Megaways™ mechanism: how does it work?

Megaways™: how it works
Oct 17, 2023
Written by Philippe

The Megaways™ mechanic is a random reel-modifier that alters the sum of symbols that show on every reel during one spin. This means that each spin brings a different amount of symbols on a reel, offering up to hundreds of thousands of ways to win!

Megaways™ was created by the Australian slot games development firm, Big Time Gaming, and it first hit in 2015 through its Dragon Born game.

However, it was not until 2016 after Bonanza was launched that the mechanic entered the mainstream slots world with a bang. Compared with other contemporary slots, Megaways slots don’t have a fixed number of paylines.

There’s a fixed maximum, but the precise number may vary from 2 to 7 during each spin. Additionally, the number of paylines on every reel is ascertained separately.

Because of this, it’s very common to find varying amount of symbols on one reel when playing these kinds of slots.

How does the Megaways™ mechanism work?

Going beyond the normal concept of paylines was the chief aim of Big Time Gaming and they did it successfully with Megaways™.

In a normal Megaways video slot, there are 6 reels and up to 7 symbols that can show up on each reel. The number of symbols that will show is randomly chosen by the mechanic which can generate thousands of various winning ways, 117,649 to be precise.

However, this can only occur if each of the 6 reels is showing the maximum amount of 7 symbols therefore calculated as 7x7x7x7x7x7 which equals to 117,649.

117,649 ways to win
7x7x7x7x7x7 = 117,649 ways to win

This differs greatly with traditional slots, where the amount of pay-lines is fixed and doesn’t change in the game.

It’s worth noting that not every Megaways™ slot offers all these ways to win. For example, in the White Rabbit slot, there are 248,832 ways while in the Holy Diver slot, there are 586,971 ways in case you succeed in unlocking the bonus game.

Calculating your earnings

Most of the Megaways™ slots will display how many ways you can earn in a small box at the uppermost part of the window.

In calculating your earnings for one spin, you’ll have to multiply the number of symbols on every reel with each other.

For example, if all 7 symbols appear on each of the 6 reels, you will have to do multiplication of each reel independently and against the others. This means that you will multiply the number of symbols on the first reel with the number of symbols on the second reel as 7×7=49.

Examples of win and loss

You will then multiply this result by the number of symbols on the third reel as 49×7=343.

This calculation will proceed as follows: 343×7=2,401, 2,401×7=16,807 and 16,807×7=117,649.

Where to find Megaways™ slots?

Megaways video slots have smashed playing records over and over again.

Currently, the majority of UK online casinos offer Big Time Gaming’s Megaways™ video slots as well as slots from other providers that have authorized this mechanic.

Some of the top UK casinos with Megaways™ slots include Grand Ivy, Jackpot Village and Casimba.

Jackpot Village Casino Logo
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AD 18+. New players only. Min. dep £20. Max. bonus bet £5. 200 Bonus Spins on Book Of Dead on your 1st deposit. Winnings from all spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £20. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds & subject to wagering requirement (40x deposit plus bonus). Only bonus funds contribute towards wagering requirement. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 72hrs. Affordability checks & Terms apply. BeGambleAware.org

The Grand Ivy Casino Logo
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#AD 18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £300 + 25 bonus spins on your 1st deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

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#AD 18+. New players only. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Winnings from Bonus spins credited as bonus funds and capped at £100. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Welcome Offer is 100% match up to £500 plus 125 bonus spins and 500 loyalty points on your 1st deposit, 25% match up to £1,000 on your 2nd deposit plus 125 bonus spins, 50% match up to £500 on your 3rd deposit plus 125 bonus spins. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus & cash. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. Affordability checks apply. Terms apply. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

The aforementioned casinos provide the widest variety of games, the best match bonuses and free spins for playing these slots.

In addition to that, they are 100% secure and legit because they are licensed by both the UKGC and the MGA. When playing real money at these casinos, you will rest assured that your funds are in good hands.

Megaways slots are known to be highly volatile and of great design. They have a reputation in the video slots world for their fast-paced action.

These slots are preferred by players because of their high RTP rates compared to other slots. With over 70 titles available in the series, and many more being released on a regular basis, it is not hard to understand why they have become quite so popular.

The most famous Megaways™ slots at the moment include:

  1. White Rabbit Megaways™ (RTP rate of 97.24%)
  2. Aztec Gold Megaways™ (96.99%)
  3. Slots-o-Gold Megaways™ (96.96%)
  4. Queen of Riches Megaways™ (96.9%)
  5. Primal Megaways™ (96.76%)

Other famous slots in this series with high RTP are Genie Jackpot Megaways™, Kingmaker, and Holy Diver.

New Megaways™ developments in 2020

2020 has been a roaring success as far as the Megaways™ brand is concerned. These video slots have come a long way, with numerous titles now available.

Going forward, we are likely to see new video slots being released since more software providers have embraced the mechanic. We are also likely to see them compete to attract attention to their newest Megaways releases.

The greatest thing about competition among the developers is that it will push them to probe for new insights in software technology. This will definitely result in the provision of an ultimate gaming experience to the public.

If you are into slots, you can sign in to your favourite casino and try these games on free play mode before you acquire the necessary skills to play for real money.

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