Megaways
What is Megaways?
Megaways is a patented mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming in which the number of symbols on each reel changes randomly with every spin, altering the number of available ways to win in real time. A typical 6-reel setup can offer up to 117,649 ways to win depending on how tall each reel lands on that spin.
How the mechanic works
On each spin, every reel displays a random number of symbols, typically between 2 and 7. The total ways to win is the product of those heights across all reels. This variability creates a different experience on every spin and means the exact number of evaluated combinations is never known in advance.
Popularity and licensing
Megaways is a trademark of Big Time Gaming, which licenses the mechanic to other studios such as Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, and Blueprint Gaming. Many popular games use this mechanic under license, each adding their own bonus rules and features on top of the base engine.
Megaways and volatility
Megaways games are generally rated high volatility. A high number of ways to win does not guarantee frequent wins: large payouts are rare but can be significant, especially during free spins rounds featuring progressive multipliers.