Megaways Slots

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Written by Alex Vasile
Alex Vasile
Alex Vasile has an iGaming background with over five years working in Support and Account / VIP management. He is also an experienced writer covering topics related to gambling legislation and jurisdictions, casino bonuses and wagering requirements and casino games rules.
, | Updated: September 26, 2025

Every time players assume that software suppliers have pushed the concept of slot play as far as it can go, innovation, creative thinking, and technology step in and prove them wrong. The evolution of slots over the past century is truly astounding.

They have evolved from simple, mechanically operated machines with three reels, a limited set of symbols, and a single payline into advanced online games with sophisticated animations, hundreds of ways to win, progressive jackpots, and a plethora of lucrative features.

Yet the evolution of one-armed bandits continues, as software suppliers constantly seek new ways to push the boundaries of traditional slot play. The Megaways pay structure ranks among the most interesting improvements that reel spinners have seen in recent years.

First introduced by the developers at Big Time Gaming, Megaways slots have taken the online gambling community by storm. In games with this structure, the number of symbols per reel changes with each spin, giving players thousands of ways to win. This piqued the interest of rival software companies, and Big Time Gaming soon began licensing its trademarked Megaways format to other providers, including Blueprint and Red Tiger Gaming.

Big Time Gaming, the Mastermind Behind the Megaways Format

1First Megaways Slot

The Megaways pay structure was pioneered by the Australian software studio Big Time Gaming, which currently offers roughly a dozen slots of this type. Released in 2015, Dragon Born was the first game to use the Megaways format.

It was soon followed by other iconic Megaways releases such as White Rabbit, Extra Chilli, Queen of Riches, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Bonanza, the studio’s 2016 release, remains its biggest success to date, having been voted Game of the Year by Casinomeister in 2017.

2About Big Time Gaming

Big Time Gaming is a relatively young company, founded in 2011 by a small group of Australian gaming experts whose goal was to take online gambling to an entirely new level. The company is headquartered in Sydney, where all Megaways slots are developed.

Big Time Gaming is led by people with extensive expertise in the gambling industry. Nik Robinson, the main founder and Chief Executive, has been active since 1996, when he established New Tech Media, which later merged with Orbis to become Openbet.

Chief Technology Officer Huw McIntosh also boasts more than ten years of experience at both Openbet and New Tech Media. Creative Director Ian Schmidt previously worked for Rockstar Games – the studio behind hits like Grand Theft Auto – before joining Big Time Gaming.

3Big Time Gaming's Partners

With such an impressive lineup, it’s no surprise that Big Time Gaming has succeeded in carving out a niche for itself in just a few short years. This was accomplished through collaboration with some of the largest operators in the online gambling industry.

A partnership with Core Gaming allowed the Australian game maker to adapt its innovative slots for play on the go. Another deal with Microgaming’s Quickfire platform broadened Big Time Gaming’s reach to a wider audience of players.

Today, Big Time Gaming works with some of the biggest gambling brands in the world, including LeoVegas, Betfair, Unibet, Paddy Power, Mr Green, Stan James, and William Hill. Some operators, such as Ladbrokes, have even added dedicated tabs exclusively for Megaways slots, which only goes to show how huge this new format is.

4Big Time Gaming's Licenses

Big Time Gaming holds licenses from major regulatory bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the Gambling Commissions of Gibraltar and the UK, and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. Its Megaways slots have reached players in New Jersey through a partnership with Scientific Games and Golden Nugget Casino.

The Pay Mechanics in the Megaways Format

Reels and Symbols in Megaways Slots

Winning Conditions in Megaways Slots

Slots that use the Megaways format are unique in that they feature reels that display a varying number of symbols on each spin, usually up to seven or eight. Some games, like White Rabbit, have extended reels that can show up to twelve symbols per reel in a single round.

This setup dramatically increases the number of winning ways, which changes with every press of the spin button. In White Rabbit, for example, you can enjoy up to 248,832 ways to win, a mind-blowing figure indeed.

