Megaways Slots Explained

The Megaways mechanic is a reel layout that uses varying numbers of symbols on each spin to change the number of ways to win. On each spin, the reel heights on a 6-reel layout adjust randomly, creating different combinations of ways.

How Megaways Reels Work

The Megaways mechanic gets its name from its ability to change the number of ways to win with every spin of the reels. Each of the six reels can land with between 2 and 7 symbols, which can lead to up to 117,649 ways to win. Whether this is advantageous for the player is actually debatable, as the fact that your number of ways is changing and sometimes decreasing actually makes the wins less predictable.

The number of ways to win is the product of the visible symbols on each reel. For instance, if reels 1, 3, 5, and 6 display 3 symbols, and reels 2 and 4 display 6 symbols, the number of ways to win is 3 × 6 × 3 × 6 × 3 × 3 = 2,916. The random number generator picks each reel size independently on every spin.

Who Created It and Why It Spread

Big Time Gaming first used the Megaways mechanic, which causes each reel to randomly change its number of symbols, creating a different number of ways with each spin of the reels, in 2016.

Big Time Gaming runs the Megaways mechanic on its own games and has licensed it to other studios such as Blueprint Gaming, expanding its reach. Other licensed titles followed.

What the Number Means for Play

The headline of "Megaways" means very different things depending on the configuration of the slot game with this mechanic. There's nothing to suggest that a bigger number means a guaranteed win, though generally the more moving parts, the more immersive a slot will feel.

If all six reels on a Megaways slot reveal seven visible symbols, then the calculation is 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649, the maximum ways figure for a 6-reel Megaways slot. On most spins the count is far lower.

Judging a Megaways slot does not stop at the word "Megaways" in its name. That's just part of the design of the slot, and you can't assume anything about the game because it says "Megaways". You need to look at the rest of the slot in general: the reels that it has, the bonus features, the RTP and volatility in its info panel. Gambling is for adults only and costs money; deposit limits and help services are there if you need them.