Megaways Slots Explained: How the 117,649 Ways Really Work

Megaways slots are now one of the most common formats in online casino lobbies, and one of the most frequently misunderstood. The headline promise — up to 117,649 ways to win — sounds like an enormous advantage over a standard 25-line slot. In practice, the mechanic changes the shape of your results far more than it changes your long-term return.

What Is a Megaways Slot?

Megaways is a licensed slot engine in which the number of symbols on each reel changes randomly on every spin, typically between two and seven. Wins are paid for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, regardless of position, rather than along fixed paylines. The total number of ways to win is the product of the symbol counts across all reels, which on a six-reel game peaks at 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649.

Where the 117,649 Number Comes From

That figure is the maximum, not the typical. It requires all six reels to land at their full seven-symbol height simultaneously, which is uncommon.

Most spins deliver far fewer ways. A configuration of 4-3-5-2-6-3, for example, produces 2,160 ways — perfectly ordinary, and nowhere near the marketed ceiling. Understanding this distinction is the single most useful thing a player can know about the format: the big number is a maximum that appears rarely, not a baseline.

How Wins Are Calculated

Because there are no fixed paylines, a winning combination only requires matching symbols on consecutive reels starting from the leftmost. Position on the reel is irrelevant.

Two implications follow:

• Wins are more frequent but smaller. With thousands of ways active, small three-of-a-kind combinations hit constantly. Most return less than the spin cost.
• The payout multiplier structure is adjusted downward to compensate. Symbol values in a Megaways game are lower than in a comparable fixed-payline slot, precisely because hits are more frequent.

This is the trade every Megaways game makes, and it is why the format does not represent free value.

Cascading Reels and Win Multipliers

Most Megaways titles pair the variable reel mechanic with cascading wins: winning symbols are removed, remaining symbols drop down, and new symbols fill the gaps. A single spin can chain several consecutive wins.

In free spins rounds, many games attach a progressive multiplier that increases with each cascade and does not reset between spins. That combination — unlimited cascades plus an escalating multiplier — is where the format's famously large maximum wins come from, and also why the base game so often feels flat by comparison.

Volatility: The Real Story

Megaways games are, almost without exception, high volatility. The base game grinds, and a disproportionate share of the game's total return is concentrated in the bonus round.

Practically, that means:

• Long dry stretches are normal, not evidence of a problem with the game.
• Bankroll requirements are higher than for a low-volatility classic slot at the same stake. Smaller bet sizes and longer sessions suit the format far better than large bets over short bursts.
• Session results vary enormously around the theoretical return, even over thousands of spins.

Our guide to casino strategy covers how to read volatility ratings and match them to your bankroll and session length.

RTP Varies by Operator — Check Before You Spin

This is the most important practical point in the format and the one most players miss. Many slot providers, including those licensing the Megaways engine, ship games in multiple RTP configurations. The same title can run at 96 percent at one casino and 94 percent — or lower — at another.

Two percentage points is a substantial difference over any meaningful volume. The published RTP is almost always available in the game's information panel or paytable, and checking it takes seconds.

Because RTP settings vary by operator, comparing licensed casinos on this basis is worthwhile. Our rankings of the top online casinos cover which operators run higher-RTP configurations.

Bonus Buys and Megaways

Many Megaways titles offer a feature buy — paying a fixed multiple of your stake, often 75x to 150x, to enter the free spins round immediately. Since most of the game's return lives in the bonus, this is a direct way to access it.

Two caveats. Feature buys often run at a slightly different RTP than the base game, sometimes higher and sometimes lower — the paytable will say. And the variance of buying repeatedly is extreme: you are paying a large fixed cost for a highly variable outcome. Feature buys are also commonly excluded from bonus wagering entirely, a detail covered in our best casino bonuses guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Megaways slots work?

Each reel displays a random number of symbols per spin, usually between two and seven. Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right regardless of position, and the total ways to win is the product of the symbol counts across all reels.

Do Megaways slots have better odds?

No. More ways to win means more frequent small wins, but symbol payouts are set lower to compensate. The long-term return is determined by RTP, not by the number of ways.

What does 117,649 ways mean?

It is the maximum, occurring only when all six reels land at their full seven-symbol height. Most spins produce far fewer ways, often in the low thousands.

Are Megaways slots high volatility?

Nearly all of them are. A large share of the total return is concentrated in the free spins round, which produces long stretches with little return in the base game.

Does the RTP change between casinos?

It can. Many providers offer the same title in multiple RTP configurations, so the identical game may return 96 percent at one operator and noticeably less at another. Check the paytable before playing.

The Bottom Line

Megaways is a volatility mechanic, not a value mechanic. It delivers frequent small wins in the base game and concentrates the real return in cascading bonus rounds. Play it with a bankroll sized for high variance, check the RTP configuration at your operator, and treat 117,649 as a marketing ceiling rather than a description of a typical spin.

Compare licensed operators in our rankings of the best online casinos.