MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS

When it comes to online casino gaming, no ordinary game can compare Megaways™ slots. These incredible games offer dynamic entertainment, plenty of bonus features and a whole new way of winning! The Megaways™ engine is a reel modifier that does away with paylines and, instead, attributes wins to sequences of identical symbols that land on adjacent reels. The first Megaways™ game was Big Time Gaming’s Dragon Born, released in 2016, which features up to 117,649 ways to win. Bonanza was another ground-breaking hit that followed shortly after. These unprecedented games transformed the iGaming industry, introducing brilliant gameplay and awesome bonus features that we’ve come to know and love. Keep reading to learn more about these games and find out where you can play the best Megaways™ slots in Canada!

WHAT ARE MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS?

The Megaways™ engine is a patented reel modifier that was first showcased in Bonanza, a 2016 slot with free spins, explosive Wilds and 117,649 ways to win. Ways to win is what Megaways™ games are all about! These revolutionary games do away with paylines and introduce a new way of winning by modifying the number of symbols that can land on each reel. In traditional slots with a classic setup and fixed paylines, wins are often attributed to sequences of identical symbols that fall on one of the game’s paylines. Think of them as arbitrary lines, or patterns, on which the symbols must perfectly fall. In Megaways™ games, players can win when identical symbols land on adjacent reels — the symbols don’t have to be horizontally or diagonally adjacent to one another.

This mechanic utilises the slot’s reel setup to its full potential; for the player, that means having the opportunity to trigger wins in more ways than ever before!

HOW DO MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS WORK?

Megaways™ slots function similarly to their traditional counterparts, with the exception of having paylines. Instead of needing identical symbols to land on one of the game’s fixed paylines, wins in Megaways™ slots are attributed to sequences of identical symbols that land on adjacent reels. That means that the symbols don’t have to be horizontally or diagonally adjacent to one another, they just have to land on neighbouring reels! Each reel in a Megaways™ game will have a varied number of symbols, which will change with every new spin. Usually, Megaways™ slots are five and six-reel games where anywhere from two to seven symbols can appear on every reel. Each new spin will generate a new reel layout and with it a different number of ways to win. The more symbols land per reel, the more potential ways to win (theoretical paylines) can be formed for sequences of identical symbols.

Megaways™ slots will almost always display the number of ways to win on the user interface, usually just above the reels. If you want to know more about how they are calculated, let’s have a quick look at the math behind this engine.

• Hot Sunrise™ from BF Games is a retro-themed game with a classic setup of three reels, three rows and only five paylines. Each reel lands three symbols on every new spin, but wins can only be formed in one of the five distinct patterns. If Hot Sunrise™ had no paylines and awarded wins for identical symbols on adjacent reels, then the maximum number of ways to win would be 3*3*3=27. A great example is Sweet 27 from Play’n GO, which makes the most of the limited 3x3 reel setup and offers 27 ways to win!
• Megaways™ casino games, like Bonanza and Dog House Megaways™, follow the same principle. All you have to do is multiply the number of symbols on the first reel by the number of symbols on the second, then third and so on until you cover all of the game’s reels. For example, if a spin on a six-reel game yields seven symbols on every reel, then the maximum number of ways to win will be 117,649 (7*7*7*7*7*7=117,649).

BONUS FEATURES

The best Megaways™ slots will have a variety of bonus features for you to enjoy. The reel modifier works in tandem with plenty of bonus features, like Cascading reels and multipliers, to give players a chance of increasing their winnings. Below are some of the most common bonus features found in Megaways™ casino slots and how to activate them. Keep in mind that these features will vary from game to game, and will not always be triggered via the same means. Make sure to take a thorough look at the game’s rules and the paytable for a detailed overview of all bonus features and possible payouts.

