Introduction
Megaways changed what slot grids could do. Before it arrived, most slots used fixed reel sizes — a 5×3 grid with 20 paylines, or a 5×4 with 1,024 ways, and so on. The number of possible outcomes was locked in place from the moment the game was built. Megaways replaced that rigidity with reels that reshape themselves on every single spin.
The result is a slot format where the number of ways to win fluctuates wildly — from a few hundred on a thin spin to 117,649 when every reel maxes out. It’s a patented mechanic owned by Australian developer Big Time Gaming, and it has been licensed to dozens of other studios. If you’ve played The Dog House Megaways, Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, or any of the hundreds of titles carrying the Megaways label, you’ve seen it in action.
This guide explains how the mechanic works, the maths behind it, why it pairs so naturally with cascading wins, and what the practical implications are for your sessions.
Where Megaways Came From
Big Time Gaming (BTG), founded in Sydney by Nick Robinson and Huw McIntosh, developed and patented the Megaways engine. The first slot to use it was Dragon Born, released in early 2016. Dragon Born introduced the variable-reel concept but didn’t generate much excitement on its own.
That changed later in 2016 with the release of Bonanza. BTG combined the Megaways engine with cascading reels (which they branded as “Reactions”), an extra horizontal reel above the grid, and an unlimited multiplier during free spins. The result was a high-volatility slot with a dramatically different feel from anything else on the market. Bonanza became one of the most influential slots of the decade, and Megaways went from an obscure mechanic to the most in-demand engine in the industry.
BTG began licensing the Megaways trademark to other providers in 2018, starting with Blueprint Gaming. That opened the floodgates. Within a few years, Megaways versions of existing popular slots started appearing from studios across the industry.
How Megaways Works
Variable Reel Sizes
A standard Megaways slot has six reels. On each spin, every reel independently displays between 2 and 7 symbols. This number is determined randomly — one reel might show 3 symbols while the next shows 7 and another shows 5. The grid literally changes shape on every spin.
This is the fundamental difference from fixed-format slots. In a traditional 5×3 slot, every spin shows exactly 15 symbols in the same configuration. In a 6-reel Megaways slot, the total symbols visible can range from 12 (all reels showing 2) to 42 (all reels showing 7).
The Maths: How 117,649 Works
The number of “ways to win” on any given spin is calculated by multiplying the symbol count on each reel together. With six reels, the formula is straightforward:
Ways = Reel 1 × Reel 2 × Reel 3 × Reel 4 × Reel 5 × Reel 6
When every reel displays the maximum of 7 symbols: 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways.
But that’s the ceiling, not the norm. Here’s what more typical spins look like:
| Symbols per Reel | Calculation | Total Ways |
|---|---|---|
| 7-7-7-7-7-7 | 7⁶ | 117,649 |
| 5-6-4-7-3-6 | 5×6×4×7×3×6 | 15,120 |
| 4-4-4-4-4-4 | 4⁶ | 4,096 |
| 3-2-4-3-2-5 | 3×2×4×3×2×5 | 720 |
| 2-2-2-2-2-2 | 2⁶ | 64 |
The practical effect: most spins land somewhere in the low thousands of ways. Hitting the full 117,649 requires every reel to max out simultaneously, which is statistically uncommon. But when it happens — especially during a bonus round — the sheer density of possible winning combinations changes the dynamic entirely.
How Wins Are Evaluated
Megaways slots use a “ways to win” system rather than fixed paylines. A win occurs when matching symbols appear on consecutive reels from left to right, regardless of their vertical position on each reel. Because each reel can show up to 7 symbols, there are many more positions where a matching symbol could land compared to a fixed 3-row or 4-row grid.
This means that on a high-ways spin, even moderately common symbols can form multiple winning combinations simultaneously. The ways system naturally produces more frequent wins than a fixed-payline equivalent — though each individual win tends to pay less to keep the overall RTP balanced.
