Megaways

Megaways games use changing reel layouts to create different numbers of possible symbol combinations. The familiar 117,649 figure is a maximum associated with many six-reel examples, rather than a promise of that many prizes or a guaranteed layout on every round. This guide explains how the ways count works, how to read qualifying wins, and which feature, stake and bonus conditions need checking separately.

18+ only. Availability and settings vary by operator and game version. Casino links may earn us commission; read our affiliate disclosure and comparison method. Provider examples illustrate mechanics and do not confirm that every casino below offers those games.

What is Megaways?

Megaways is a slot mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming and licensed to other developers. BTG’s company account identifies the mechanic and its use by multiple studios. The label therefore does not identify one particular game’s provider, theme, mathematical configuration or feature sequence.

The central idea is a changing number of available symbol positions across the reels. The resulting layout changes the number of possible combinations that the game can evaluate. A round with taller reels can display a larger ways count, but eligible symbols must still form a result under that game’s paytable.

Reel modification and feature design are different properties. A game may combine Megaways with cascading symbols, sticky wilds, free spins or a purchased feature, but those additions need their own explanation. Do not apply one title’s feature behaviour to every game carrying the Megaways name.

Our Games hub compares the wider formats, while the video-pokies guide explains paylines, ways, clusters and symbol-count wins. A Megaways game is one type of digital reel game, with rules specific to the release and mode being loaded.

How changing reel heights produce the ways count

For a straightforward six-reel layout where each visible position can combine with one position on every other reel, multiply the available positions across the six reels. This is a count of possible positional combinations, not a count of combinations already matching a paying symbol.

For example, hypothetical reel heights of two, three, four, five, six and seven positions give 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 = 5,040 possible combinations. If all six reels have seven available positions, the calculation becomes 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649.

Red Tiger’s Gonzo’s Quest Megaways description explicitly connects seven symbols on each of six reels with that 117,649 maximum. Use the actual game’s rules when additional reels, special positions or another layout modifier affect its calculation.

A maximum is not necessarily the number displayed on the next paid round. Check whether a feature fixes, expands or otherwise changes the layout, and whether an optional mode has a different price. The largest number in an advertisement can describe a potential state rather than the usual starting arrangement.

The count also does not show a one-in-a-number winning probability. A large number of positional combinations still needs suitable symbols, qualifying adjacent reels and the paytable’s minimum match. A layout can have many possible ways while producing no paying result.

Possible ways versus actual winning combinations

Read where matching sequences must begin, which direction is evaluated and how many consecutive reels are required. A symbol on the first and third reels may not form a qualifying sequence if the second reel breaks it. Scatter and other special-symbol rules can operate differently from ordinary combinations.

For a simplified illustration, suppose a game pays every qualifying three-reel combination of a particular symbol, and that symbol appears three times on the first reel, twice on the second and once on the third. Those positions can form 3 × 2 × 1 = six three-reel combinations before applying the game’s other rules.

That illustration does not establish a universal payout formula for every release. Check the treatment of longer sequences, wild substitutions and overlapping combinations. If the symbol continues onto later reels, the game may apply its stated longest-win rule rather than paying every shorter length again.

Also establish the prize unit. A paytable value may refer to a multiple of the total stake or another defined amount. Read how the award per qualifying combination and the number of combinations produce the settled result. A ways count and a stake multiple answer different questions.

Compare the final round total with the full stake. A hypothetical forty-cent round returning fifteen cents has a twenty-five-cent net loss, even though at least one paying combination occurred. Celebrations and individual win panels should not replace the balance calculation.

Three examples with different feature designs

These are provider examples, not claims based on personally funding accounts or testing payouts. Search the actual operator lobby for the complete game name and provider. A Megaways catalogue entry does not confirm availability for every account, location or device.

Keep editions separate. The original title, its Megaways version and a later numbered or special release can use different layouts and multipliers. Familiar characters and similar artwork do not establish identical rules. Use the information screen belonging to the version actually loaded.

