Slot Machine Megaways Explained
Megaways is a patented reel engine developed by Big Time Gaming (BTG) that fundamentally changed how slot machines generate ways to win. Unlike fixed payline or standard ways-to-win machines, a Megaways game shows a different number of symbols on each reel with every spin — meaning the total ways to win is never the same twice. Understanding the mechanics, the cascading win system, and the AP implications will help you evaluate Megaways machines on casino floors accurately.
How Megaways Works
The Megaways engine uses a random reel modifier that determines, at the moment of each spin, how many symbols will appear on each reel. On a 6-reel Megaways game, each reel independently displays between 2 and 7 symbols per spin. The total ways to win for that spin equals the product of the symbol counts across all reels:
Ways = reel 1 symbols × reel 2 symbols × reel 3 symbols × reel 4 symbols × reel 5 symbols × reel 6 symbols
At maximum — all six reels simultaneously showing 7 symbols — this produces 76 = 117,649 ways. At minimum — all reels showing 2 symbols — this produces 26 = 64 ways. On most spins the ways count falls somewhere in between.
- No fixed paylines. Any matching symbols on consecutive reels starting from the leftmost reel pay out, regardless of which row they occupy. Adjacency left-to-right is the only requirement.
- Variable reel height every spin. The number of symbols each reel displays changes independently on every spin. A reel showing 7 symbols one spin may show 3 the next.
- Maximum 117,649 ways on a 6-reel game. This is a theoretical maximum reached only when all reels hit their 7-symbol peak simultaneously.
- Cascading wins are standard. Winning symbols are removed from the reels after a win, remaining symbols fall down, and new symbols drop in from above. The cascade continues until no new wins form.
- High volatility by design. Long losing stretches followed by large chain-win events are inherent to the format. Megaways games are not low-variance machines.
- Licensed broadly. BTG licensed Megaways to many providers — NetEnt, Red Tiger, Blueprint, Pragmatic Play, and major US cabinet manufacturers including IGT, Aristocrat, and Scientific Games all hold licenses.
Identifying Megaways on the floor: Look for the word “Megaways” on the cabinet glass or game title screen. The ways counter displayed during play will fluctuate with each spin rather than showing a static number. If the ways count changes visibly from spin to spin, the Megaways engine is active.
AP Considerations for Megaways
Megaways machines are not inherently advantage-play targets due to their reel format alone. The AP opportunity, when it exists, comes from specific jackpot structures or bonus states layered on top of the Megaways engine. Key factors to evaluate:
- Must-hit-by progressives. Some Megaways cabinets in US casinos carry a must-hit-by jackpot that is guaranteed to trigger before a stated ceiling. When the meter climbs close to the must-hit ceiling, the machine may be +EV. The Megaways engine itself does not affect this calculation — evaluate the jackpot level and must-hit threshold independently of the reel format.
- Free spins bonus with multiplier. The free spins bonus is the primary high-variance event on every Megaways game. During free spins, most Megaways titles apply an increasing win multiplier to each successive cascade within a single spin — starting at 1x and increasing by 1 (or more) with every cascade. Some titles feature an unlimited multiplier, meaning a long cascade chain can produce wins at 20x, 50x, or higher. The free spins trigger itself is infrequent, which is the source of the game's variance.
- Base game RTP. Typical Megaways base RTP is 94–96%. This is acceptable but not exceptional. For pure AP purposes, base RTP is less relevant than jackpot EV — but it affects how much you spend reaching a jackpot trigger event.
- Bankroll requirements are elevated. High volatility means longer losing runs between significant wins. If you are playing a Megaways machine for a +EV jackpot opportunity, budget for more variance than you would on a lower-volatility target. Session bankroll requirements are higher per dollar of expected edge.
- US casino deployment. IGT, Aristocrat, and Scientific Games (Light & Wonder) have all deployed licensed Megaways titles in US tribal and commercial casinos. The specific titles vary by property; check the game glass or help screen to confirm the Megaways engine is present rather than a similar-looking variable-ways game from another system.
When evaluating a specific Megaways title for AP play, work through the following in order:
- Confirm whether the machine carries a must-hit-by or mystery jackpot. If yes, note the current meter and the must-hit ceiling.
