The Rainbow Riches Megaways slot is Barcrest’s six-reel take on its best-known series: a high-volatility game with a published 96% RTP, up to 117,649 ways and a top win of 12,500× your stake. Here is how its cascades, Super Gem and free spins work, and what it really costs to play on a phone.
Published RTP is 96%, so the long-run cost is about 4p for every £1 staked.
High volatility: expect long dry runs between the moments that matter.
Free spins carry a win multiplier that grows with each cascade and never resets during the round.
UK limits cap a spin at £5 (25 and over) or £2 (18–24), and each spin takes at least 2.5 seconds.
Developer
Barcrest (Light & Wonder)
RTP
96%
Volatility
High
Layout
6 reels (2–7 symbols) plus a top row
Ways to win
324 to 117,649
Max win
12,500× stake
Released
2019
Rainbow Riches Megaways slot at a glance
This game moved Barcrest’s flagship brand from the classic 5×3 grid of the original Rainbow Riches to the Megaways format, where each reel shows a different number of symbols on every spin. It came out in 2019 and sits inside a long-running family that Barcrest started in 2006.
Barcrest itself has roots in the Manchester area and is now owned by Light & Wonder, which bought it while still called Scientific Games. You can read more about the studio on our Barcrest slots page and its parent company on the Light & Wonder page.
Rainbow Riches Megaways specifications
Detail
Rainbow Riches Megaways
Developer
Barcrest (Light & Wonder)
RTP
96%
Volatility
High
Layout
6 reels showing 2–7 symbols each, plus a top row
Ways to win
324 to 117,649
Max win
12,500× stake
Released
2019
Main feature
Cascades, Super Gem transformations and free spins with a non-resetting multiplier
How the features work
Everything in this game hangs off the cascade. When you land a win, the winning symbols are removed and new ones drop in from above, so a single paid spin can produce a chain of wins. That chain matters most in the bonus round, as you will see below.
Ways that change on every spin
Each of the six reels can show anything from two to seven symbols, and there is an extra top row. That is why the ways to win swing between 324 and 117,649. The top figure is simply seven symbols on all six reels multiplied together (7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7).
The Lucky Horseshoe wild
The Lucky Horseshoe is the game’s wild symbol. Wilds generally stand in for regular symbols to complete a win; the in-game paytable shows exactly which symbols it can replace.
Super Gem
When a Super Gem lands in the top row, every gemstone symbol on the reels changes into one matching type. Turning a scattered mix of gems into a single symbol is what lets a Megaways grid connect across several reels at once.
Pot of Gold free spins
Four or more Pot of Gold scatters trigger the free spins round. Four scatters give 12 spins, and each scatter beyond four adds five more. Inside the round, +1, +2 and +3 symbols can land and add further spins.
Pot of Gold scatters and starting spins
Scatters landed
Starting free spins
How it is worked out
4
12
Base award
5
17
12 + 5
6
22
12 + 5 + 5
The multiplier that never resets
During free spins a win multiplier rises by one with every cascade, and it does not drop back between spins. It also has no upper limit. A long round with plenty of cascades can therefore build a big multiplier, while a short round with few cascades can end with very little. That spread is a large part of why the game is rated high volatility.
Rainbow Riches Megaways RTP and volatility on a £20 budget
An RTP of 96% means that, over a very large number of spins, the game is designed to return £96 for every £100 staked. The other £4 is the house edge. Over a short session your result will not look anything like that average, and high volatility means it can stray a long way in either direction.
The table shows how a £20 budget stretches at three stake levels. The expected cost is stake × 4%, which is standard slot maths rather than a forecast of any session.
£20 budget at 96% RTP
Stake per spin
Spins if nothing comes back
Expected cost per spin
Expected cost per £20 staked
10p
200
0.4p
80p
50p
40
2p
80p
£1
20
4p
80p
Notice that the expected cost of putting £20 through the game is the same at every stake. What changes is how quickly you get there. At £1 a spin, 20 losing spins in a row ends the session, and on a high-volatility game that is not unusual. At 10p you give the bonus round far more chances to appear before the budget runs out.
