Big Time Gaming Slots: 3 Games Reviewed
Company Overview
Big Time Gaming is the most influential small studio in online slots. Founded in 2011 by Nik Robinson in Sydney, BTG invented the Megaways mechanic and licensed it to over 20 other providers — creating a mechanic category that now includes hundreds of slots across the industry. Their own catalog of roughly 50 titles maintains a quality-over-quantity approach: Bonanza Megaways defined the genre, Extra Chilli perfected it, and White Rabbit holds one of the highest RTPs (97.72%) of any online slot. BTG was acquired by Evolution Gaming in 2021.
Nik Robinson, a veteran of the Australian poker machine industry, founded BTG in 2011. The first Megaways slot (Bonanza, 2016) used a patented variable reel system where each reel shows 2-7 symbols per spin, creating up to 117,649 possible win combinations. The mechanic was revolutionary — it made every spin unique and dramatically increased maximum win potential. BTG began licensing Megaways to other providers in 2017, and by 2020, Megaways slots were everywhere: Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Blueprint Gaming all released Megaways titles. Evolution Gaming acquired BTG in 2021 for an undisclosed sum, adding Megaways to their growing portfolio of slot brands alongside NetEnt.
RTP Policy & Configuration
BTG slots typically offer high default RTPs. White Rabbit leads at 97.72% — among the highest in the entire industry. Bonanza Megaways offers 96.00%, and Extra Chilli sits at 96.15%. BTG does offer reduced RTP configurations for some markets, but their defaults are consistently above industry average. The high base RTP combined with Megaways variance creates excellent value for informed players.
Database Analysis: Big Time Gaming by the Numbers
Based on 3 Big Time Gaming slots in our database:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Slots Reviewed | 3 |
| Average RTP | 96.62% |
| Best RTP | White Rabbit (97.72%) |
| Best Max Win | Extra Chilli (20,000x) |
| High Volatility | 3 (100%) |
| Medium Volatility | 0 (0%) |
| Low Volatility | 0 (0%) |
Signature Features & Mechanics
Megaways Engine
Each reel randomly shows 2-7 symbols per spin, creating 64 to 117,649 ways to win. Combined with cascading wins, a single spin can chain into dozens of consecutive wins with rising multipliers. This mechanic has been licensed to 20+ providers and appears in hundreds of slots — but BTG's originals remain the best-balanced implementations.
Unlimited Multiplier in Free Spins
In Bonanza and Extra Chilli, each cascading win during free spins increases the multiplier by 1x with no cap. Five consecutive cascades mean a 5x multiplier; twenty cascades mean 20x. This uncapped multiplier is what enables 10,000x+ wins and is the reason Megaways free spins can be life-changing.
White Rabbit's 97.72% RTP
White Rabbit holds one of the highest RTPs of any online slot at 97.72% default. The Alice in Wonderland-themed game also features the Extending Reels mechanic — the grid can grow from 5 to 12 rows during free spins, pushing maximum ways past 248,832. It's the mathematical masterpiece of the BTG catalog.
Feature Drop (Buy Bonus)
BTG was among the first to offer bonus buy functionality. The Feature Drop lets players purchase direct access to free spins for a set cost (typically 100x bet). This was later adopted industry-wide — Pragmatic Play's Buy Bonus, for example, follows the same concept BTG pioneered.
Common Mechanics in Big Time Gaming Slots
Feature Distribution
How features are distributed across 3 reviewed Big Time Gaming slots:
| Feature | Slots | % of Catalog |
|---|---|---|
| Megaways | 3 | 100% |
| Free Spins | 3 | 100% |
| Reactions | 2 | 67% |
| Unlimited Multiplier | 2 | 67% |
| Extra Reel | 2 | 67% |
| Gamble Free Spins | 1 | 33% |
| Buy Feature | 1 | 33% |
| Extending Reels | 1 | 33% |
Volatility Profile
Every slot in the BTG catalog is high or very high volatility. The Megaways mechanic inherently creates volatility — the difference between a spin showing 64 ways (2 symbols per reel) and 117,649 ways (7 per reel) is enormous. This means BTG slots are exclusively for players comfortable with significant bankroll swings and extended dry spells. There are zero low or medium volatility options.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Invented Megaways — the most influential slot mechanic of the decade
- White Rabbit's 97.72% RTP is among the highest in the industry
- Every release is polished and mathematically interesting
- Quality-over-quantity approach — each slot feels distinct
- Pioneered Buy Bonus (Feature Drop) concept
- High default RTPs across the catalog
Weaknesses
- Extremely small catalog (~50 slots) limits variety
- 100% high volatility — no options for casual or wagering play
- Evolution Gaming acquisition may affect future independence
- Licensed Megaways from other studios often overshadow BTG originals
- Older titles (Bonanza) show visual age compared to modern competitors
All 3 Big Time Gaming Slots (Ranked by RTP)
| # | Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Theme | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White Rabbit | 97.72% | High | 13,000x | Alice in Wonderland / Fantasy | 2017 |
| 2 | Extra Chilli | 96.15% | High | 20,000x | Mexican Food / Fiesta | 2018 |
| 3 | Bonanza Megaways | 96% | High | 10,000x | Mining / Gold Rush | 2016 |
Themes & Categories
Licenses & Regulation
These licenses indicate that Big Time Gaming games are regularly audited for fairness by independent testing labs. The RNG (Random Number Generator) in each slot is certified to produce truly random outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Megaways mechanic?
Megaways is a variable reel system invented by Big Time Gaming where each reel randomly shows 2-7 symbols per spin. A 6-reel slot can produce anywhere from 64 (2^6) to 117,649 (7^6) ways to win on each spin. Combined with cascading wins and unlimited multipliers, this creates massive win potential but also high volatility.
Which Big Time Gaming slot has the best RTP?
White Rabbit at 97.72% has the highest RTP — not just in the BTG catalog but among all online slots. For comparison, the industry average is approximately 96%. At $1/spin, White Rabbit costs approximately $22.80 per 1,000 spins vs $40 for a typical 96% slot.
Is Big Time Gaming owned by Evolution?
Yes. Evolution Gaming acquired Big Time Gaming in 2021, adding Megaways to their portfolio alongside NetEnt. BTG continues to operate as an independent brand and studio, but the acquisition means Evolution now controls the Megaways license and its revenue.
How many providers use Megaways?
Over 20 providers have licensed the Megaways mechanic from BTG, including Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Blueprint Gaming, and iSoftBet. This has produced hundreds of Megaways slots across the industry. BTG earns licensing revenue from each one.
Is Bonanza the first Megaways slot?
Yes. Bonanza Megaways (2016) was the first slot to use the Megaways mechanic. It features a mining theme with 6 reels, an extra horizontal reel, cascading wins, and an unlimited multiplier in free spins. It remains one of the most popular Megaways slots despite being the oldest.
Are all Big Time Gaming slots high volatility?
Yes. Every BTG slot is high or very high volatility. The Megaways mechanic inherently creates large variance — the difference between a minimum-ways spin and a maximum-ways spin is enormous. BTG has no low or medium volatility options in their catalog.