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Megaways changed online slots for good. Instead of a fixed number of paylines, a Megaways slot changes the number of symbols on every reel with every spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win. Since the first Megaways game appeared in 2016, the mechanic has been used in hundreds of slots, from fishing favourites to classic fruit machines. In this guide we explain how Megaways works, what makes these slots different and which Megaways games are worth trying.
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What is Megaways?
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Megaways is a slot mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming, an Australian studio that is now part of Evolution. In a standard Megaways slot, there are six reels, and each reel can show between two and seven symbols on any spin. The number of ways to win is the product of the number of symbols on each reel.
For example, if the reels show 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 symbols, the number of ways is 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 6 x 7 = 5,040. When every reel shows seven symbols, the maximum is reached: 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649 ways. The number changes on every spin and is usually shown above or below the reels.
Big Time Gaming licenses the Megaways mechanic to other studios, which is why you will find Megaways slots from Blueprint Gaming, Red Tiger, Pragmatic Play and many other providers.
How do you win on a Megaways slot?
Megaways slots pay out much like 243 ways slots. You need matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. Each symbol in a winning position counts, so two matching symbols on the same reel double the number of winning ways. That is why big wins often come from a spin where several reels are packed with the same symbol.
Common features of Megaways slots
Cascading reels
Most Megaways slots use cascading reels, also called reactions or tumbles. Winning symbols disappear, and new symbols fall into their place, which can create another win from the same spin. A single spin can produce a whole chain of wins.
Extra horizontal reel
Many Megaways slots have an extra horizontal reel above reels two to five. It adds one more symbol to those reels and helps reach the maximum number of ways. In some games, wilds or scatters can only land on this extra reel.
Free spins with unlimited multipliers
The free spins round is where Megaways slots pay their biggest wins. In many games, a win multiplier starts at 1x and grows with every cascade or every win during the free spins, without an upper limit. This is how Megaways slots reach maximum wins of tens of thousands of times the stake.
Mystery symbols and wilds
Some Megaways slots add mystery symbols that all turn into the same symbol, or wilds with their own multipliers. These features make a big difference to how often the game produces large wins.
Popular Megaways slots in the UK
| Slot | Provider | Why players like it |
|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | The classic: gold mining, cascades and an unlimited multiplier in free spins |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | A Mexican food theme with a free spins gamble feature |
| Gonzo’s Quest Megaways | Red Tiger | Avalanche reels and unbreakable wilds |
| Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | The UK fishing favourite with the Megaways mechanic |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | Pragmatic Play | The popular fishing series with up to 117,649 ways |
| Buffalo King Megaways | Pragmatic Play | Wild animals and a high maximum win |
| The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | Sticky wilds with multipliers in free spins |
Bonanza Megaways is the game that made the mechanic famous, and it is still one of the most played Megaways slots. Fans of NetEnt’s original Gonzo’s Quest often enjoy the Megaways version, which keeps the Avalanche feature. If you like fishing slots, the Megaways versions of Fishin’ Frenzy and Big Bass Bonanza add more ways to the familiar bonus features.
RTP and volatility of Megaways slots
Megaways slots typically have an RTP of around 96%, but many providers offer several RTP versions, and casinos can choose a lower one. Check the game information before you play.
The volatility of Megaways slots is usually high. The number of ways changes on every spin, so the base game can produce long runs of small wins followed by a sudden big hit. The real potential lies in the free spins with growing multipliers. Choose a stake that gives you enough spins to reach the bonus.
Megaways and bonus buy in the UK
Many Megaways slots outside the UK offer a bonus buy feature, which lets you pay to enter the free spins directly. Bonus buys are not available at UK-licensed casinos, so you trigger the free spins in the normal way. UK rules also mean no autoplay, a minimum spin time of 2.5 seconds and a maximum stake of £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over, or £2 for players aged 18 to 24.
Megaways versus classic slots
Classic slots with fixed paylines are predictable: you always know how many lines are active, and wins tend to be smaller but more regular. Megaways slots trade that predictability for variety. One spin may offer only a few hundred ways, the next tens of thousands, and the cascades and growing multipliers can turn an ordinary spin into a big win. That makes Megaways ideal for players who enjoy excitement and do not mind longer quiet spells. If you prefer a calmer game, a low or medium volatility slot with paylines is usually the better choice. Many players switch between the two, using classic slots for longer sessions and Megaways games for a shot at a bigger win.
Megaways slots on mobile
Megaways slots work well on phones and tablets, even with six reels and up to seven symbols per reel. Developers scale the symbols and often place the ways counter and the multiplier at the top of the screen, so you can follow every cascade. Some games switch to a different layout in portrait mode to keep the reels readable. Because a single spin can trigger a long chain of cascades, a game can take a little longer to finish on mobile, but the experience is the same as on desktop. Read our guide to mobile slots in the UK for more tips.
Tips for playing Megaways slots
- Expect swings: high volatility means longer dry spells between big wins.
- Budget for the bonus: free spins can take a while to trigger, so play at a stake that gives you enough spins.
- Check the RTP version: the same game can run at different RTPs at different casinos.
- Read the free spins rules: multiplier rules differ per game, and that decides the size of the big wins.
- Try the demo first: get used to the changing reels before you play for real money.
Explore more games on our online slots page.
A standard Megaways slot has up to 117,649 ways to win. The number changes on every spin, depending on how many symbols each reel shows.
Megaways was developed by Big Time Gaming, which licenses the mechanic to other slot providers.
The first Megaways slot was Dragon Born from Big Time Gaming, released in 2016. Bonanza followed later that year and made the mechanic famous.
Most Megaways slots have high volatility, with the biggest wins coming in free spins with growing multipliers.
No. Bonus buy features are not available at UK-licensed casinos, so free spins are triggered in the normal way.
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