Cascades and several stages within one paid round

Where a game uses cascades, reactions or Avalanches, winning symbols can disappear and replacement symbols can arrive. Further qualifying results may continue the sequence. This is a feature to verify in the particular game, rather than an assumption to apply to every Megaways release.

Red Tiger explains that Gonzo’s Quest Megaways continues its Avalanches until there are no more wins. Other titles can have different stopping conditions, replacement rules or persistent symbols. Check whether a counter describes cascades, free spins or newly purchased rounds.

A hypothetical fifty-cent paid round returning twenty cents, eighty cents and thirty cents across three stages has a combined return of $1.30. Subtracting the original fifty-cent cost gives an eighty-cent net gain, assuming no other charges. The three stages are not automatically three separate stake deductions.

Watch for cumulative displays. A final sequence total may already include earlier stage awards, so adding that total to the stages again would count the same return twice. Use the settled round record when checking the result.

Check when the layout and any multiplier reset. A value can persist within a cascade sequence and then return to its starting state for the next paid round. A different feature may retain state under its own rules. The animation alone does not establish persistence beyond the condition stated.

Wild symbols and multiplier calculations

Wilds substitute for eligible symbols under the paytable’s rules. Read any excluded symbols, reel restrictions and mode changes. A multiplier wild can modify a qualifying award, but the presence of several wilds does not establish how their values combine.

Some rules add multiplier values, others multiply them, and another system might apply a multiplier to a whole sequence. For illustration, adding 2× and 3× produces 5×, while multiplying them produces 6×. Those different results show why a familiar symbol is insufficient to determine the calculation.

A sticky wild can remain for a specified duration, such as the rest of a free-spin feature. Check how it behaves if reel height changes, whether it occupies a position or reel, and when it disappears. A persistent symbol does not necessarily mean every future round will contain it.

A rising multiplier also needs a defined trigger. Read whether it advances after a winning stage, a collected symbol or another event, and which awards it modifies. Do not apply a base-game multiplier schedule to a free-spin mode without checking that mode’s separate rules.

Free-spin triggers, feature choices and retriggers

Read the required special symbols, their eligible positions and the number of spins awarded. These conditions vary by game and edition. A scatter rule from another title, an old release announcement or a video of a different version should not replace the loaded paytable.

Where a feature offers a choice, compare what changes: initial spins, wild behaviour, multiplier rules or the layout. A mode awarding more spins does not automatically have a higher theoretical return or a better likely personal result. Use any supplied explanation rather than judging the choice by the number alone.

In-game free spins are different from a casino promotion that allocates a set of spins through an account offer. The game feature follows its own trigger and stake rules; the promotion can impose eligibility, expiry and winnings conditions. Our free-spin promotion guide explains that separate product.

Check retrigger limits and feature end conditions. A feature can return less than the paid round or purchase associated with entering it. The absence of a feature in a short sample is not evidence that the next random round must provide one.

RTP, volatility and the ways count are separate properties

RTP describes a theoretical long-run return, not the expected refund on one deposit or a prediction for the next round. BetMGM’s RTP explanation identifies the loaded game’s information as the current reference and explains why individual sessions can differ substantially.

The Megaways name does not establish one return figure across all providers and configurations. Check the exact title, version and selected mode. Our RTP guide and high-RTP comparison explain how to interpret the value without treating it as a personal guarantee.

Volatility concerns the variation in returns. A large maximum prize and a high theoretical return do not establish how often a meaningful return occurs in one session. Our volatility guide and separate higher and lower-volatility pages explain those distinctions.

Increasing the visible ways count does not, by itself, give a complete probability comparison between different games. Symbol distributions, awards, feature states and costs also matter. Two games displaying the same maximum ways can have different prize structures and overall mathematical properties.

A recent run of wins, losses or small layouts does not make a larger personal return due. Where a game has a defined persistent feature state, read its actual effect rather than extending ordinary random-outcome assumptions to that state.