• FREE SPINS — A Free Spins bonus is a fan-favourite feature of many slots, including Megaways™ games. This bonus feature is usually activated by landing a number of special symbols, such as the Scatter or Free Spins symbols.
• WILD AND SCATTER — The Wild symbol typically substitutes for any other symbol in a winning sequence, except for other special symbols, like the Scatter. The Scatter symbol is often the key to activating a slot’s bonus feature, such as a Free Spins bonus. The Scatter symbol may also double up as another symbol, such as the Wild, so make sure to take a look at its inner workings in the game’s rules.
• CASCADING REELS — Also known as Avalanches or Reactions, Cascading reels are the perfect spice to season a Megaways™ game. In slots with Cascading reels, symbols that are a part of a winning combination will be removed and replaced by new symbols falling from above. This will not count as an additional spin, as all other symbols will remain in place. Cascading reels are a great way to kick off chain reactions of wins, which will continue to pile on until no new wins are formed.
• MULTIPLIERS — Megaways™ slots are packed with multipliers, a feature that pairs well with Cascading reels. Multipliers can appear as symbols (as a 2x Wild symbol, for example) or are awarded for consecutive wins. They can also be won randomly, through features like the Wheel of Fortune. The most popular multipliers are Stacking Multipliers and Unlimited Multipliers.
• FEATURE DROP — This feature is most commonly found in BTG slots and allows players to purchase the game’s bonus feature, such as a Megaways™ Free Spins bonus. This feature may also go by different names, such as Buy Free Spins. The cost is usually proportional to the wager, but will be significantly higher (usually between 50x and 100x of the wager). In some games, players may also reduce the cost of the Feature Drop by landing special symbols.
• SPECIAL SYMBOLS AND FEATURES — Megaways™ casino slots are some of the most innovative games around, so expect to see a greater variety of symbols and features than what we’ve outlined here. You may come across Sticky Wilds, Expanding Wilds/symbols/reels, Bonus symbols, Wheel of Fortune, Exploding symbols, Sliding Wilds, Respins and so many others!

MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS WITH A RANDOM NUMBER OF SYMBOLS

Since the number of symbols on every reel will vary with every spin, the number of ways to win will as well. A common misconception is that the increased number of ways to win correlated to increased chances of winning. Although Megaways™ slots offer more ways for a player to form winning sequences, they do not guarantee increased winnings. A Megaways™ slot’s RTP will usually be in line with the standard 95% and above, but keep in mind that Megaways™ games may have a higher volatility rating.

BEST MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS

The best online casinos in Canada will offer plenty of exceptional Megaways™ games for you to choose from. Being one of the leading, fastest-growing casinos in the world, EnergyCasino offers a game portfolio packed with the best Megaways™ slots on the market! Don’t know where to start? Check out these fan-favourites:

• Megaways™ Jack — Iron Dog Studio
• Starz Megaways™ — Pragmatic Play
• Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways™ — Blueprint Gaming
• Extra Chilli Megaways ™ — Big Time Gaming
• Gonzo’s Quest Megaways™ — Red Tiger Gaming
• The Dog House Megaways™ — Pragmatic Play
• White Rabbit Megaways™ — Big Time Gaming
• Wish Upon A Jackpot Megaways™ — Blueprint Gaming
• Bonanza — Big Time Gaming
• Diamond Mine Megaways™ — Blueprint Gaming

Make sure that you check the ‘New’ and ‘Hot’ sections regularly to find the latest and most popular Megaways™ slots at EnergyCasino!

HOW TO PLAY MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS?

The first thing a player should do when picking up a Megaways™ game, or any other casino slot, is to carefully read through the game’s instructions. Usually, they can be accessed by clicking the ‘?’ button, but many games offer a comprehensive breakdown in the paytable. In these rules, you will find information on the slot’s symbols, payouts, RTP, volatility and any bonus features that the game may have. Make a note of any unique symb

Before you get started, we recommend checking out the free Megaways™ demo slots. Megaways™ free play is an excellent way to familiarise yourself with the concept behind this engine, and will offer an inside look into the working of the game’s bonus features — all without staking any real cash! All wagers and winnings in a Megaways™ demo will be completely virtual, so don’t worry about your account balance as you play. Access to a Megaways™ slot’s demo may be restricted, but most players will be able to enjoy Megaways™ free play after registering and verifying their accounts.

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