The Bonanza Megaways slot is Big Time Gaming's December 2016 gold-mine game: six reels, up to 117,649 ways, cascading Reactions and a free spins multiplier with no upper limit. Its RTP is 96.00%, with lower versions at some casinos. This guide covers the ways maths, the GOLD scatters, costs in pounds and phone play.
Released in December 2016 by Big Time Gaming, with an RTP of 96.00% and high volatility.
Six reels show 2–7 symbols each, for up to 117,649 ways; an Extra Reel sits above reels 2 to 5.
Spelling G, O, L, D with scatters gives 12 free spins, and extra scatters add more.
The free spins multiplier starts at 1x and rises by one per Reaction, with no cap.
Published max win figures conflict, so check the game's help screen rather than trusting a single number.
Developer
Big Time Gaming
RTP
96.00% (lower versions exist)
Volatility
High
Layout
6 reels (2–7 symbols each) + horizontal reel
Ways to win
Up to 117,649
Released
December 2016
Bonanza Megaways slot: the key facts
Bonanza Megaways is a high-volatility slot from Big Time Gaming, released in December 2016. The theme is a gold mine, the reels change height on every spin, and the bonus round revolves around a multiplier that keeps climbing for as long as wins keep cascading.
Bonanza Megaways specifications
Detail
Bonanza Megaways
Developer
Big Time Gaming
Released
December 2016
RTP
96.00% (some casinos run lower versions)
Volatility
High
Layout
6 reels of 2–7 symbols, plus an Extra Reel over reels 2 to 5
Ways to win
Up to 117,649
Max win
Published figures conflict, so not stated
Its clear rules make it a useful game for understanding how Megaways slots work on mobile before you try newer variants.
How the features work
Reactions
Every win sets off a Reaction. The symbols in the winning ways are blasted away, the gaps fill from above, and any new win starts another Reaction. One paid spin can therefore produce a run of wins.
The Extra Reel and the dynamite wild
A horizontal Extra Reel runs above reels 2 to 5 and adds symbols to them. The wild in Bonanza Megaways is a stick of dynamite, and it can land on this Extra Reel to help form wins across the main reels.
GOLD free spins
The scatters are the letters G, O, L and D. Landing all four together triggers 12 free spins, and any extra scatters in the trigger add more spins.
The uncapped multiplier
In free spins the win multiplier starts at 1x and rises by one with every Reaction. There is no upper limit, so a round with many cascades lifts the value of every win that follows it.
G, O, L and D scatters land together on a paid spin.
The game awards 12 free spins, plus more for extra scatters.
The multiplier begins the round at 1x.
Each Reaction adds one to the multiplier, with no ceiling.
When the spins run out, the round's winnings go to your balance.
How Bonanza Megaways gets to 117,649 ways
In a ways game, you win by matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, wherever they sit on each reel. The number of ways is the number of symbols on each reel multiplied together. Because Bonanza's reels each show between two and seven symbols, the count changes on every spin.
Example reel heights and the ways they create
Symbols on reels 1–6
Calculation
Ways
2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2
64
3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3
3 to the power 6
729
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7
5,040
7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7
7 to the power 6
117,649
More ways don't mean better odds on their own. The paytable is designed around the changing grid, and the RTP already accounts for every possible shape. The Megaways glossary entry covers the mechanic in general terms.
Where Bonanza sits in Megaways history
Big Time Gaming, founded in Sydney in 2011 and led by Nik Robinson, created the Megaways mechanic. Its first Megaways game was Dragon Born; Bonanza followed in December 2016, alongside later studio titles such as White Rabbit Megaways and Extra Chilli Megaways.
On 1 May 2018 the studio announced a licence for Blueprint Gaming to use the mechanic, described as the first deal of its kind, and Blueprint's first title was Diamond Mine Megaways. CasinoBeats' report on Big Time Gaming licensing Megaways to Blueprint (opens in a new tab) covers the deal; a licence to Red Tiger was reported that October. Evolution announced its deal to buy Big Time Gaming in April 2021.
Bonanza Megaways RTP: 96.00% and lower versions
The standard RTP is 96.00%, which gives a house edge of 4%: an average cost of 4p for every £1 staked over a very long run. Some operators run lower-RTP versions of the game, which cost more per pound.
You can't choose the version, but you can check it. Open the game's information screen in your app before staking. Our guide to finding a game's RTP in an app explains where to look, and whether apps have lower RTP is answered separately: the version is a casino choice, not an app-versus-website rule.
Bonanza Megaways on a £20 budget
High volatility means most of the game's return is packed into the free spins. With £20, the stake you pick decides how many attempts you get at the GOLD trigger.
£20 on Bonanza Megaways at 96.00% RTP
Stake per spin
Paid spins from £20
Average cost per 100 spins
10p
200
40p (on £10 staked)
50p
40
£2 (on £50 staked)
£1
20
£4 (on £100 staked)
At £1 a spin you have twenty chances, and many twenty-spin runs will end without the bonus. At 10p you get ten times as many. Neither changes the house edge; only the pace at which the budget goes.
Playing the Bonanza Megaways slot on mobile
Bonanza Megaways runs as a browser-based game, so you open it from a casino app's lobby or a mobile browser without a separate download. Six reels of up to seven symbols, plus the Extra Reel, make a dense grid; landscape often gives each symbol more room, though what your version supports is worth checking.
Search the app's lobby for Bonanza Megaways.