Total stakes, extra modes and purchased features

The ways count is generally an output of the layout, rather than an instruction to purchase each possible combination separately. Still, check the full stake displayed for the next action. A title can offer extra modes or feature prices that change the amount charged.

A hypothetical feature costing eighty times a twenty-cent base stake has a purchase price of $16. A $6 return from that feature would leave a $10 net loss on the purchase. The base-stake label alone is therefore insufficient when confirming the cost.

Our bonus-buy guide covers feature purchases. Availability can vary by operator and version, and buying entry does not guarantee recovery of the price. A feature described on a provider website may not be enabled in every implementation.

Separate cumulative stakes from deposits and losses. Three hundred hypothetical twenty-cent paid rounds represent $60 in total stakes if the balance lasts that long. Reused returns can form part of that turnover; it does not establish that $60 was deposited or lost.

Set time and spending limits independently of the current reel layout or feature counter. Faster animations can permit more paid rounds within the same period without improving the underlying rules. A quiet sample is not a reason to increase the next stake.

Use a demo to understand the interface

A clearly identified virtual-credit demo can help locate the paytable, ways indicator and feature explanations. Inspect how reel heights affect the displayed count and how completed results are recorded. Virtual winnings are separate from withdrawable money, even where a currency symbol appears.

A short demo is not a reliable estimate of RTP, feature probability or future cash outcomes. Seeing the maximum layout or a large feature several times does not show that another session will repeat that pattern. Demonstration and cash versions also need matching title and mode checks.

The free-pokies guide explains virtual play and promotional terminology. If the aim is to understand a control, there is no need to use a cash session as a test. Read the rules or seek clarification where the full cost is not clear.

Megaways controls on a mobile screen

A changing six-reel layout can make symbols and labels small on a phone. Check that the total stake, currency, ways count and feature cost remain readable. Open information panels to inspect the complete rules instead of relying on a cropped lobby banner.

After changing orientation, modes or devices, confirm the selected stake before the next paid action. Distinguish the ways indicator from the bet control. They can sit near each other while describing different quantities.

If the animation stalls, inspect completed-round history before repeatedly submitting the same action. Keep the game name, time and round reference for support. Our mobile hub and browser-play guide explain device and access checks.

Megaways games and casino bonus conditions

A game in the general lobby is not automatically eligible for every promotion. Check the offer’s game list, wagering contribution, prohibited modes and maximum stake. A high return figure or large ways count does not override those account conditions.

Read how a feature purchase or extra-bet mode is treated. Its full charge can differ substantially from the ordinary base stake. A game contributing zero toward wagering and a game prohibited during a promotion describe different restrictions, so inspect the actual wording.

Our bonus-terms guide, wagering comparison and wagering calculator explain those conditions. Completing a turnover calculation does not guarantee that the balance will last or become withdrawable.

A practical Megaways comparison checklist

• Identity: provider, full title, edition and mode actually loaded.
• Win rules: layout calculation, qualifying reels, minimum matches and payout units.
• Features: cascades if present, wild behaviour, multiplier calculations and reset points.
• Price: full ordinary stake, optional modes and any feature-purchase charge.
• Account conditions: bonus eligibility, contribution, stake limits and withdrawal treatment.

Use the software hub, Big Time Gaming guide and Pragmatic Play guide to distinguish provider families. A common mechanic does not make every game’s rules identical, nor does it imply a progressive jackpot.

Casino offers listed on this site

The following table uses the site’s existing welcome offers. Check each operator’s actual game selection for the complete Megaways title and read its promotional eligibility. These packages do not establish availability of every provider example above.

