Megaways pokies change the number of symbol positions on the reels, creating a different set of possible winning combinations from one spin to the next. The format is associated with Big Time Gaming and appears in games with very different themes, features and payout profiles.
The important number is not simply the largest ways figure in an advert. To understand a game, look at how symbols connect, what happens after a win and how its stake, free-spin rules and mathematical configuration fit together.
What changes on a Megaways spin?
In a conventional fixed-line pokie, winning symbols must follow one of the specified paths. A ways game usually evaluates matching symbols on adjacent reels without requiring them to occupy a drawn line. Megaways adds a changing reel layout to that idea.
The number of visible positions can vary across reels. The game then displays the resulting ways count for that layout. The precise reel arrangement, required starting reel, minimum matching length and treatment of special symbols all depend on the title’s rules.
Changing reel heights
A reel may show more or fewer symbol positions on different spins. The current layout determines its ways count; the advertised maximum is not present on every round.
Adjacent-reel wins
Read where a combination must start and how many consecutive reels it must cover. A matching symbol somewhere on the screen does not automatically form a paying combination.
Game-specific features
Cascades, extra reels, multipliers and feature purchases can accompany the format. Their rules are separate from the basic ways calculation, and are not identical in every game.
For a simpler comparison, see three-reel classic pokies and five-reel video pokies. The how-to-play guide explains stakes, paytables and common symbols.
How the ways calculation works
For a straightforward six-reel example, multiply the number of eligible positions on each reel. A layout with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 positions has 5,040 possible full-width combinations: 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7.
Why 117,649 appears so often
Seven positions across each of six reels gives 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649. That describes combinations for the layout. It does not mean 117,649 wins, a 117,649-to-one jackpot, or a guaranteed payment on that spin.
The count is not a measure of profit. To produce a particular win, the required symbols still have to appear under the paytable rules. Duplicate matching symbols on a reel can create several combinations, but the game must evaluate their actual positions, special symbols and payouts.
Some titles add an extra reel or use special feature layouts, so do not force every screen into this simple example. Use the game’s help page for its calculation. More displayed ways can change the opportunities within a round without establishing a higher overall RTP or a better result for your session.
Cascades and multipliers: follow the whole sequence
Many games in this category remove winning symbols and replace them, allowing a sequence to continue without a separate paid spin at each replacement. These sequences may be called cascades, reactions or another title-specific name.
A cascade chain belongs to a round governed by the game’s rules. Check whether its multiplier increases, whether a non-winning replacement ends it and when the multiplier resets. A free-spin feature may preserve a multiplier differently from ordinary play.
Several animations do not necessarily represent several independent paid bets. Conversely, pressing spin again after the round ends is a new stake. Locate the total round win and account balance so an individual cascade amount is not mistaken for the entire result.
Past chains do not tell you when another will occur. A series of short rounds does not establish that a long chain is approaching. Our odds and RTP guide explains why observed short runs and long-run mathematical averages are different.
Megaways examples from the developer
These official Big Time Gaming pages provide concrete reference points. They describe the games, not confirmed availability at the casino offers below. Similar names and sequels should be checked separately.
Extra Chilli
The developer lists up to 117,649 ways and describes Feature Drop and a free-spin gamble. It is an example of a game where additional choices need their own rules, beyond understanding the reel layout.
Vegas Megaways
Big Time Gaming describes six reels and up to 117,649 ways, alongside a feature purchase and a video-poker-style free-spin gamble. Do not confuse that feature’s presentation with ordinary video poker.
Christmas Bonanza
This seasonal Bonanza variation uses a six-reel Megaways format. Its developer page also describes a feature purchase. The theme alone does not tell you the feature cost or the conditions attached to it.
For software context, browse Big Time Gaming and the provider hub. A developer supplies game software; the operator separately manages accounts, payments and promotions.
Compare more than the maximum ways figure
- Total stake: identify the complete cost of an ordinary spin, including optional enhanced bets.
- RTP configuration: read the value shown for the actual version and mode rather than borrowing a number from another installation.
- Volatility: consider how unevenly results can arrive, without treating a label as a session forecast.
- Feature rules: check free-spin triggers, multipliers, retriggers and any gamble option.
- Maximum win: distinguish a stake multiple from a progressive prize pool or an attainable session target.
