What Are Megaways Slots?
Megaways is a proprietary reel mechanic invented by Big Time Gaming (BTG) and first deployed in Dragon Born (2016). The key innovation: the number of symbols on each reel changes randomly on every spin. Instead of a fixed grid, you get anywhere from 2 to 7 symbols per reel — which means the number of ways to win changes constantly too.
The flagship title Bonanza popularised the mechanic and set the template the entire industry has followed since.
How Does the Maths Work?
On a standard 6-reel Megaways game, each reel can show 2–7 symbols. The total number of "ways" equals the product of all reel heights. When every reel lands on 7:
7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways to win — the industry maximum.
That's 117,649 ways to win — the industry maximum. Most Megaways titles also include a horizontal reel across the top (the "row reel"), adding extra symbols into the mix.
Why It Drives High Volatility
More ways to win sounds safer — but the actual maths is the opposite. Because payouts must scale to account for the variance in the number of active paylines, individual symbol values are set very low. The big wins come from triggering cascades/avalanches during free spins when an unlimited multiplier climbs with each cascade.
The result: long dead spins, then explosive clusters. That's what makes Megaways inherently high volatility.
Key Megaways Features
| Feature | What it does | |---|---| | Cascade/Tumble | Winning symbols explode; new ones fall in; cascade multiplier climbs | | Unlimited Multiplier | Multiplier increases +1 per cascade, resets when no win — can reach 100× or higher | | Scatter Pays | Free spins triggered by 4+ scatters (usually mines/diamonds/gold) | | Feature Drop | Pay to enter free spins directly (BTG's version of Bonus Buy) | | Horizontal Reel | Top row adds extra symbols that can land on any column |
Top Megaways Titles
Bonanza — Big Time Gaming
The original and still one of the best. Unlimited multiplier free spins, 5 scatter required (so not easy to trigger), but the potential is enormous. RTP: 96.0% | Volatility: Very High
Extra Chilli — Big Time Gaming
Carries the Bonanza DNA but with a simpler base game and the option to "gamble" a scatter to collect extra spins instead. Arguably more player-friendly. RTP: 96.84%
White Rabbit Megaways — Big Time Gaming
The most feature-rich BTG game. Has a top-reel mechanic, a unique free spins structure, and a bonus to extend reels. One of the highest theoretical RTPs at 97.72%.
Bonanza Megaways — Pragmatic Play
Pragmatic's licensed version adds their own touch with a different free spins structure. RTP: 96.0%
Power of Thor Megaways — Pragmatic Play
Thor-themed with a 3-tier free spins mode. Solid production values and a reliable triggers rate. RTP: 96.45%
Should You Play Megaways?
Play if you: enjoy high-variance sessions, are happy with a smaller stake for longer play, and like the excitement of cascading reels.
Avoid if you: prefer steady, low-volatility action or play on a tight bankroll. The dry spells can be very long.
Megaways on a Budget
Set your stake to 20–30× lower than your usual non-Megaways bet. With high-volatility Megaways, a session can wipe 100 spins without a meaningful win. Treat each session as buying into the possibility of a big cascade, not as a grind.
All RTPs shown are the standard, non-adjusted figures from provider certification documents.