- Calculate the cost per spin at your intended bet level. Megaways machines often have denomination structures that make per-spin cost higher than it appears on screen.
- Determine whether a jackpot ante or bonus bet is required to qualify for the top jackpot. If yes, your true per-spin cost includes that ante.
- Estimate EV using the jackpot level, must-hit ceiling, and your per-spin cost. The Megaways engine itself does not change this calculation — it affects variance, not the jackpot math.
- Account for elevated variance in your session bankroll. A Megaways machine at the same EV as a lower-volatility target requires a larger bankroll to confidently hold through the session.
Cascade multiplier note: The unlimited multiplier during free spins is what produces the headline win amounts on Megaways titles. Each cascade within a single free spin increments the multiplier, so a spin that generates 10 consecutive cascades at 10x+ can produce outsized payouts relative to the base bet. This mechanic is built into the published RTP — it is not an additional edge, but it does explain the game's volatility profile and why average win-per-bonus-round has a wide distribution.
Access all 150+ machine guides — including Megaways titles and must-hit-by progressives — with AP trigger levels, per-spin cost breakdowns, and jackpot EV analysis to identify when specific machines are worth playing.
View Membership OptionsFrequently Asked Questions
What is Megaways on a slot machine?
Megaways is a patented reel engine developed by Big Time Gaming (BTG) that generates a variable number of symbols on each reel with every spin. Because each reel can show a different number of symbols (typically 2 to 7), the total ways to win changes on every spin — ranging from a handful up to a maximum of 117,649 on a standard 6-reel Megaways game. There are no fixed paylines; any matching symbols on consecutive reels from left to right produce a win regardless of row position.
How does the Megaways engine calculate ways to win?
Ways to win on a Megaways spin equals the product of the symbol counts shown on each reel for that spin. If a 6-reel Megaways game shows 7 symbols on every reel simultaneously, that spin has 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways. If the same game shows 2 symbols on reel 1 and varying counts on the others, the total is much lower. The maximum of 117,649 ways only occurs when all six reels simultaneously display their maximum of 7 symbols — which is relatively rare and is usually celebrated with a sound effect or animation.
What are cascading wins on a Megaways slot?
Cascading wins (also called avalanche wins or tumbling reels) are standard on virtually all Megaways titles. When a winning combination lands, the winning symbols are removed from the reels and the remaining symbols fall down to fill the gaps. New symbols then drop in from above to fill any empty spaces, potentially creating new winning combinations. This cascade continues until no new wins occur. During free spins, many Megaways games apply an increasing win multiplier to each successive cascade in the same spin — this multiplier mechanic is the primary driver of the largest wins in Megaways bonus rounds.
Are Megaways machines available in US casinos?
Yes. Big Time Gaming licensed the Megaways engine broadly, and several major US casino manufacturers hold licenses. IGT, Aristocrat, and Scientific Games (now Light & Wonder) all have Megaways-branded or Megaways-powered titles deployed in US tribal and commercial casinos. The presence of the Megaways label on a physical cabinet indicates the variable-reel engine is active. Because the US land-based market uses different game approval processes than online, not every online Megaways title translates to the physical casino floor, but the engine itself is well-established in US venues.
What should AP players look for on Megaways machines?
For advantage play, the most important Megaways considerations are: (1) Must-hit-by progressives — some Megaways cabinets carry must-hit-by jackpots that become +EV once the meter reaches a threshold close to the must-hit ceiling. (2) Free spins bonus features — the free spins round with a multiplier that grows on each cascade is the high-variance event; machines with a bonus buy feature in legal markets allow direct entry, but in US casinos you must trigger naturally. (3) Base game RTP — typical Megaways base RTP is 94–96%, which is acceptable but not exceptional; the EV edge comes from elevated jackpot states, not from the base RTP alone. (4) Volatility — Megaways games are high variance, meaning long losing runs are normal; bankroll requirements are higher than for lower-volatility AP targets.
Ready to dig deeper? Browse all AP guides or read the ways-to-win guide to understand how standard fixed ways-to-win machines differ from the Megaways variable engine.