Megaways Slots: The Mechanic That Changed Online Slots
Megaways replaced fixed paylines with a random reel modifier that generates up to 117,649 ways to win per spin. Since Big Time Gaming launched Bonanza in 2016, over 30 studios have licensed the mechanic and hundreds of Megaways titles now exist. But not all Megaways slots are built the same — and most guides won't tell you that.
We've reviewed 16 Megaways slots with an average RTP of 96.34%. Below you'll find what actually matters: how the math works, which variants exist, where the RTP traps are, and which specific titles deliver the best value.
How the Megaways Reel Modifier Actually Works
Every Megaways slot uses the same core principle: each reel independently displays between 2 and 7 symbols per spin, determined by a certified Random Number Generator. The total ways to win equals the product (not sum) of symbol counts across all reels.
Minimum: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 64 ways
Maximum: 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways
The range is a factor of 1,838×. A single reel going from 3 to 7 symbols doesn't add 4 ways — it multiplies the total by 2.33×. This multiplicative effect is why Megaways volatility swings so dramatically spin to spin.
Wins require matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. Unlike traditional paylines, the symbol's position on the reel doesn't matter — only that it appears somewhere. This means more symbols per reel creates exponentially more winning combinations, but the paytable values are calibrated so that higher ways don't automatically mean bigger wins.
Not All Megaways Are Equal: 4 Sub-Variants
Most guides treat all Megaways slots as identical. They're not. The mechanic has evolved into distinct variants that fundamentally change the gameplay and mathematics:
The original format. Six reels, 2-7 symbols each. Used by BTG's earliest releases and most licensed implementations.
Pragmatic Play's signature addition: a 4-symbol horizontal reel above reels 2-5. Multiplies standard ways by up to 4.
Reels can grow beyond 7 symbols during features. White Rabbit's Cupcake symbols expand reels to 12 high, creating massive way counts.
Megaways combined with other systems like Infinity Reels, where new reels are added with each cascade win, theoretically unlimited.
The RTP Trap: Same Slot, Different Returns
Here's something most Megaways guides won't mention: the same slot can have 2%+ RTP difference depending on which casino you play at. Providers release multiple RTP configurations, and operators choose which to deploy.
To verify: open the slot at your casino, click the info/rules button (usually "i" or "?" icon), and look for the RTP percentage in the game rules. If it's more than 0.5% below the advertised maximum RTP, consider playing elsewhere.
All 16 Megaways Slots Compared
Sorted by RTP. Click any slot for the full review.
| Slot | Provider | RTP | Max Win | Max Ways | Buy Feature | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Rabbit | Big Time Gaming | 97.72% | 13,000x | Up to 248,832 Megaways | No | 2017 |
| Great Rhino Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.58% | 20,000x | Up to 200,704 Megaways | Yes | 2020 |
| Madame Destiny Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.56% | 5,000x | Up to 200,704 Megaways | Yes | 2021 |
| Buffalo King Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.55% | 5,000x | Up to 200,704 Megaways | Yes | 2021 |
| The Dog House Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.55% | 12,305x | Up to 117,649 ways | Yes | 2021 |
| Power of Thor Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.55% | 5,000x | Up to 117,649 ways | Yes | 2022 |
| Eye of Horus Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 96.49% | 10,000x | Up to 15,625 Ways (Megaways) | No | 2020 |
| Forgotten Island Megaways | Microgaming | 96.25% | 7,000x | Up to 117,649 Megaways | Yes | 2021 |
| Odin Infinity Reels | Yggdrasil | 96.18% | 20,000x | Megaways + Infinity Reels (variable) | No | 2021 |
| Extra Chilli | Big Time Gaming | 96.15% | 20,000x | Up to 117,649 Megaways | Yes | 2018 |
| Divine Fortune Megaways | NetEnt | 96.09% | 2,400x | Up to 117,649 Megaways | No | 2020 |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.07% | 4,000x | Up to 46,656 ways | Yes | 2022 |
| Twin Spin Megaways | NetEnt | 96.04% | 38,000x | Up to 117,649 Megaways | No | 2020 |
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 96% | 10,000x | Up to 117,649 Megaways | No | 2016 |
| Gonzo's Quest Megaways | Red Tiger | 96% | 21,000x | Up to 117,649 ways | Yes | 2020 |
| Genie Jackpots Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 95.71% | 10,000x | Up to 15,625 ways | No | 2020 |
What the Data Tells Us
- Best RTP: White Rabbit at 97.72% — this is 1.72% above the 96% industry average, saving you roughly 172 units per 10,000 spins compared to a 96% slot.
