Megaways slots explained

A licensed mechanic, not a genre

"Megaways" is the name of a mechanic that was created by one studio and is licensed to other providers. A game that uses it will usually carry the word in its title or logo, and it is a way of building the reel grid rather than a theme or a type of payout.

Providers have also made their own games with changing rows under different names. They work on a similar principle, though the exact rules vary. The sections below describe the general idea, so check each game's help screen for its specific rules.

How the variable grid works

In a standard slot, every reel shows the same number of symbols. In a Megaways game, each reel shows a random number of symbols on every spin, commonly anywhere from 2 to 7. The reels therefore have different heights, and the grid looks uneven.

The number of symbols per reel is decided by the same random number generator that picks the symbols themselves, so it is not something you can influence or predict. Details of that process are in how online slots work.

How the number of ways is counted

Megaways games are "ways" slots, so wins come from matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, not from fixed paylines. The total number of ways on a spin is the product of the number of symbols on each reel.

Take an example with 6 reels showing 4, 5, 3, 6, 2 and 7 symbols. The number of ways is 4 × 5 × 3 × 6 × 2 × 7 = 5,040. On another spin the same game might show 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 and 7, giving 7⁶ = 117,649 ways, which is the best-known maximum for the standard six-reel design.

Some games add an extra horizontal reel above the main grid, which can raise the figure further. The headline number looks large, but a high count of ways does not mean you win more often. The paytable values and the symbol frequencies still set what the game pays.

What usually comes with it

Megaways games often pair the changing grid with other mechanics. The most common is cascading reels, where winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in, which gives several chances to win from a single paid spin. See cascades and cluster pays for how those work.

You will also commonly see free spins with multipliers that grow as the round continues, and in some titles a feature that lets you pay a multiple of your bet to enter the bonus directly. The cost and risks of that are set out in bonus buy slots.

Not every game with the name has all of these. Read the info screen before you play, because features and rules differ from one title to the next.

RTP and volatility in Megaways games

The mechanic itself says nothing about RTP. Each game has its own return figure, and some run several settings, so look at the one used at your casino.

Volatility varies as well, but many Megaways games lean towards medium-high and high levels. That means long stretches with little return are normal, followed by occasional larger wins, which is a pattern worth matching to your budget. Our guide to slot volatility explains how to plan for it.

You can browse titles with this mechanic on our Megaways slots list.

Playing them sensibly

A large number of ways is a marketing figure, not a sign of better odds. Choose a stake that your budget can carry through a long run without a significant return, and decide in advance when you will stop.

A slot cannot be "due" because the grid has been small for a while. Every spin, including its reel heights, is generated independently. If gambling stops feeling like entertainment, visit our responsible gambling page for help and tools.