What a 12,500× top win means in pounds
The maximum win is a ceiling, not a target. It is useful mainly for comparing how top-heavy one slot is against another. Here it is converted at common stakes, including the two UK legal maximums for online slots.
12,500× converted to pounds
Stake
Who can bet this
Maximum win
10p
Any adult
£1,250
50p
Any adult
£6,250
£2
Top stake for ages 18–24
£25,000
£5
Top stake for ages 25 and over
£62,500
Most spins return nothing or less than the stake, and the house edge means you should expect to lose money over time. Treat the maximum as a measure of the game’s shape rather than something to plan around.
Playing the Rainbow Riches Megaways slot on your phone
Modern slots like this are built in HTML5, so the same game file runs in a casino app or a mobile browser without a separate download for the game itself. Barcrest has not published whether it is designed for portrait or landscape, so expect the layout to depend on your device and the casino’s app.
Megaways grids are busy on a small screen because the symbol size changes as each reel grows or shrinks. If you find it hard to read, rotating the phone or using a larger device such as a tablet can help; our guide to landscape and portrait mode covers the trade-offs.
Install a UK-licensed casino app from the App Store or Google Play (see our guides for iPhone and Android).
Register and complete age and identity checks. UK casinos must verify you before you deposit or play, including demo games.
Set a deposit limit when the app prompts you before your first deposit.
Search the game lobby for “Rainbow Riches Megaways”. Not every app carries it, so check the lobby rather than assuming.
Open the game’s info screen to confirm the RTP and read the rules before you spin.
Pick a stake that suits your budget, keeping within the £5 or £2 limit that applies to you.
Cascades and bonus rounds resolve on the casino’s server, so a dropped signal does not normally cancel a result. Our page on losing signal during a spin explains what usually happens.
UK rules that shape Rainbow Riches Megaways in apps
Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players, so you reach the free spins only by landing the scatters. More detail is on our slot stake limits page.
Rainbow Riches Megaways vs the original Rainbow Riches
The two games share a theme but play very differently. The original is a medium-volatility 20-line game; the Megaways version trades that steadiness for far more ways and a much higher ceiling.
Original and Megaways versions compared
Detail
Rainbow Riches
Rainbow Riches Megaways
RTP
95.00%
96%
Volatility
Medium
High
Layout
5 reels × 3 rows
6 reels (2–7 symbols) plus a top row
Ways to win
20 paylines
324 to 117,649
Max win
500×
12,500× stake
On paper the Megaways version costs less per £1 staked (4p against 5p), but its swings are larger. If you prefer smaller, more frequent results, the original or Rainbow Riches Pick ’n’ Mix may suit you better.
Similar slots to Rainbow Riches Megaways
If you like the shifting reels, these other Megaways titles on our site use the same idea with different features:
Bonanza Megaways: the Big Time Gaming original, 96.00% RTP and up to 117,649 ways.
Published 96% RTP is higher than the original game’s 95.00%
Free spins multiplier has no cap and does not reset during the round
Super Gem gives the base game a feature beyond plain cascades
A familiar name from Barcrest’s long-running series
Drawbacks
High volatility can drain a small budget quickly
Megaways grids can feel cluttered on a small phone screen
Orientation support is not published
Barcrest RTPs can vary by version, so you need to check the help screen
Where to play Rainbow Riches Megaways with a welcome offer
We do not know of any partner offer that gives spins on Rainbow Riches Megaways, so the offers below are general slot welcome offers. They are all for new customers aged 18+, and terms apply. Check each app’s lobby to see whether this game is listed.
PlayOJO: deposit at least £10 for 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, worth 10p each, with no wagering on winnings. New UK customers only, excluding Northern Ireland.