- Best max win: Twin Spin Megaways at 38,000x — nearly 4x higher ceiling than the lowest (Genie Jackpots Megaways at 2,400x).
- Every single Megaways slot is High volatility. There are no Low or Medium volatility Megaways in our database. This is not coincidence — the reel modifier inherently creates extreme variance because of the multiplicative way count.
- 9 of 16 offer a Buy Feature (56%) — higher than the general slot market, because Megaways' value concentrates heavily in the bonus round.
Bankroll Reality Check for Megaways
Every Megaways slot in our database is classified as high volatility. In practice, this means the free spins bonus — where cascading wins build multipliers and generate most of the significant returns — triggers infrequently. Most sources estimate one bonus trigger every 150-250 base game spins.
If you use the Buy Feature (typically 100x bet), that single purchase represents a significant bankroll commitment. A €1 bet with 100x buy = €100 for one bonus round. Budget accordingly.
Individual Reviews
White Rabbit
White Rabbit is a high volatility Alice in Wonderland-themed Megaways slot by Big Time Gaming with an RTP of 97.72%. It features extending reels up to 248,832 ways to win and the pioneering Feature Drop buy mechanic.
Great Rhino Megaways
Great Rhino Megaways is a high volatility African safari-themed Megaways slot by Pragmatic Play with an RTP of 96.58%. It features up to 200,704 ways to win with tumbling reels and an unlimited multiplier during free spins.
Madame Destiny Megaways
Madame Destiny Megaways is a high volatility fortune teller-themed Megaways slot by Pragmatic Play with an RTP of 96.56%. It features up to 200,704 ways to win with tumbling reels and multipliers during free spins.
Buffalo King Megaways
Buffalo King Megaways is a high volatility American prairie-themed Megaways slot by Pragmatic Play with an RTP of 96.55%. It features up to 200,704 ways to win with tumbling reels and an unlimited multiplier.
The Dog House Megaways
The Dog House Megaways is a high-volatility slot by Pragmatic Play with a 96.55% RTP. It features the Megaways engine with up to 117,649 ways to win, sticky multiplier Wilds in free spins, and a maximum win of 12,305x your bet.
Power of Thor Megaways
Power of Thor Megaways is a high volatility Norse mythology slot by Pragmatic Play with a 96.55% RTP and up to 117,649 Megaways. Released in 2022, it features tumbling reels, the Hammer Feature that transforms symbols, and Free Spins with an increasing multiplier for a maximum win of 5,000x.
Eye of Horus Megaways
Eye of Horus Megaways is a high-volatility Egyptian-themed slot by Blueprint Gaming with 96.49% RTP and up to 15,625 Megaways. It adapts the classic Eye of Horus expanding symbol mechanic to the Megaways format with a 10,000x maximum win.
Forgotten Island Megaways
Forgotten Island Megaways is a high volatility tropical adventure slot by All41 Studios (Microgaming) with 96.25% RTP. It features up to 117,649 Megaways, a Kong Spin base game multiplier that carries into free spins, and a three-tier bonus buy system.
Odin Infinity Reels
Odin Infinity Reels is a high volatility Norse mythology slot by ReelPlay (via Yggdrasil) with 96.18% RTP. It was the first slot to combine Infinity Reels and Megaways — reels expand infinitely to the right on every win, adding a progressive multiplier, with an 888x bonus jackpot for reaching 12+ added reels.
Extra Chilli
Extra Chilli is a high volatility Mexican fiesta-themed Megaways slot by Big Time Gaming with an RTP of 96.15%. It features up to 117,649 ways to win, a free spins gamble mechanic, and an unlimited multiplier for wins up to 20,000x.
