Megaways is a patented slot mechanic from Big Time Gaming (BTG) that generates thousands of ways to win on every spin. It's become one of the most popular slot formats in Ireland — here's what you need to know.
How Megaways Works
Standard slots have fixed paylines (10, 20, 243). Megaways reels change height on every spin — typically 2–7 symbols per reel. With 6 reels at maximum height (7 each), that's 7⁶ = 117,649 ways to win. The changing reel sizes are determined by an RNG on each spin.
Popular Megaways Slots
- Bonanza Megaways (BTG) — The original; gold mine theme with cascading reels
- Extra Chilli Megaways (BTG) — Buy-the-bonus feature
- Big Bass Bonanza Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
- Reel King Megaways (Red Tiger)
- Fishin' Frenzy Megaways (Blueprint Gaming)
- Pirates Plenty Megaways (Red Tiger)
Megaways Volatility
Megaways slots are typically high to very high volatility. The expanding reel mechanic creates the potential for enormous winning spins (Bonanza can produce 10,000x+ pays) but also means long dry spells. Your bankroll needs to be sufficient to ride variance to the bonus round. Low bankrolls are quickly depleted on high-volatility Megaways games.
Buy Bonus Feature
Many Megaways games include a "Buy Bonus" or "Feature Buy" option, letting you skip to the free spins round for 50x–100x your stake. This provides instant access to the high-variance bonus. Some regulators (notably the UKGC for UK players) have restrictions on bonus buys — check if the feature is available in Ireland at your chosen casino.
Megaways Licence: BTG and Third-Party Developers
Big Time Gaming licenses the Megaways mechanic to other developers (Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, Blueprint). This means Megaways is now available from dozens of developers. Quality and RTP vary — the BTG originals remain among the best-regarded.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Megaways Slots: How the Mechanic Works
| Game | Provider | Max Megaways | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | BTG | 117,649 | 96% |
| White Rabbit Megaways | BTG | 248,832 | 97.72% |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | BTG | 117,649 | 96.26% |
| Gonzo's Quest Megaways | NetEnt/BTG | 117,649 | 96% |
| Primal Megaways | BTG | 117,649 | 96.33% |
What Megaways Means for Players in Ireland
Megaways is a slot mechanic licensed by Big Time Gaming (BTG) to other providers. Each spin randomly assigns 2–7 symbols per reel, generating between a few thousand and over 100,000 ways to win on any given spin. The huge win-ways count means significant volatility — most spins return nothing, but cascading wins during free spins can generate large multipliers.
- Volatility warning: Megaways slots are very high volatility — bankroll swings are dramatic; bet small relative to your budget
- RTP varies by casino: some operators configure lower-RTP variants of the same game — check the in-game info screen for the specific RTP before playing
- Bonus feature: most Megaways games have a free spins feature with unlimited win multipliers — the base game is a vehicle to reach this feature
- 18+: set a session limit before playing high-volatility slots. Help at gamblingcare.ie or freephone 1800 753 753.
Megaways is a patented slot mechanic from Big Time Gaming where reel heights change randomly on each spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win. It's licensed to other developers, so Megaways slots come from multiple providers.
Yes, almost universally. Megaways slots are designed for large but infrequent wins. Expect variance — session results can range from significant losses to massive wins within the same number of spins.
Bonus Buy (or Feature Buy) lets you pay 50x–100x your stake to immediately trigger the free spins round, bypassing the base game. This is available on many Megaways titles; availability depends on your jurisdiction and casino.
No. GRAI issued only remote betting licences in 2026. Casino gaming licences are expected 2027–2028. Irish Megaways players use MGA, UKGC, or Gibraltar-licensed casinos.
Written by Mark Craic, editor at CraicBet with 8 years in gambling analytics. See how we review.