Megaways slots typically play on six reels, but the number of symbols on each reel is randomly determined by the game’s software. The number of ways to win also varies, depending on how many symbols land on the reels at any given moment. The symbols come in different heights, so a single spin might display 2 symbols on reel 1, 4 symbols on reel 2, 6 symbols on reel 3, and so forth.

For instance, if each of the six reels shows seven symbols, you can determine the number of winning ways by raising seven to the sixth power, like so: 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649. Different Megaways games offer varying winning potential. Holy Diver, for example, can deliver up to 586,971 ways to win, provided you trigger the bonus game.

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The Horizontal Reel and Other Cool Features in Megaways Slots

Some games from the Megaways series, such as Extra Chilli and Bonanza, use an additional reel positioned either above or below the main grid. Unlike the rest of the reels, this one does not spin vertically.

Instead, the symbols move horizontally across it. This special reel adds more symbols to the game, further increasing its winning potential. It is shorter, however, because it covers only reels 2 through 5. Below are several other noteworthy features you will find in games that use the Megaways format.

Extending Reels
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Extending Reels

Extending Reels allow additional symbols to be added during special features, further boosting the number of ways to win.

Win Reactions

Win Reactions work similarly to cascading reels in some NetEnt slots. All symbols that are part of a winning combination explode, making room for new symbols that fall onto the reels from above.

Unlimited Win Multipliers

Unlimited Win Multipliers usually occur during free-spin rounds in some Megaways slots. The multiplier begins at 1x and increases by one unit after every winning spin. It resets whenever a losing spin breaks the chain of reactions (the term used for consecutive wins in these slots).

Full Reel Wilds

Full Reel Wilds can be very lucrative because they may occupy up to seven reel grids and substitute for every symbol except the scatter. In essence, they are similar to stacked wilds. In Megaways slots, some full reel wilds also multiply the wins they help create by up to 7x.

Free Spins Gamble

Free Spins Gamble is activated once players trigger the free spins feature in slots like Extra Chilli. A Gamble Wheel appears on the screen, and you must spin it for a chance to earn additional free spins.

The player can either collect the free spins initially awarded or spin the wheel. A successful gamble spin grants four extra free rounds. If the wheel lands on zero free spins, the feature ends.

Feature Drop

Feature Drop allows players to buy direct access to the bonus features in certain Megaways slots. The price is proportional to your stake per spin and is displayed above the Feature Drop button. There are two ways to activate it.

First, you can use the standard method by purchasing your free spins at a cost of 100x your base stake. If you wager $2 per spin, you will have to pay $200 for the Feature Drop. The software deducts this amount from your balance, respins the reels, and scatters land to activate your free spins.

The second method is to collect special coins that hit the reels at random during the base game. These coins carry different values and deduct corresponding amounts from your Feature Drop price.

The free spins begin automatically once you collect enough special coins to reduce the price to zero. Of course, you can also purchase the bonus whenever you have accumulated enough coins to bring the price down to a level you find acceptable.

Megaways Slots Evolved from the All Ways Pay Structure

1All Ways Slots

Although highly innovative thanks to their unconventional features and gameplay, Megaways games are not the only slots that use this pay structure. All Ways slots, which emerged roughly a decade ago, were the format’s prototype.

Before their debut, most reel-based games did not deviate much from the conventional payline structure. Video slots differed primarily in the number of paylines: some had 25, others 40, and so on. Wins were typically paid when symbols landed from left to right on the reels. Then Both Ways Pay slots appeared, awarding payouts for matches formed on either side of the reels – left or right.

2243 Ways to Win Slots

The next logical step for software developers was to eliminate paylines altogether. This is how 243 Ways to Win slots were created. They use a standard grid with five reels and three symbols per reel.

This 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 layout allows for 243 possible winning combinations on each spin. Players no longer need to line up symbols in fixed patterns; instead, the games pay as long as matching symbols land on adjacent reels from left to right.

3720+ Ways to Win Slots

Once again, all symbols act as scatters, allowing for up to 720 ways to win. The combinations pay in both directions, from left to right and from right to left. Software developers kept experimenting with the pay structure, adding more reels and rows to increase the number of possible winning ways per spin.

