How much you spend before receiving bonuses and freespins

1) The essence of the phenomenon

Bonus rounds and freespins are key triggers for engagement in slots. Players know that through a certain number of spins or when special characters appear, they can activate free spins or a bonus game. Waiting for this reward shapes a particular pattern of behavior: players tend to spend more in the lead-up to the bonus.

2) Mechanism of influence

1. The effect is "almost there": if a player "feels" the bonus is close, they continue to bet even with significant losses.
2. Bid growth for the sake of acceleration: the player can increase the par or activate more lines to get into the bonus faster.
3. No exit: Players are less likely to complete a session until they open a bonus, which lengthens game cycles.
4. Additional loading of funds: when the bankroll is reset in anticipation of a bonus, the player more often makes a new deposit.

3) Observed behavioral patterns

Lengthening sessions: the player spends 20-40% more time in the slot before the bonus.
Growth in average spending: in cohorts of players who have reached the bonus, spending per session is 25-50% higher.
Frequent deposits "to the finish line": the likelihood of an additional deposit increases sharply if the bonus has not fallen out, but the player has already invested a significant amount.
Change to riskier bets: To "knock out" the bonus faster, players often increase the bet-size.

4) Differences by player segment

Recreational: play before the first bonus, often come after it; their expenses rise moderately, but become more concentrated around the bonus event.
Involved: ready to spend more to "finish off the bonus"; more often they do additional loads, their average costs are noticeably higher.
High rollers: perceive the bonus as an "entry point" in big bets; expenses around bonuses are several times higher than average.

5) Metrics for analysis

Average spend before bonus activation ($ or bet equivalent).
Probability of additional loading when approaching the bonus.
Comparing session length with and without bonus.
Share of expenses attributable to the pre-bonus period.
Behavior after bonus: Many players reduce activity, but some increase bets, trying to repeat the result.

6) Empirical findings

Most of the spending is recorded not during the bonus, but in front of it.
Players who regularly reach bonuses have higher average monthly spending than those who play without a bonus orientation.
The contribution of the top-5% of players is most noticeable precisely in pre-bonus spending - they most often continue to the last.

7) Context 2025 in Australia

Modern video slots with advanced bonus mechanics enhance the effect: Australian players in 2025 spend more precisely due to extended cycles of "waiting for freespins."
This is especially noticeable in plot automata, where bonuses are built into the "progression of history."
The total expenses of the population are growing not only due to the growth of rates and limits, but also due to bonus-oriented behavior models.

8) Final conclusions

Bonuses and freespins are one of the main drivers of increased spending.
Before the bonus, players place more bets, load funds more often and stop less often.
To analyze Australian spending in 2025, it is necessary to take into account the segment of spending "before the bonus," since this is where a significant part of the turnover is formed.