Megaways explained
Megaways is a slot mechanic where each reel shows a random number of symbols on every spin, so the number of ways to win changes each time, up to 117,649 on a standard six-reel game. Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, and most Megaways slots are high volatility.
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Megaways is the most copied slot mechanic of the past decade. If you’ve seen a slot where the reels jump up and down in height and a counter shows “117,649 ways”, you’ve seen it. This guide explains how it works, what it does to your wins and losses, and how to compare Megaways games before you play one for real money.
The short version
On a normal slot, every reel shows the same number of symbols every spin, and wins pay along fixed paylines. On a Megaways slot:
- Each reel shows a random number of symbols on every spin, typically between two and seven.
- Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel, in any position. There are no paylines.
- The number of ways to win is all the reel heights multiplied together, so it changes every spin.
The mechanic was created by Big Time Gaming and is licensed to other studios, which is why you’ll see Megaways games from Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, Blueprint and others.
How the ways are counted
Take a six-reel Megaways slot. On one spin the reels land with 3, 5, 2, 7, 4 and 6 symbols.
Ways to win = 3 × 5 × 2 × 7 × 4 × 6 = 5,040
On the next spin they might land with 7 symbols on every reel: 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways. That’s the famous maximum on a standard layout. The minimum, with two symbols on every reel, is 64.
Many games add an extra horizontal reel above reels two to five, which adds symbols and pushes the maximum higher. That’s why some titles advertise 200,000 ways or more.
What a “way” pays
A way is any path of matching symbols across adjacent reels from the left. If you land three lions on reel one, two on reel two and one on reel three, that’s 3 × 2 × 1 = 6 ways of “three lions”, each paying the three-of-a-kind amount. That’s how a single spin can produce a surprisingly large total from mid-value symbols.
The features that come with it
Megaways is a reel layout, not a complete game, so studios add their own features. The most common are:
- Cascades (tumbles). Winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in, so one spin can produce several wins in a row. Each cascade can also change the reel heights.
- Free spins with a growing multiplier. Many Megaways games add +1 to a win multiplier on every cascade during free spins, with no upper limit. This is where most of the big wins come from.
- Mystery symbols. Blocks that all reveal the same symbol.
- Bonus buy. Pay a fixed multiple of your stake to go straight to free spins. More on that in our guide to how slot features work.
Megaways slots in South Africa
Pragmatic Play’s Megaways titles are the ones you’re most likely to find at South African sites. A few from our games database:
- Great Rhino Megaways: RTP 95.59%, volatility high.
- Big Bass Bonanza Megaways: RTP 95.66%, volatility high.
- The Dog House Megaways 1000: RTP 96.5%, volatility medium.
- 5 Lions Megaways 2: RTP 95.5%, volatility high.
- Buffalo King Megaways: RTP 95.55%, volatility high.
Each game page shows the full data, the casinos that carry it and a demo where the provider allows one.
What Megaways does to your balance
Megaways doesn’t change the average return. That’s set by the RTP, and Megaways games sit in the same 95% to 96.5% range as most modern slots. What changes is how the money comes back.
- Lots of small wins. With thousands of ways, you’ll often get a win that’s smaller than your stake. That keeps the balance ticking but still loses money: a R2 spin that “wins” R1.20 is an 80 cent loss.
- Long dry spells. The big payouts sit almost entirely in the free spins feature, which might trigger once every 200 to 400 spins or more.
- Rare, very large wins. Uncapped multipliers in free spins can produce wins of thousands of times your stake. They’re rare by design.
That profile is what volatility measures, and most Megaways slots are high volatility. Our guide to RTP and volatility explains the difference.
A worked example in Rands
Say you have R400 and play a high-volatility Megaways slot at R2 a spin, with an RTP of 96%.
- Expected cost: each spin costs 8 cents on average (4% of R2). 200 spins cost about R16 on average. That figure is misleading on its own, because high-volatility games rarely land near the average.
- What usually happens: you get a stream of small wins and gradually drift down. If free spins don’t trigger in your first 200 spins, which is quite possible, you might be down R150 to R250.
- What sometimes happens: free spins trigger, cascades build a multiplier and one bonus pays R300 to R1,000 or more.
- What rarely happens: a top-end win of several thousand times your stake.
The practical lesson is to size your stake to your balance. At R2 a spin, R400 gives you about 200 spins: enough to see the game properly, not enough to guarantee a feature. At R10 a spin, the same R400 can be gone in 40 spins.
Megaways and bonuses
High-volatility slots and bonus wagering are a tricky mix. Wagering needs a lot of spins, and a high-volatility game is more likely to empty your balance before you finish. If you’re clearing a bonus, a medium-volatility game usually gives you a better chance of finishing, and some casinos exclude bonus buys during wagering altogether. Our wagering requirements guide shows how to work out what a bonus will cost.
How to choose a Megaways slot
- Check the RTP. Some games come in several RTP versions and the casino chooses which one to run. The game’s info screen shows the version you’re playing.
- Check the volatility. If you have a small balance, look for medium volatility.
- Read the free spins rules. Does the multiplier reset each spin or grow without limit? Unlimited multipliers mean higher volatility.
- Try the demo. Play 100 demo spins before you play for real; it’ll show you how often the game pays.
- Know the maximum win. It tells you how extreme the top end is.
The bottom line
Megaways is a clever way to make every spin look different, and it produces some of the most exciting free spins rounds in online slots. It doesn’t make a slot more generous. Set a stake that gives your budget enough spins, accept that most sessions end below where they started, and stop when your budget is spent. If it stops being fun, help is free on 0800 006 008.
Browse every slot we track, or see which casinos carry the games you like.
Frequently asked questions
What does Megaways mean in slots?
It's a reel mechanic, originally from Big Time Gaming and now licensed to many studios, where every reel changes height on each spin. The more symbols that land, the more ways there are to win, up to 117,649 on a classic six-reel layout.
How many ways to win are there on Megaways?
It changes every spin. With six reels showing between two and seven symbols each, the range is 64 ways (2 on every reel) to 117,649 (7 on every reel). Some versions add an extra reel or a top row and go higher.
Do Megaways slots pay more?
Not on average. The RTP is set by the game, usually around 95.5% to 96.5%, the same range as other slots. Megaways spreads the returns differently: more small wins and occasional very large ones, with long dry spells in between.
Can I play Megaways slots in South Africa?
Yes. Pragmatic Play's Megaways titles, such as Great Rhino Megaways and Big Bass Bonanza Megaways, are widely available at South African sites, and you can try many in demo mode on our game pages first.
What is the best Megaways slot?
It depends on what you like. Look at the RTP (higher is better), the volatility and the free spins feature. Our game pages list each Megaways slot's RTP, volatility and maximum win from the provider's data.
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Mark has been writing about online gaming since 2007, covering everything from sportsbooks to casino and slot reviews, offering insights for players of all levels.