Coral Casino: deposit (some methods excluded) and bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games. Accept within 48 hours, use within 7 days, no wagering on winnings.
Ladbrokes Casino: spend £10 on slots for 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500), 10p each on selected games, claimed by 23:59 daily and valid for 7 days, no wagering.
Coral and Ladbrokes are run by the same company, so you may not be able to open new accounts at both. Compare them on our best slot apps list. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, GamCare (opens in a new tab) and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 offer free support around the clock.
None of these offers is tied to Rainbow Riches Megaways. Spins go on the selected slots named in each offer. 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 Rainbow Riches Megaways?
The published RTP of Rainbow Riches Megaways is 96%. That means the game is designed to return £96 for every £100 staked over a very long run, leaving a 4% house edge. Short sessions will not match that figure, especially on a high-volatility game. Because some Barcrest slots link RTP to stake or version, open the game’s info screen in your app before you play. Our guide to finding RTP in an app explains where the figure usually sits.
How do you trigger free spins in Rainbow Riches Megaways?
You trigger free spins by landing four or more Pot of Gold scatters. Four scatters give 12 spins, and each extra scatter adds five, so five scatters start you on 17 and six on 22. During the round, +1, +2 and +3 symbols can add more spins, and the win multiplier rises by one with each cascade without resetting. In the UK you cannot buy your way into the round. The round ends when no spins remain.
What is the maximum win on Rainbow Riches Megaways?
The maximum win is 12,500 times your stake. At a 10p stake that is £1,250, and at the £5 UK limit for players aged 25 and over it would be £62,500. Wins at that level are extremely rare, and the house edge means most players lose money over time. The figure is best used to compare how top-heavy a game is. For context on the stake caps, see our page on slot stake limits on mobile.
Is Rainbow Riches Megaways high volatility?
Yes, Rainbow Riches Megaways is rated high volatility. In practice that means long spells of small or no returns, with most of the value packed into rarer events such as a long free spins round with many cascades. A £20 budget can disappear quickly at higher stakes. If you want steadier play, a medium-volatility game such as the original Rainbow Riches behaves differently. Our explainer on volatility in slot apps goes into more detail.
Can I play Rainbow Riches Megaways on my phone?
Yes, as an HTML5 slot it runs in casino apps and mobile browsers on iPhone and Android, provided the casino carries it. Barcrest does not publish whether it is built for portrait or landscape, so the layout depends on your app and device. You must be verified as 18 or over first, even for demo play. Download apps only from the App Store or Google Play; our guide to downloading a casino app on iPhone shows the steps.
What does the Super Gem do in Rainbow Riches Megaways?
The Super Gem transforms gemstones. When it lands in the top row, every gemstone symbol on the reels changes into one matching type, which can link symbols across more reels than before. It is a base-game feature, separate from the free spins round. The exact payouts for gem symbols are listed in the game’s paytable, which you can open from the info screen in any casino app. A paytable lists what each symbol pays and which symbols the wild can replace.
Is Rainbow Riches Megaways better than the original Rainbow Riches?
Neither is better outright; they suit different players. The Megaways version has a higher published RTP (96% against 95.00%) and a far higher maximum win (12,500× against 500×), but it is high volatility. The original is medium volatility with 20 fixed paylines and smaller swings. If you want a gentler session, the original fits; if you accept bigger swings, the Megaways version does. Both are reviewed in our slots hub, along with other Barcrest games.
Why does Rainbow Riches Megaways spin slowly in UK apps?
It spins slowly because UK rules require at least 2.5 seconds between one slot spin and the next. Since 31 October 2021, online slots in Great Britain cannot offer autoplay, turbo or slam-stop, and they cannot celebrate a return that is equal to or less than the stake. Cascades inside a paid spin still play out in full. These rules apply to every licensed app, not just this game. Our page on why slots spin slower on UK apps explains the background.
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