Megaways explained

Where 117,649 comes from

On a typical six-reel Megaways game, each reel shows between two and seven symbols. Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, in any position, so the number of ways is the product of the reel heights.

Some games add an extra horizontal reel above the main ones or extend the reels during features, so their maximum can differ. The paytable states the exact figure.

How a win is counted

On a ways game, a win needs matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the left (the paytable states the exact rule). The number of paid ways is the product of how many copies of the symbol appear on each reel. Take a symbol that appears twice on the first reel, once on the second and three times on the third:

Each way pays separately, which is why a wide grid with many copies can pay a lot at once. With few symbols on a short grid, the same three-reel win is just one or two ways. This is the difference from fixed paylines, where a win follows one set line; see how slots work for the comparison.

What a typical spin looks like

The full 117,649 ways is the ceiling, not the usual picture. If every reel were equally likely to show anything from two to seven symbols, the average reel height would be 4.5, and the average number of ways would be about 8,300:

This is an illustration with equal odds for every height; a real game may weight them differently, and the paytable is the place to confirm. The point stands: the maximum grid is rare, and most spins have far fewer ways than the headline number. A slot advertising 117,649 ways is not offering that on every spin.

Cascades and multipliers

Most Megaways games remove winning symbols and drop new ones in their place, so one spin can produce a chain of wins. During free spins, a multiplier often grows with every cascade. These chains are where the big wins come from, and they are also why many spins pay nothing: the maths saves its payouts for the long chains.

The mechanic is covered in detail in cascading reels, free spins and multipliers, and you can list the games that have it in tumbling reels slots.

Where to find the details

Each Megaways game states its own reel setup in the information screen: how many symbols each reel can show, whether there is an extra reel above the main ones, and the maximum number of ways. It also lists the RTP and any feature that changes the grid, for example a spin that locks reels to a fixed height. Read it once before you play, the same way you would for any other slot, and compare what it says with the figures on the game's WildmarkSlots page.

Why wins can look bigger than they are

A spin on a wide grid can show a dozen winning symbols and a loud celebration while paying less than the bet, because many ways each pay a small amount. Compare the win shown on the screen with your total bet, not with the animation. A win that returns less than the bet is still a net loss on that spin, even if it looks like a success.

A reel engine, not a quality mark

Megaways describes how the reels are built, not how a game pays. The licence says nothing about RTP, volatility or max win, which each studio sets for its own title. Two Megaways games can be very different in cost and feel, so compare them as you would any other slot, by their published numbers. The engine appears in many different themes, so browse by theme if a setting appeals to you and by numbers if cost matters.

Volatility and RTP

Megaways games are mostly published as high or very high volatility. Their RTP covers the same range as other slots and, like other games, many exist in several versions. WildmarkSlots lists 131 Megaways slots with their RTP, volatility and max win in Megaways slots. For what high volatility means in a session, read the volatility guide or browse high volatility slots.

What the swings mean for your budget

Because payouts are concentrated in long chains, a Megaways session often looks like a slow decline interrupted by rare jumps. A budget has to be sized for the flat case. With a budget of 100:

A bet five times smaller buys five times as many spins, which gives the feature far more chances to appear before the budget is gone. That does not change the average cost per amount wagered, but it makes a bad run less likely to end the session in ten minutes. The session budget calculator does this arithmetic for any bet.

Playing Megaways sensibly

• Expect long runs without a feature; size your bet so your budget lasts.
• Check the RTP version inside the game before you play.
• Ignore the ways count when comparing value: more ways is a different distribution, not a higher return.
• Try the game in a free demo first to see how slow it can be between chains. A demo uses play money and does not predict real results.
• Set a time limit as well as a money limit; long chains make sessions feel short.

Frequently asked questions