Guide
Megaways Slots — How the Mechanic Works
Megaways changes how many symbols appear on each reel every spin, creating a different number of ways to win each time.
What Megaways does
On a standard slot, each reel shows a fixed number of symbols per spin — usually three. On a Megaways slot, each reel can show between two and seven symbols, chosen at random on each spin. The result is that the number of ways to win changes every round, ranging from a few thousand to over 100,000.
The mechanic was invented by Big Time Gaming and patented. Other studios license it, which is why you see Megaways versions of games from Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and others alongside BTG's original titles.
Cascading wins
Most Megaways games use a cascade (also called avalanche or tumble) mechanic: winning symbols are removed from the reels and new symbols fall in to fill the gaps, potentially creating more wins on the same spin. Cascades continue until there are no new wins.
Free spins and multipliers
The free spins bonus in most Megaways games includes a climbing multiplier that increases with each cascade. This is where the very high max win potential comes from — a long cascade chain with a large multiplier active can produce wins of 10,000x stake or more.
Volatility
Megaways games tend to be high or very-high volatility. The large number of ways to win in theory is offset by the rarity of hitting enough matching symbols across enough reels at once. Expect more volatile sessions than an equivalent non-Megaways slot.
All Megaways games on the lobby
| # | Game | Type | Studio | Published RTP | Volatility | Movement Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madame Destiny Megaways | megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.49% | high | 62.5 |
| 2 | Gonzo's Quest Megaways | megaways | NetEnt | 96% | high | 44.7 |
| 3 | Bonanza Megaways | megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96% | high | 44.1 |
| 4 | Extra Chilli | megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96.15% | very-high | 42.5 |
| 5 | Great Rhino Megaways | megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.5% | high | 42.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ways to win does a Megaways game have?
It changes every spin. The maximum is usually 117,649 ways on a six-reel game where each reel shows seven symbols (7^6 = 117,649). The minimum is much lower.
Are all Megaways games the same?
They share the changing reel mechanic but each game has its own bonus structure, paytable, and multiplier rules. Gates of Olympus, for example, uses a different bonus mechanic to Bonanza Megaways.
Why are Megaways games high volatility?
Because the large number of ways to win is theoretical. Hitting a full house of matching symbols across six reels with seven symbols each requires a very rare combination — which is why it pays a lot when it happens.