonus hunt, viewers flock to watch the stream and submit their predictions in the hope of sharing the winnings. Streamers like NickSlots and LetsGiveItASpin often give their viewers the chance to compete for a cash prize of 10% of the total winnings from the slot sessions during the stream. Even if the streamer has announced that the bonus hunt is expected to generate about £10,000 in winnings, if he or she ends up winning more, the contestant who predicted the correct amount will still receive 10% of the actual win.
Often, streamers decide to be generous and pick a few additional winners from the “Guess the win” thread. At times, viewers can also win prizes such as exclusive merchandise, free spins, casino bonuses and other fun perks. In addition to rewarding their viewers, streamers who engage in bonus hunting will often donate to charity, which is why you may see dedicated bonus-hunting events streamed to raise money for a charitable organisation.
Types of Bonus Hunting Streams
Although the concept of bonus hunting remains the same, there are two popular methods streamers use to play bonus rounds back-to-back. The first approach is the standard practice of using a raw balance. The second, more common in shorter streams, involves using feature buys.
Raw Balance Bonus Hunting During Streams
As already mentioned, this is the original method used by streamers and is regarded as the established standard for this type of stream. As the name suggests, streamers place wagers on slots using the money they have deposited into their casino accounts.
The raw-balance method appears more genuine because viewers know the streamers are using their own money, just as any regular player would. No bonus funds are used during such streams, with streamers risking real money to trigger bonus features.
Many viewers appreciate this approach to bonus hunting as it feels far more realistic. With streamers using only their own money, every win and loss seems genuine. Whenever a bonus feature or a huge win is triggered, those watching know that it is all down to luck, just as in everyday gambling.
Because many people find the raw-balance approach more genuine, it is also the most popular method among bonus-hunting streamers. Viewers anticipate the big wins and the opening of the bonus rounds at the end of the stream just as much as the streamers who are playing with their own money.
Feature Buy Bonus Hunting Streams
Although the process of bonus hunting is somewhat similar to the standard raw-balance approach, in this case, players simply buy the features in the games instead of waiting to trigger them by playing the slots.
Streamers who opt for feature buys still risk their money, as purchasing in-game bonuses typically costs about 100x their original stake. However, they are guaranteed to trigger the bonus game instead of leaving everything to chance.
While this approach is less popular than the raw-balance method, slots such as Big Time Gaming’s White Rabbit have encouraged more bonus-hunting streams to start buying in-game bonus features. The final result is just as exciting but saves streamers the time they would otherwise spend waiting to trigger the bonuses naturally.
Bonus Hunting Using Bonus Funds
There is also a third approach to bonus hunting during streams, but it is very uncommon because it can give the impression of advantage play. In such cases, streamers deposit into their casino accounts and redeem some of the bonuses offered by the casino. Once the bonus funds have been added to their balance, streamers have more money to play slots during their bonus-hunting sessions.
However, whenever a streamer redeems a match bonus, he or she must comply with the strict terms and conditions that apply to the promotion. This often rules out the option to buy in-game features. Moreover, there is usually a maximum bet they must observe while using bonus funds to remain compliant with the bonus rules.
Another major drawback of using a match bonus during bonus-hunting streams is the need to meet wagering requirements. Typically, casino bonuses come with play-through conditions that must be fulfilled before winnings can be released as a withdrawable amount. Naturally, such limitations do not appeal to viewers who want to enjoy a thrilling slot experience that they cannot afford to participate in themselves.
Slots Suitable for Bonus Hunting Streams
If you want to try bonus-hunting streams yourself, or if you wish to suggest suitable slots for the next bonus-hunting session of your favourite streamer, you might want to learn which types of games will ensure the best outcomes and provide plenty of entertainment for both the streamer and their viewers.
Even though the majority of video slots feature bonus games, not every slot is suitable for bonus hunting. Streamers typically prefer certain types of slots when they hope to create a thrilling experience by chasing bonus features:
High-volatility slots
When choosing suitable games for bonus-hunting sessions, you should opt for high-volatility slots. High volatility indicates higher risk, but, in the long run, that risk can be rewarded with huge wins, including lucrative bonus features.