Cascading Wins and Megaways
Most Megaways slots include cascading reels (also called tumbling or avalanche reels — the same mechanic described in our tumbling reels guide). The pairing isn’t coincidental; it’s arguably the best mechanical synergy in modern slot design.
Here’s why: when winning symbols are removed after a cascade, the remaining symbols drop down. But in a Megaways slot, the refill phase doesn’t just add new symbols — it can change the effective height of each reel. The new symbols that drop in might expand a reel from 4 symbols to 6, or contract it from 7 to 3. This means every cascade creates a completely new grid configuration with a different ways count.
A spin might start with 5,000 ways, cascade once and land at 15,000 ways, then cascade again to hit 80,000+. The ways count is recalculated after every tumble. This constant reshuffling is what gives Megaways cascades their chaotic, unpredictable character — and it’s the primary reason chains of four or five consecutive cascades can produce outsized payouts.
Bonanza pioneered this combination. During its free spins round, an unlimited multiplier increases by 1x after every cascade. So not only does each successive tumble create new winning potential from a fresh grid configuration, it also multiplies any wins at an ever-increasing rate. That dual escalation — more ways plus higher multipliers — is the mathematical heart of what makes Megaways bonus rounds so volatile.
Who Uses Megaways
Big Time Gaming owns the patent and licenses it selectively. The licensing model has been highly successful — dozens of studios now have Megaways titles in their portfolios. Here are some of the most notable licensees and example titles:
| Provider | Example Megaways Title |
|---|---|
| Big Time Gaming (originator) | Bonanza, White Rabbit, Extra Chilli |
| Pragmatic Play | The Dog House Megaways, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways |
| Red Tiger | Gonzo’s Quest Megaways |
| Blueprint Gaming | Eye of Horus Megaways, Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways |
| iSoftBet | Moriarty Megaways |
| Iron Dog Studio | 1 Million Megaways BC |
A common pattern among licensees is applying the Megaways engine to existing popular titles. Gonzo’s Quest Megaways takes NetEnt’s original and rebuilds it on a variable grid. The Dog House Megaways does the same for Pragmatic Play’s Dog House series. This approach leverages established brand recognition while adding the mechanical depth of variable reels.
Megaways vs. Fixed Paylines: Practical Comparison
The differences between Megaways and fixed-payline slots go beyond the number of ways to win. They affect session pacing, bankroll behaviour, and the overall risk profile of a game.
| Aspect | Megaways | Fixed Paylines |
|---|---|---|
| Ways to win | Variable (64 to 117,649+) | Fixed (e.g., 10, 20, 243, 1,024) |
| Grid shape | Changes every spin | Constant |
| Typical volatility | High to extreme | Varies (low to high) |
| Cascade pairing | Almost always | Sometimes |
| Win frequency | More wins per spin (but individually smaller) | Fewer wins (but often individually larger) |
| Session feel | Dynamic, chaotic, streaky | Steadier, more predictable |
| Bankroll pressure | Higher during dry spells | Generally more stable |
Megaways slots tend to produce sessions with more visible action — the cascades, the changing grid, the climbing ways counter all create a sense of momentum. But the volatility is real. A Megaways slot can eat through a bankroll fast during a cold stretch precisely because the base game wins, despite being frequent, are often small relative to your bet. The big returns are concentrated in bonus rounds where cascades and multipliers compound.
Fixed-payline slots, by contrast, are mechanically simpler. What you see is what you get, every spin. For some players, that predictability is a feature, not a limitation.
Practical Tips for Megaways Slots
Check the RTP configuration. Megaways titles from licensed providers often exist in multiple RTP versions. The Dog House Megaways has a 96.55% default, but your casino might be running a lower variant. The game’s info panel will show the active RTP — check it before every session.
Understand where the value lives. In most Megaways slots, the base game returns modest, frequent wins that slowly erode your balance. The real payouts come from bonus rounds where cascades and multipliers interact. Budget your sessions accordingly — you need enough runway to reach those bonus rounds.
