Megaways is a slot mechanic invented by Big Time Gaming and licensed to dozens of studios. It changed the genre by making the number of ways to win variable on every spin.
How Megaways works
A typical Megaways slot has six reels. Each reel can show 2 to 7 symbols on any given spin. The total number of ways to win is the product of the symbol counts across all six reels — anywhere from 64 ways to 117,649 ways. Hence the name.
The other Megaways building blocks
- Cascading wins: winning symbols are removed and new ones drop in, creating chained wins from a single spin.
- Free spins with unlimited multipliers: bonus rounds where a win multiplier rises with each cascade and does not reset.
- High volatility: payouts are infrequent but can be very large.
RTP and volatility
Megaways slots typically run RTPs between 95% and 96.5% in their default versions. Some operators serve lower-RTP variants — always check the in-game info screen.
UK-specific notes
- Stake limit: £5 per spin maximum.
- Bonus Buy disabled: UKGC rules prohibit the bonus-buy feature on Megaways and other slots.
- Autoplay restrictions: limited autoplay options and forced reality checks.
Notable Megaways titles to look out for
- Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming) — the original, still a benchmark.
- Extra Chilli Megaways (Big Time Gaming) — the bonus-feature gamble (where allowed elsewhere) is disabled in the UK.
- Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic Play) — high-volatility classic.
- The Dog House Megaways (Pragmatic Play) — long-running fan favourite.
- Gates of Olympus 1000 (Pragmatic Play) — Megaways-adjacent multiplier slot.
Who Megaways suits
Players comfortable with high volatility and willing to sit through long dry spells for the chance of large bonus-round wins. Not a steady-grind format.