Guide · Updated July 2026
Megaways is a licensed slot mechanic originally developed and patented by Big Time Gaming, a software studio that made its engine available for other providers to license into their own titles — which is why you'll see "Megaways" attached to slots from a range of different studios rather than being exclusive to one. What makes it distinct from a standard slot isn't the theme or artwork layered on top, but the underlying reel structure itself: instead of a fixed number of symbol positions on each reel, a Megaways title uses reels that can display a different number of symbols on every single spin, which directly changes how many possible winning combinations exist for that spin.
This variability is the entire point of the mechanic. A standard five-reel, three-row slot has a fixed number of paylines because every reel always shows the same number of symbols. A Megaways title breaks that fixed structure — each reel can independently display anywhere from two to seven symbols on a given spin, and the total number of "ways to win" is calculated by multiplying the symbol count across all reels together. At its maximum reel height across a typical six-reel Megaways configuration, that multiplication produces the mechanic's signature headline figure: up to 117,649 ways to win on a single spin.
How it works
Before symbols land, the game randomly determines how many symbol positions each individual reel will display for that spin — typically between two and seven per reel, independently of the other reels.
Symbols then populate the grid according to those randomly set reel heights, meaning the grid's total shape can look completely different from one spin to the next.
The total number of ways to win for that spin is calculated by multiplying the number of symbols across each reel together — taller reels on more columns produce a dramatically higher ways-to-win figure.
A win forms when matching symbols land on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel, regardless of their vertical position within each reel — the "ways to win" system, rather than fixed paylines, determines what counts as a winning combination.
Most Megaways games also use a tumbling mechanic, similar to the one covered in our Gates of Olympus guide, where winning symbols are removed and replaced, potentially triggering new reel heights and new ways-to-win totals with each tumble.
The 117,649 figure comes directly from the maximum mathematical combination of a typical six-reel Megaways configuration, where each reel can display up to seven symbols at its tallest: seven multiplied by itself six times (7 to the power of 6) equals 117,649. That's the theoretical ceiling — the number of ways to win when every single reel happens to land at its maximum height simultaneously on the same spin, which is itself a comparatively rare event given how the reel heights are randomly determined independently for each column.
In practice, most spins on a Megaways title land with a mix of shorter and taller reels, producing a ways-to-win figure well below the maximum — sometimes just a few hundred or a few thousand ways, other times climbing into the tens of thousands. The displayed ways-to-win number typically updates and is shown on screen for every individual spin, which is part of what makes the mechanic feel dynamic compared to a standard slot's fixed paylines that never change from spin to spin. Not every licensed Megaways title uses exactly six reels or a maximum of seven symbols per reel — some configurations differ slightly by title, which changes the specific maximum ways-to-win figure for that particular game, so 117,649 should be understood as the mechanic's famous headline maximum rather than a universal constant across every Megaways title.
Mzansi Pro-Tip
Don't judge a Megaways spin's potential purely from its ways-to-win number displayed at the start of the round — because most titles pair the engine with a tumbling mechanic, a spin that starts with a modest ways-to-win figure can still chain through several tumbles, with reel heights reshuffling and potentially growing between each one, meaning the final outcome of a single spin can look very different from how it started.
Because Megaways titles are typically high volatility given the huge combination space they can generate, apply the same staking discipline you would with any high-volatility slot — size your bet so your balance can realistically absorb 100+ spins. See our high-volatility slots guide for that framework in detail.
Against a straightforward cluster pays title like Sweet Bonanza, Megaways generates its win potential through a completely different structural approach — cluster pays rewards matching symbol groups anywhere on a fixed grid, while Megaways rewards matching symbols across adjacent columns regardless of vertical position, with the number of possible ways changing every spin due to variable reel heights. See our Sweet Bonanza guide and cluster pays vs. payline slots guide for how that different mechanic works. Against a traditional fixed-payline slot, the difference is even starker — a classic fruit slot might offer a handful of fixed paylines that never change, while a Megaways title's win potential can swing by orders of magnitude from one spin to the next. See our fruit slots guide for that simpler end of the spectrum.
Megaways titles are also frequently applied to established themes rather than existing as a standalone genre — you'll find Megaways versions of Egyptian-themed slots, fruit-themed classics reimagined with the mechanic, and branded titles all built on the same underlying engine. The theme tells you very little about whether a game uses Megaways; you need to check the specific title's mechanic description or in-game information panel to confirm.
A frequent mistake is assuming every Megaways title offers exactly 117,649 maximum ways to win — the specific maximum depends on that title's exact reel configuration, and while 117,649 is the mechanic's most famous and commonly cited figure, some titles use different reel counts or maximum symbol heights that produce a different ceiling. Always check the specific game's information panel rather than assuming the headline number applies universally.
A second mistake is treating a high displayed ways-to-win number as guaranteeing a big win on that spin — the ways-to-win figure describes how many possible winning combinations exist, not how many will actually land matching symbols; a spin with 50,000 ways can still resolve with no win at all if the right symbols simply don't line up. A third mistake, relevant to bankroll planning, is not recognising that Megaways titles are generally high volatility as a category — the sheer size of the combination space tends to correlate with bigger swings between dry spells and significant wins, so budgeting and bet sizing should follow the same high-volatility approach used for titles like Gates of Olympus.
The constantly changing reel heights and large ways-to-win figures in Megaways titles are designed to feel dynamic and exciting on every spin — set a firm session budget before you start and treat it as entertainment spend rather than an investment. Use your casino's deposit or loss limit tools if the shifting visual complexity of the mechanic makes it easy to lose track of how much you've spent during a session. Free, confidential support is available around the clock from the National Responsible Gambling Programme on 0800 006 008. Read our full responsible gambling guide, and see our main online slots guide, slot volatility guide and the MzansiSpins guides hub for more.
Before you spin
Megaways is a licensed slot engine, originally from Big Time Gaming, that uses reels with a variable number of symbols on each spin rather than a fixed reel structure, generating a different number of ways to win every round.
That figure comes from a typical six-reel Megaways configuration where each reel can display up to seven symbols at its tallest — seven to the power of six equals 117,649, the mechanic's theoretical maximum.
No. That's the mechanic's most famous headline figure, but the specific maximum depends on each title's exact reel count and maximum symbol height, which can vary between games.
Big Time Gaming developed and patented the Megaways engine, then made it available for other software studios to license into their own titles, which is why it now appears across games from multiple providers.
Generally, yes — the large combination space typical of the mechanic tends to correlate with higher volatility, meaning longer stretches between significant wins interrupted by potentially larger payouts.
No — Megaways titles use a "ways to win" system based on matching symbols across adjacent reels regardless of vertical position, rather than fixed paylines running through specific symbol positions.
Most do, though it's not a strict requirement of the engine itself. Many Megaways titles pair the variable reel mechanic with a tumbling or cascading feature that can chain further wins from a single spin.
A higher figure means more possible winning combinations exist on that spin, but it doesn't guarantee a win or a larger payout — the actual symbols that land still determine the outcome.