Divine Fortune Megaways
Divine Fortune Megaways is a high volatility Ancient Greek mythology-themed Megaways slot by NetEnt with an RTP of 96.09%. It features up to 117,649 ways to win with falling wilds and a three-tier progressive jackpot.
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is a high volatility fishing-themed slot by Pragmatic Play with a 96.07% RTP and up to 46,656 Megaways. Released in 2022, it combines the popular Big Bass fishing mechanic with the Megaways engine, featuring a Fisherman Money Collect system and a maximum win of 4,000x.
Twin Spin Megaways
Twin Spin Megaways is a high volatility retro neon-themed Megaways slot by NetEnt with an RTP of 96.04%. It features up to 117,649 ways to win with synchronised twin reels that can expand across all six reels.
Bonanza Megaways
Bonanza Megaways is a high volatility mining-themed slot by Big Time Gaming with an RTP of 96.00%. It pioneered the Megaways mechanic with up to 117,649 ways to win, featuring cascading Reactions and an unlimited multiplier during free spins for wins up to 10,000x.
Gonzo's Quest Megaways
Gonzo's Quest Megaways is a high-volatility exploration-themed slot by Red Tiger (NetEnt/Evolution) with a 96.00% RTP. It features the Megaways engine, Avalanche cascades with escalating multipliers, and a maximum win of 21,000x your bet.
Genie Jackpots Megaways
Genie Jackpots Megaways is a high volatility Arabian-themed slot by Blueprint Gaming with a 95.71% RTP and up to 15,625 Megaways. Released in 2020, it features Genie Power Spins with mystery symbols, multiple bonus modes, and an unlimited multiplier during free spins for a maximum win of 10,000x.
A Brief History of Megaways
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do Megaways slots work?
Each reel displays a random number of symbols (2-7) per spin. The total ways to win equals the product of symbols across all reels. With 6 reels at maximum height (7 symbols each), that's 7×7×7×7×7×7 = 117,649 ways. Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, regardless of their vertical position.
Who invented Megaways?
Big Time Gaming (BTG), founded by Australians Nick Robinson and Hugh McIntosh, created and patented the Megaways random reel modifier in 2015-2016. Dragon Born (2016) was the first Megaways slot, but Bonanza Megaways (2016) popularised the mechanic. In 2021, Evolution Gaming acquired BTG and now controls the Megaways intellectual property. Over 30 studios have licensed the mechanic.
Which Megaways slot has the best RTP?
Among our reviewed Megaways slots, White Rabbit has the highest RTP at 97.72%. The average RTP across all Megaways slots we've reviewed is 96.34%, which is above the 96% industry standard. However, always check the in-game rules at your specific casino — operators can deploy lower RTP versions of the same slot.
Are all Megaways slots the same mechanic?
No. There are at least 4 distinct sub-variants: Standard 6-reel (up to 117,649 ways), extended with a horizontal top reel (up to 200,704 ways as in Pragmatic Play titles like Great Rhino Megaways), expanding reels (up to 248,832 ways in White Rabbit), and hybrid mechanics like Infinity Reels + Megaways in Odin Infinity Reels. The pairing with cascading reels, multipliers, and bonus structures varies significantly.
Why does the same Megaways slot have different RTP at different casinos?
Most Megaways slots ship with 2-4 RTP configurations. Casino operators select which version to deploy. For example, Great Rhino Megaways exists at 96.58%, 95.53%, 94.50%, and lower. The difference between 96.58% and 94.50% costs approximately 208 extra units lost per 10,000 spins at 1 unit bet. Always open the game rules (info/? icon) and verify the listed RTP before playing.
How much bankroll do I need for Megaways?
All Megaways slots are high volatility. Budget at least 200-300x your bet size for a meaningful session of 200-300 spins. At €0.40 per spin, that's €80-120. The bonus round typically triggers once every 150-250 spins, so shorter sessions frequently end without triggering the main feature where most of the return potential concentrates.