Megaways: what it means in slots

What Megaways means

On a standard video slot, each reel shows the same number of symbols every spin. On a Megaways slot, each reel's height is random. One spin might show two symbols on the first reel and seven on the third; the next spin will be different. Wins usually come from matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the left, so the more symbols on screen, the more possible combinations there are.

That makes Megaways a ways-to-win system rather than a payline one, and each game's paytable explains exactly how wins are counted. It's a trademarked mechanic, so you'll see the name only on games made or licensed through Big Time Gaming. For related slot terms, see the casino app glossary.

How Megaways ways to win are calculated

Multiply the number of symbols showing on each reel. That's the number of ways for that spin.

Bonanza, Big Time Gaming's best-known early Megaways game, adds a horizontal reel above reels two to five that gives each of those reels one more symbol. Its six reels show between 2 and 7 symbols each, for up to 117,649 ways, according to Rotowire's Bonanza review (opens in a new tab). Not every Megaways game reaches that figure; the maximum depends on how many reels and rows each game allows.

Who invented Megaways

Big Time Gaming was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2011 by Nik Robinson. Its first Megaways game was Dragon Born, released around 2015 to 2016 (sources give different dates). Bonanza followed in December 2016 and became the title most players associate with the mechanic.

The spread to other studios began when Big Time Gaming licensed Megaways to Blueprint Gaming (opens in a new tab), announced on 1 May 2018 as a first-of-its-kind deal. Blueprint's first Megaways title, Diamond Mine, arrived that month, and Red Tiger's licence was reported in October 2018. Evolution's timeline records a 2021 agreement to buy Big Time Gaming, which now sits in the same group as NetEnt and Red Tiger. Our Big Time Gaming page has more on the studio.

Megaways slots compared: ways, RTP and max win

Two things stand out. Maximum ways vary widely, from 15,625 to over 200,000, because games use different reel counts and heights. And RTP has nothing to do with ways: a slot with 15,625 ways can return more than one with 117,649. Read the full reviews of Bonanza Megaways, Extra Chilli Megaways and Twin Spin Megaways.

Megaways and your budget: a £20 example

Most Megaways slots are rated high or very high volatility, meaning long runs of small or no wins between larger ones. Take Bonanza Megaways at its 96.00% RTP and a £20 budget:

• At 20p a spin, £20 buys 100 spins; the expected cost of staking £20 once is 80p (4%).
• At £1 a spin, the same £20 buys 20 spins, with the same 80p expected cost but far less time for a feature to land.
• The expected cost is an average over huge numbers of spins. In a single session, a high-volatility game can take the whole £20.

Cascading wins, where winning symbols drop away and new ones fall in, are common in Megaways games and can chain several wins from one spin. They don't change the RTP. Losses are likely over time, so set a budget you're comfortable losing.

UK rules for Megaways slots in apps

Megaways games are online slots, so every UK slot rule applies. Stakes are capped at £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24, under the Commission's online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab). Since 31 October 2021, each spin must take at least 2.5 seconds, and autoplay, turbo and slam stop aren't allowed.

Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players. That's why some figures quoted abroad don't apply here: the 96.82% often listed for Extra Chilli Megaways includes its Feature Drop buy option, while the GB version returns up to 96.41%. Our slot stake limits page covers the caps in detail.

Playing Megaways slots on a phone

A six-reel grid with up to seven symbols per reel packs a lot onto a phone screen, so symbols can be small. Modern slots are generally built in HTML5 so they resize to fit, but whether a particular game plays in portrait or landscape depends on the game. Coral's App Store listing mentions Megaways slots by name, and you'll find a wider list in our best Megaways slot apps and the Megaways on mobile guide.

Related terms: cluster pays, multiplier and RTP.

Megaways slots and partner welcome offers

Spin offers from our partners are for selected slots, and the eligible games are named in each offer's terms, so check whether any Megaways titles are included before you play. 18+ and terms apply.

• Coral, whose app listing highlights Megaways slots: deposit and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins on selected games at 10p each. Accept them within 48 hours and use them within 7 days; winnings have no wagering. The offer runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027, and Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded.
• Ladbrokes: new customers who deposit and play £10 on slots get 50 free spins a day for 10 days, up to 500, at 10p on selected games. Each day's spins must be claimed by 23:59 and used within 7 days, with no wagering; PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill, Moneybookers and prepaid card deposits don't count.
• PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza (the original, not the Megaways version), 10p each, for a first deposit of £10 or more. Winnings are cash with no wagering; new UK customers outside Northern Ireland only, through the designated link, and not with other offers.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.