Two games displaying the same maximum ways can have different paytables and risk profiles. A high theoretical maximum does not establish frequent large wins. See volatility explained, high-RTP pokies and progressive jackpots for those separate concepts.
Feature purchases and free-spin gambles
A feature purchase charges a separate amount to enter a specified feature. Expressing its price as a stake multiple can hide the actual cash cost unless you calculate it. For example, a hypothetical 80-times purchase at a $0.50 base stake costs $40.
A gamble option can put an existing feature entitlement at risk under its own conditions. Read what is being risked, the possible outcomes and any collect option. Neither buying nor gambling a feature guarantees that its return will cover the cost. The bonus-buy guide covers the distinction from ordinary spins.
Casino welcome offers
These four commercial placements are general welcome promotions, separate from the developer examples. They do not confirm that a casino carries a particular Megaways title. Check country eligibility, currency, game availability and full terms on the linked offer page.
| Casino | Welcome offer | Bonus code | Offer page |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 300% + 50 free spinsCash Bandits 2 · Minimum deposit $20 | 300-WELCOME | View offer |
 | 400% up to $4,000 + 20 spinsCash Bandits 3 · Welcome promotion | 400CB20 | View offer |
 | 400% up to $4,000 + 100 spinsCash Bandits 3 · Welcome promotion | BANDIT4000 | View offer |
 | 100% up to $1,000 + 40 spinsFortunate Buddha · Minimum deposit $20 | RC400 | View offer |
18+ · Deposits required · Affiliate links may earn commission. Promotion headings and codes checked on 20 October 2026. Advertised amounts are not necessarily AUD. Affiliate disclosure.
Operators are prohibited from providing real-money online pokies to people in Australia. Overseas licensing or access to a website does not establish Australian authorisation. Read ACMA’s consumer guidance.
Casino-issued free-spin promotions differ from free spins triggered inside a game. Promotional winnings can have wagering, expiry or withdrawal restrictions. Check bonus terms before assuming the two use the same balance rules.
Reading a busy game screen on mobile
Changing reel heights and extra reels can make a small display busy. Before focusing on the animations, find the stake, total balance, current ways count and rules button. Check whether rotating the phone improves readability without hiding controls.
For practice, use official demo access where it is available and permitted. A demo balance has no withdrawal value and does not predict a cash session. Our free pokies page covers practice play, while mobile pokies covers device considerations.
Set limits independently of a game’s pace or maximum prize. Faster animations can make spending harder to track without changing the cost of each paid round. Visit responsible gambling for support and ways to step back.
Megaways pokies FAQs
What are Megaways pokies?
Megaways pokies use changing reel layouts to produce different numbers of possible winning combinations. The exact reel structure, paytable and bonus features depend on the individual game.
What does 117,649 ways mean?
In a simple six-reel layout with seven positions on every reel, multiplying those positions gives 117,649 full-width combinations. It is a ways count, not a number of guaranteed wins or a jackpot probability.
Are the maximum ways available on every spin?
No. The changing layout normally creates different counts on different spins. Read the game’s rules for any special feature that changes or guarantees a particular layout.
Are Megaways the same as paylines?
No. A fixed payline uses a specified path across the reels. Ways games evaluate eligible matching symbols across adjacent reels under their rules, without requiring that same drawn path.
Does a higher ways count guarantee a better payout?
No. Actual symbols, the paytable and the game’s mathematical configuration determine the result. A ways count alone does not establish a higher RTP, a larger win or a profitable session.
Do all Megaways games have the same RTP?
No. Games and configurations can have different RTP values. Check the information for the exact version and mode you are using; a published average does not promise that return to an individual player.
What is a cascade or reaction?
It is a game sequence in which winning symbols are removed or replaced so further evaluations can occur under the same round’s rules. Multiplier behaviour and the condition that ends the sequence vary by title.
Is a bonus buy the same as a casino welcome bonus?
No. A bonus buy is a paid game option that enters a specified feature. A casino welcome bonus is an account promotion with separate eligibility and terms. Neither guarantees a profit or unrestricted withdrawal.
Can I try a Megaways game with practice credits?
Official developer or operator demo access may be available subject to location, device and access requirements. Practice credits have no cashout value, and demo results do not predict a later cash session.
Does an overseas licence permit online pokies for Australians?
An overseas licence does not establish Australian authorisation. ACMA says operators are prohibited from providing real-money online pokies to people in Australia. A working game page does not change that position.