Check the RTP in the game's information screen.
Pick a stake you can afford across many spins.
Tap spin for each round; there is no autoplay in Great Britain.
Use the on-screen net spend and time display to keep track.
Long cascades mean some spins take a while to finish. A steady signal matters more than raw speed; our guides to casino app data usage and playing on an Android phone cover the practical side.
UK rules for Bonanza Megaways players
Gambling Commission rules that apply to Bonanza Megaways
What the rule says
Since
What you notice
Maximum £5 stake for players aged 25+
9 April 2025
Stake selector stops at £5
Maximum £2 stake for players aged 18–24
21 May 2025
Lower cap on younger adults' accounts
At least 2.5 seconds per spin, no autoplay
31 October 2021
One press per paid spin
No turbo or slam-stop
31 October 2021
Reels can't be hurried
Net spend and time shown in real time
17 January 2025
Running totals on screen
Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players, so the GOLD free spins come only from scatters. The stake caps are explained in the Commission's online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) and on our slot stake limits page.
Bonanza Megaways vs similar Megaways slots
Megaways slots with a rising free spins multiplier
Clear ways maths, a useful introduction to Megaways
Dynamite wild on the Extra Reel adds base-game wins
Simple scatter trigger: spell GOLD
Drawbacks
96.00% RTP is lower than several newer Megaways games
Lower-RTP versions exist at some casinos
High volatility can mean long runs without a bonus
No consistent published max win
It suits players who want to understand the Megaways format and enjoy a bonus that can snowball. If RTP is your priority, Extra Chilli Megaways or Diamond Mine Megaways publish slightly higher figures.
Where to play Bonanza Megaways with a welcome offer
We can't confirm that our partners stock Bonanza Megaways, so search the app first. Coral's App Store listing mentions Megaways slots, but none of the offers names this game. All are for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply.
PlayOJO: 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza (not Bonanza Megaways) with a first deposit of at least £10. No wagering: winnings are cash. Excludes Northern Ireland and can't be combined with other offers.
Coral Casino: deposit, then bet £10 or more on slots during 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027, to get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games. Accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days; winnings carry no wagering. Deposits made by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid card or certain debit cards won't qualify.
Ladbrokes Casino: deposit and spend £10 or more on slots for 50 free spins daily for your first 10 days, up to 500 at 10p on selected games. Claim by 23:59 each day; spins expire after 7 days and have no wagering. Prepaid card, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits don't count.
One operator, LC International Limited, runs both Coral and Ladbrokes, so you may not be able to hold new accounts at both. Our Coral app review explains its Megaways range as published.
None of these offers is tied to Bonanza Megaways, so check the eligible games before you claim. 18+, terms apply.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO app reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Time limitClaim daily for 10 days; each batch valid 7 days
Worked valueUp to 500 spins at £0.10 (up to £50 in spins)
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes app reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTP of Bonanza Megaways?
The standard RTP of Bonanza Megaways is 96.00%, giving a house edge of 4%. That is an average cost of 4p per £1 staked over a very long run. Some operators run lower-RTP versions, so check the information screen in the game before you play. Our RTP glossary entry explains what the figure does and doesn't tell you about a single session.
How many ways to win are there on Bonanza Megaways?
There are up to 117,649 ways to win. Each of the six reels shows between two and seven symbols on every spin, and the ways are those counts multiplied together. Seven symbols on all six reels gives 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649. Fewer symbols mean fewer ways. See our Megaways glossary entry for the general mechanic.
How do you trigger free spins on Bonanza Megaways?
You trigger them by landing the four scatter letters G, O, L and D together. That awards 12 free spins, and extra scatters in the trigger add more. The multiplier starts at 1x and rises by one with each Reaction during the round, with no upper limit. These in-game spins differ from offer spins; our free spins guide explains both.
What is the max win on Bonanza Megaways?
We don't quote a maximum win because published figures for Bonanza Megaways conflict, ranging widely between sources. The uncapped free spins multiplier is the reason large wins are possible at all. Check the paytable or help screen in your casino app for the figure that applies to your version. For games with clear published maximums, browse our slots hub.
Was Bonanza the first Megaways slot?
No. Big Time Gaming's first Megaways game was Dragon Born, which came out before Bonanza. Bonanza was released in December 2016, and the studio went on to license Megaways to Blueprint Gaming in May 2018. Read more on our Big Time Gaming page and the Megaways on mobile guide.
Can you buy the bonus on Bonanza Megaways in the UK?
No. Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players. On UK apps you reach the GOLD free spins only by landing the scatters during normal paid spins. This is one of several UK slot rules, alongside stake caps and the 2.5-second spin minimum, set out on our game design rules page.
Is Bonanza Megaways good on a phone?
It works well on modern phones, running inside UK casino apps and mobile browsers on iPhone and Android. The six tall reels and Extra Reel make a dense screen, so many players prefer landscape. Long cascades mean a steady connection matters. Our iPhone casino apps guide covers settings, and the best slots apps ranking compares lobbies.
Who makes Bonanza Megaways?
Big Time Gaming makes Bonanza Megaways. The studio was founded in Sydney in 2011, is led by chief executive Nik Robinson and created the Megaways mechanic. Evolution announced a deal to buy it in April 2021, so it now sits alongside NetEnt and Red Tiger in the same group. Its other well-known games include White Rabbit and Extra Chilli. See our Big Time Gaming page and the Extra Chilli Megaways review.
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