Casino offers, bonus codes, key conditions and affiliate links

Casino	Welcome offers — check Megaways availability and bonus conditions	Casino link
Fair Go Casino	100% up to $200 per deposit Code: WELCOME Minimum $20 deposit. 30x (deposit + bonus) wagering; $10 maximum bonus bet. Redeem on the first five qualifying deposits for up to $1,000 in total bonus funds.	View offer
Ozwin Casino	400% up to $4,000 + 100 free spins Code: OZWELCOME-B / OZWELCOME-C Two 200% matches up to $2,000 plus 50 spins each. Minimum $20 deposit; general wagering is 35x (deposit + bonus), with a $10 maximum bonus bet. Spin and coupon conditions apply.	View offer
Ripper Casino	150% up to $1,500 on your first deposit Code: RIPPER150 Minimum $20. 30x (deposit + bonus) wagering; $5 maximum bonus bet for non-VIPs; 20x bonus cashout cap; 72-hour expiry. Up to $7,500 across the four-deposit welcome package.	View offer
Uptown Pokies	250% welcome bonus up to $2,500 Code: UNPACK First deposit only; minimum $25. 30x (deposit + bonus) wagering and $10 maximum bonus bet. The UNPACK promotion advertises no bonus cashout cap; account withdrawal limits still apply.	View offer

Our welcome-bonus guide explains package stages and coupon conditions, including the difference between Ozwin’s specific welcome FAQ and its general wagering default. The casino directory covers operators, while the withdrawals guide explains payment stages beyond a game result.

Keep any cash play within independent spending and time limits. A high ways count, recent feature or large maximum award is not a reason to recover losses through further rounds. Visit responsible gambling and support for limit tools and support information.

Megaways FAQs

What is Megaways?

It is a slot mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming and licensed to other developers. Changing reel layouts produce different numbers of possible symbol combinations. The label does not establish one provider, return setting, volatility level or feature sequence for every game using it.

How is 117,649 Megaways calculated?

For a six-reel layout with seven eligible positions on every reel, multiplying seven by itself six times gives 117,649 possible positional combinations. The exact calculation depends on the game's layout rules. The figure is not a count of guaranteed prizes or the probability of a personal win.

Does every paid round have the maximum ways?

Not necessarily. A changing layout can display fewer positions and a lower count, while a particular feature or optional mode may behave differently. Check the loaded game's rules and price. An advertised maximum can describe a possible state rather than the next ordinary round.

Are Megaways the same as fixed paylines?

They describe a different way of evaluating combinations across eligible reel positions rather than following individually drawn paths. Read the starting reel, direction, required matching length and special-symbol exceptions. A large ways count does not remove the need for a qualifying symbol result.

Do all Megaways games use cascades?

Do not assume that they do. Cascades, reactions and Avalanches are features to verify in the individual title. Where present, one paid round can contain several replacement stages and accumulated returns. Check the stopping rule, reset conditions and whether a result display is cumulative.

Do multiple wild multipliers always multiply together?

No universal calculation should be assumed. A game can add values, multiply them or apply a multiplier to a defined stage or whole sequence. Read the specific rules and exclusions. For illustration, adding two and three gives five, while multiplying them gives six.

Does a higher ways count guarantee a win?

No. Suitable symbols still need to appear under the paytable's conditions. The layout count alone does not establish the probability of profit, the RTP or the volatility. A paying round can also return less than its full stake, leaving a net loss.

Is every Megaways game configured with the same RTP?

No single return figure follows from the mechanic's name. Check the exact provider, title, version and selected mode in the loaded game's information. RTP describes a theoretical long-run return and does not predict the result of an individual deposit, round or session.

Does a bonus buy cost only the base stake?

A feature can cost a multiple of that stake. A hypothetical purchase priced at eighty times twenty cents costs $16. Check the complete price and relevant promotional restrictions. Entry to a feature does not guarantee a return equal to or greater than its purchase price.

Can every Megaways game be played with bonus funds?

Only where the specific promotion permits it. Check the eligible games, wagering contribution, maximum stake and excluded modes, including purchased features. A title appearing in the general lobby does not establish bonus eligibility, and its ordinary stake range does not override the account offer's rules.