The ways counter is informative, not predictive. Seeing “117,649 WAYS” flash on screen doesn’t mean you’ll win more on that spin. A high ways count increases the number of possible winning combinations, but the symbols still need to align favourably. A 4,000-ways spin can pay more than a 117,649-ways spin if the right symbols land.
Bonus buy options exist on many Megaways slots. If your jurisdiction allows it, many Megaways titles offer a feature-buy option that skips the base game and drops you directly into free spins. This concentrates your variance — you’re paying a premium (often 100x your bet) for immediate access to the highest-potential phase of the game.
Example Megaways Slots
| Slot | Provider | Max Ways | RTP | Max Win | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | 96.00% | 26,000x | Unlimited multiplier in free spins |
| The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 117,649 | 96.55% | 12,305x | Sticky wild multipliers, raining wilds |
| Gonzo’s Quest Megaways | Red Tiger | 117,649 | 96.00% | 21,000x | Avalanche with escalating multipliers |
Bonanza is the historical starting point — if you want to understand the mechanic in its purest form, this is where to begin. The Dog House Megaways demonstrates how a licensed provider (Pragmatic Play) integrated Megaways into an existing popular series, adding sticky wild multipliers for a different bonus dynamic. Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, developed by Red Tiger, rebuilds one of slot history’s most iconic titles on a variable grid.
Common Misconceptions
“More ways always means more wins”
More ways means more possible winning combinations per spin, but each combination pays less than it would in a fixed-payline equivalent. The game’s RTP is balanced around the average ways count, not the maximum. A 117,649-ways spin isn’t a guaranteed jackpot — it just means the grid is at maximum density, which increases the probability (not the certainty) of wins forming.
“Megaways slots are always high volatility”
Almost always, but not universally. The variable-reel engine inherently creates more variance than fixed reels because the ways count fluctuates, concentrating more of the return into high-ways spins and cascade chains. Most developers lean into this by pairing Megaways with high-volatility math models. But the mechanic itself doesn’t mandate extreme volatility — the math model layered on top determines the final risk profile.
“The Megaways engine is the same across all providers”
The core variable-reel concept is consistent, but implementation varies significantly. Each licensed provider builds their own features, bonus structures, and math models around the Megaways grid. A Pragmatic Play Megaways slot feels different from a Blueprint Megaways slot, which feels different from a BTG original. The engine is shared; everything else is provider-specific.
FAQ
What are Megaways slots?
Megaways is a patented slot mechanic created by Big Time Gaming. It uses reels that change size on every spin — each reel can display between 2 and 7 symbols. This creates a variable number of ways to win, up to 117,649 on a standard 6-reel Megaways grid.
How many ways to win do Megaways slots have?
The standard maximum is 117,649 ways, calculated by multiplying the maximum symbols per reel across all six reels (7×7×7×7×7×7). However, the actual number changes every spin because each reel independently shows between 2 and 7 symbols. Most spins will have far fewer than the maximum.
Which was the first Megaways slot?
Dragon Born by Big Time Gaming was technically the first Megaways release in 2016. However, Bonanza, released later that same year, was the game that popularised the mechanic and became the defining Megaways title.
Which providers make Megaways slots?
Big Time Gaming owns the Megaways patent and licenses it to other providers. Licensed studios include Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, Blueprint Gaming, iSoftBet, Iron Dog Studio, and others. Each licensee integrates the variable-reel engine into their own games with their own features and themes.
Are Megaways slots better than fixed-payline slots?
Not inherently. Megaways slots offer more ways to win per spin and a more dynamic play experience, but they tend to be higher volatility and can drain bankrolls faster during dry spells. Fixed-payline slots are simpler and often offer steadier returns. The best choice depends on your play style and risk tolerance.
Do Megaways slots always have cascading reels?
Not always, but the vast majority do. Cascading reels pair naturally with Megaways because each cascade creates a fresh reel configuration with a new ways count. This synergy is a core part of why Megaways slots feel so dynamic compared to fixed-reel games.
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