Megaways is a reel mechanic, not a game. In a Megaways slot each reel shows a different number of symbols on every spin, so the number of ways to win changes all the time, up to 117,649. That is why these slots feel so different from a classic 5x3 game, and why the same title can go quiet for a long time and then pay a lot in a few spins.
Where Megaways comes from
The mechanic was created by the Australian studio Big Time Gaming. Its first use was in Dragon Born, and Bonanza, released in 2016, is the game that made it famous. Big Time Gaming later licensed Megaways to other providers, which is why today you find Megaways versions from Pragmatic Play, Blueprint Gaming and other studios, often as a new edition of an existing hit.
How the number of ways is calculated
In a classic slot you win on fixed paylines. In a "ways" slot you win when matching symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right, in any position. Megaways adds one more twist: on every spin each reel gets a random height.
The number of ways is the product of the symbols on each reel. A typical game has six reels, each showing from 2 to 7 symbols:
| Symbols per reel on this spin | Calculation | Ways to win |
|---|---|---|
| 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 | 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 | 64 |
| 3, 5, 2, 7, 4, 6 | 3 × 5 × 2 × 7 × 4 × 6 | 5,040 |
| 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 | 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 | 117,649 |
Many Megaways games also add a horizontal reel above the middle reels that puts extra symbols into play. The counter on the screen shows the ways for the current spin. The maximum is rare: most spins land somewhere in the thousands.
What else is usually inside
- Cascades. Winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into their place, so one paid spin can produce several wins in a row. The reels can also change height during a cascade.
- Growing multipliers. In Bonanza and many games built the same way, a win multiplier increases with each cascade during free spins. This is where the big wins usually come from.
- Free spins with extra spins. Scatters trigger the round, and landing more scatters inside it adds spins.
- Bonus buy. Some Megaways slots let you pay to enter free spins directly. It is an expensive shortcut and does not change the long-term return of the game.
Do more ways mean more wins?
No. The number of ways tells you how many combinations are possible on a spin, not how much the game pays back. Your bet per spin stays the same whether the counter shows 64 or 117,649 ways, and the long-term return is set by the RTP of the game, not by the mechanic.
What Megaways does change is the rhythm. Most of these slots are high volatility: many small or empty spins, and a large share of the return concentrated in free spins with multipliers. If you play with a small budget, expect long dry stretches and size your bet so the session survives them.
How to choose a Megaways slot
- Check the RTP version. Many games come in several RTP settings, and the casino chooses one. The number is in the game's info screen.
- Read the volatility and the max win. A very high maximum win usually comes with higher volatility.
- Look at the free spins. Whether the multiplier resets or keeps growing makes a big difference to how the bonus round pays.
- Try the demo first. A few hundred demo spins show you the rhythm of the game better than any description.
Megaways slots on Bonusario
We have reviews with free demos of popular Megaways titles, including The Dog House Megaways, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways, Great Rhino Megaways, Madame Destiny Megaways, 5 Lions Megaways and Buffalo King Untamed Megaways. Each review lists the RTP, volatility, maximum win and how the bonus round works, so you can compare them before playing for real money.
October 22, 2026
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