To calculate the potential wins per round, you simply multiply the number of visible symbols on each reel. In slots like IGT’s Crown of Egypt, each of the five reels shows four symbols, so the number of winning ways equals 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4, or 1,024. Red Tiger Gaming’s 2019 release Ninja Ways further boosts players’ opportunities to 4,096 with its six reels, each displaying four symbols.

Other Software Suppliers to Use the Megaways Format

Big Time Gaming pioneered this format, so it’s no surprise that it offers one of the largest selections of Megaways titles by far. However, the new pay structure was such a huge success among reel-spinning enthusiasts that several other leading software suppliers also started developing Megaways slots.

To do so, they must first acquire a license from Big Time Gaming to use the trademarked structure. Blueprint Gaming was among the first studios to obtain a license in April 2018, followed by the likes of NextGen, Red Tiger, and Relax Gaming.

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Relax Gaming

Relax Gaming has released only a handful of Megaways slots, but each is worth a spin. The company began operations in 2010 in Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, but experienced a slow rise to prominence.

Relax Gaming now holds licenses from Alderney, the UK, and Malta. It released its first Megaways slot in April 2019. We recommend trying Temple Tumble, Hypernova, and Machina, all of which employ the innovative format.

NextGen

NextGen is one of the oldest slot suppliers, with roots dating back to 1999, when players were just beginning to embrace online gambling. Until 2014, most titles released by NextGen felt similar, typically featuring five reels and 25 paylines.

The rise of new software studios in recent years pushed NextGen to adopt a more creative approach to game design. 2019 was a turning point, as the company licensed the Megaways structure from Big Time Gaming. Be sure to try NextGen’s Medusa slot, which offers an RTP of 97.63% and 117,649 ways to win.

Red Tiger Gaming

Red Tiger Gaming is one of the newer software studios, having entered the online gambling scene in 2014. The company focuses exclusively on slot development and partners with gaming operators across the Asian and European markets under licenses from Malta and the UK.

Red Tiger joined the ever-growing family of Big Time Gaming licensees in 2018. The company’s first slot to use the Megaways format was Mystery Reels. It offers an array of exciting features, including 117,649 ways to win, a fixed jackpot of 10,000x your bet, mystery symbols, and eight free spins with the option to gamble for more.

Blueprint Gaming

Blueprint Gaming started out in Georgia, USA, back in 2001, when it manufactured video slot machines for pubs and land-based casinos. As gaming technology evolved, Blueprint shifted its focus to the online gambling market, delivering slots with a signature look and feel.

In 2008, German giant the Gauselmann Group purchased a 50% stake in the company, helping Blueprint Gaming expand internationally. Blueprint was the first software company to lease the Megaways structure from Big Time Gaming.

As a result, it now offers one of the industry’s richest selections of Megaways titles, including Diamond Mine, Valetta, Tiki Treasures, Wolf Legend, and Legacy of Ra.

Are Megaways Slots a Good Bet?

1High volatility

Megaways slots offer tremendous winning potential, but you should approach them with caution, especially if you are playing on a limited budget. Games with this structure tend to have high volatility.

2Long Losing Streaks

Megaways slots can deliver substantial wins, particularly titles like Bonanza that use cascading symbols and multipliers. However, winning combinations do not occur that frequently. You may experience long dry spells before landing a spin that yields a significant cash prize.

3Try Them in Demo Mode

Because many different games use this structure, we cannot generalize about volatility. The wisest approach is to try the Megaways slots that interest you in demo mode to see how they play and gauge their volatility.

4Megaways Slots With Medium Level of Volatility

Below are three Megaways games that provide a medium level of volatility.

Game Title RTP Ways to Win Jackpot Features
Valetta (Blueprint Gaming) 96.45% 15,625 ways 250,000 coins Feature Buy, up to 20 Free Spins, Spinning Streaks
Return of Kong (Blueprint Gaming) 96.03% 117,649 ways 250,000 coins Bonus Bet Buy, 12 Free Spins, Cascading Reels
Flower Fortune (Fantasma Games) 96.00% 531,411 ways 250,000 coins Avalanche, Expanding Wilds, Pick Me Bonus
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