Thanks to technological advances, the online casino slot scene has seen the advent of several exciting innovations that have transformed the way we play the game.
One such innovation that’s taken the online casino world by storm is the Megaways mechanism, a unique feature that deviates from the standard payline system in slots. Instead of the usual 10, 20, or even 30 payline games, Megaways slots provide players with hundreds to thousands of different winning ways. This creates opportunities for more wins.
This brief Megaways slots guide explores what they are, how they work, and the top Megaways titles to play online.
What is Megaways Slot
Megaways slot is a special type of slot game that utilizes the unique Megaways reel modifier invented by Big Time Gaming. The mechanism changes the number of rows and symbols available on the reels of slot games, increasing the range from the standard 3-row limit. It deviates from the standard fixed reels and rows system of traditional slot games with around 10-50 paylines.
This concept creates a bigger playing grid for players, resulting in a massive increase in the number of winning ways available. With Megaways slots, players usually get anywhere from 243 up to 117,649 different ways to win on each game spin. Each of these games comes with its unique themes, gameplay, payout rules, and bonus features like wilds, scatters, free spins, and more. You can click here to find some exciting Megaways slot titles to play in demo mode or for real money.
How Do Megaways Slots Work?
Megaways slot essentially works like any traditional game —you win by landing matching symbols on your reels, usually from left to right. And the more winning symbols you get, the higher your payout.
Besides offering up to 117,649 ways to win, another distinct feature of the inner workings of Megaways slot is its symbol dynamic modifying reels. Instead of the usual fixed number of rows across the reels, you get a varied system with changing symbols. This changes the number of rows on each reel after every spin, usually between 2 and 7 or more. For example, you can have 2, 3, 6, 7, and 4 rows/symbols, respectively, on each reel of a 5-reel Megaways slot after one spin and something entirely different on the next spin.
Powered by the random number generator (RNG) technology, the number of symbols that appeal on a game’s reels will determine the winning ways available after every spin.
Calculating the Number of Ways to Win in Megaways Slots
Some Megaways slots will show you the number of ways to win players can win from the game. But, if you want to calculate this number yourself, you simply need to multiply the number of symbols available on each reel. For example, if you get seven symbols in every reel in a 7-reel Megaways slot, you get 117,649 ways to win (i.e., 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7).
Top Megaways Titles Available Online
Seeing the immense potential of Megaways slots, many software providers have been adopting the technique to develop different unique and exciting titles. Today, there are loads of such slot titles available to players online. The table below shows some of the best options.
| Megaways Slot | Provider | Reels | Rows | Winning ways |
| Bonanza | Big Time Gaming | 6 | 2-7 | 117,649 |
| Buffalo Rising | Blueprint Gaming | 6 | 2-7 | 117,649 |
| Gonzo’s Quest | NetEnt | 6 | 2-7 | 117,649 |
| White Rabbit | Big Time Gaming | 6 | 2-12 | 248,832 |
| Big Bass Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 6 | 2-6 | 46,656 |
Closing Thoughts
Megaways slots provide players with a unique mechanism that significantly increases the number of winning combinations they can trigger. As a result, these innovative titles have grown very popular in the online casino scene in recent years. From casual gamers to serious gamblers, they offer everyone an unmissable, thrilling experience.