As the whole concept of bonus hunting is to trigger the special features on as many games as possible, playing a low-volatility slot is of little use. Although such games can award regular small wins, triggering a bonus feature is much more difficult.
Book-themed slots
Even though not all book-themed slots are identical, one feature that most of them share is expanding symbols. These special icons make the bonus features more exciting and rewarding, making book-themed slots perfect for bonus-hunting streams.
If you combine a high-volatility model with a book-themed slot, you can expect a very rewarding and fun streaming session, with great potential for generous bonus spins at the end of the stream.
Controversies Surrounding Bonus Hunting Streaming
While this sub-genre of gambling streaming is becoming more popular, it also has its share of controversies. As already mentioned, streamers tend to use their own money to play the slots, which many viewers regard as a genuine gaming experience. That said, some people accuse streamers of unfair practices, suspecting them of faking their play because of affiliations with the virtual casinos where they play.
Viewers certainly have the right to suspect gambling streamers of being insincere with their audience. There have been scandals involving a Twitch streamer who created content while playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The streamer was banned from the platform after allegations that he attempted to profit by advertising a skin-gambling platform he allegedly owned.
One thing viewers must remember, however, is the strict regulation that now applies to casino operators. The aforementioned scandal happened back in 2016 and licensing authorities have introduced numerous stringent regulations since then. As a result, cheating is extremely rare at licensed casino platforms, where streamers generally play during their bonus-hunting streams.
Of course, it is always worth checking the legitimacy of the websites where streamers are playing to ensure the operators are acting legally and abiding by strict regulatory rules. Even if there is no problem with the virtual casino where you play, it is possible for the casino itself to disapprove of the bonus-hunting practice.
As some software developers do not allow players to freeze their games mid-play, stopping a slot just before a bonus game begins might disrupt the entire bonus feature when you relaunch the slot later on. Things get especially confusing for many virtual casinos when you use your frozen bonus rounds and bet with both bonus money and your own funds.
Software Providers Creating Slots Suitable for Bonus Hunting
Even though not all gaming companies are keen on the idea of utilising their slots for bonus hunting, some software providers allow players to pause games when a bonus feature is triggered and then resume the bonus play at a later point. If you are browsing slot options suitable for bonus hunting, you may want to look for games powered by names such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Play’n Go, Pragmatic Play, Yggdrasil, Blueprint Gaming, Nolimit City, or Quickspin.
In addition to seeking games developed by these companies, you may also practise bonus hunting on a few slots that are particularly suited to this style of play. Popular titles favoured by streamers for their bonus-hunting sessions include Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Jammin Jars, Madame Destiny Megaways, Fruit Party and Sweet Bonanza. The RTP values of these games range between 96.21% and 98.83%, which is high for slots.
These slots, however, are far from the only ones suitable for streamers engaging in bonus hunting. The more of this sub-category you watch, the more exciting slots you will discover.
Closing Thoughts on Bonus Hunting
Bonus hunting is a relatively new concept in the gambling-streaming community, with a few Twitch streamers enjoying considerable followings thanks to the trend. The idea is to trigger bonus games on as many slots as possible, leave the games before the bonus features play, and then return to them at the end of the stream. This approach creates a continuous streak of bonus play across different slots.
While you can simply enjoy bonus-hunting streams by watching streamers risk large sums while chasing free spins, there is also the opportunity to become a winner yourself. An especially enticing moment in bonus hunting allows viewers to guess the amount the streamer will win at the final stage of the stream. One lucky viewer who guesses correctly can enjoy a share of the massive win.
Slot bonus hunting is still a niche within gambling streaming, and, as such, some viewers question the integrity of the sessions. That said, given the strict regulations in place, it is difficult for streamers to fake results while playing slots at licensed casinos. Ultimately, it is up to viewers to decide whether they trust the streamer and whether it is worth entering the next “Guess the win” contest during a bonus-hunting stream.
