Bonanza Megaways — the slot that invented an entire mechanic
Released in 2016, Bonanza is the original Megaways slot. Big Time Gaming’s 117,649-ways mechanic spawned 200+ licensed variants from other studios and is still the gold standard.
The mechanic that started it all
Every Megaways game on the market traces back to this one. Each of the six reels lands between two and seven symbols per spin, and the horizontal tracker reel above adds more — at full stretch that is the 117,649 ways in the spec sheet. Wins trigger reactions: winning symbols vanish, new ones cascade in, and a single spin can chain repeatedly. The famous part is the free spins round, triggered by landing the letters G-O-L-D: an unlimited win multiplier climbs by +1 with every reaction and never resets during the bonus, which is where the 12,000x cap becomes reachable.
What the data says
Bonanza’s numbers read differently from the modern high-volatility crowd. Its 29.0% hit frequency is the highest in our entire database — nearly three spins in ten pay something — yet it still carries a genuine high-volatility rating because the value concentrates in that unlimited-multiplier bonus. The 96.00% RTP is fractionally under the 96.5%+ figures of newer flagships, and the £0.20–£20 bet range is the tightest slot betting window we track, which in practice protects bankrolls at the top end.
For session planning that mix is friendlier than it looks: frequent small reactions keep a balance ticking over, while the real swings only arrive inside the free spins — and with no bonus buy on this game, the only way in is landing G-O-L-D naturally. You will feel the drought mainly as bonuses that tease G-O-L and stop.
A decade on — how it compares
Within our database the natural comparison is Great Rhino Megaways, Pragmatic Play’s licensed take on the same engine: a higher 20,000x cap and 96.58% headline RTP, but with lower-RTP variants (down to 94.00%) in circulation — something we have never recorded for Bonanza. Big Time Gaming’s original keeps one certified version, which makes its 96.00% more dependable than many bigger headline numbers. It suits players who want the Megaways experience at its purest, with a hit rate that respects their time. If you want the same cascade feel with a bigger ceiling and can stomach fewer wins, Avalanche (15,000x, 96.24%) is the modern alternative in our collection.
What we love
- The original Megaways slot
- Free spins with unlimited multiplier
- Still in player top-20 most-played a decade later
Where it slips
- Newer Megaways slots have higher max wins
- Visual style aging