MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS

The Megaways™ slots series is what brought its game developer — Big Time Gaming — to big-time success. This Sydney-based iGaming software provider was already making ripples with its innovative video slots, but the release of slots built on the Megaways™ engine shook the industry to the core. Gone were the days of fixed paylines and limited win combinations and in is the era of modern, cutting-edge gameplay with thousands of ways to win. On top of that, Megaways™ games are also known for equally extraordinary bonus features, so let’s have a look at what these incredible online casino slots are all about and where you can play the best Megaways™ slots in Ireland!

WHAT ARE MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS?

The Megaways™ engine is a patented feature that was pioneered by Big Time Gaming with the release of Dragon Born and Bonanza in 2016. Megaways™ is a reel modifier that does away with paylines and introduces a new way to attribute wins: for identical symbols that land on adjacent reels. The symbols no longer have to be adjacent to one another or align with arbitrary lines which, in turn, creates many more ways to win. Up to 117,649, to be precise!

Big Time Gaming’s experiment with Megaways™ has not only transformed casino slot play as we know it but also paved the way for new game mechanics and interactive features that were unprecedented at the time, like Heartstopper™ and Megaclusters™. Keep on reading to learn more about how Megaways™ slots work.

HOW DO MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS WORK?

Megaways™ slots are most commonly 5-reel or 6-reel games, with a maximum of 16,807 and 117,649 ways to win, respectively. Each reel of the slot will land a random number of symbols (usually from two to seven) on every new spin. To put it simply, the more symbols land per reel, the more potential ‘winning lines’ can be formed for identical symbols on adjacent reels.

Here’s how the math works behind theoretical paylines:

• A classic 3x3 video slot will feature three reels with three symbols per reel on every spin. The maximum number of ways to win on a simple slot like this is 27 (3*3*3=27). A great example is Play’n GO’s Sweet 27, which does not limit the players to a few paylines and, instead, uses the slot’s layout to the maximum potential.
• The same idea applies to Megaways™ slots with a more advanced layout. Let’s take a 6-reel Megaways™ game as an example, like Bonanza. Each of the six reels can have up to seven symbols; if all six reels land seven symbols each, the maximum number of theoretical paylines would then be 117,649 (7*7*7*7*7*7=117,649).

While all Megaways™ games will display the number of possible ways to win on every spin, you can always double-check! Simply multiply the number of symbols on the first reel by the number of symbols on the second, then by the third’s reel symbols, and so on until you cover all reels.

BONUS FEATURES

Following the introduction of Megaways™ slots, game providers from all over the world hopped on the wagon in a bid for a Megaways™ licence from Big Time Gaming. While BTG continues to release Megaways™ hits to this day, many other developers produce equally astonishing slots. To make their games stand out, they enrich the gameplay with fantastic bonus features! Here are some of the most common bonus features found in Megaways™ casino games:

• FREE SPINS — Similarly to many modern slots, Megaways™ games offer a Free Spins bonus round, where players can enjoy a few extra spins at no cost. Activating this bonus may differ from game to game, but it is typically achieved through landing a number of special symbols, such as the Scatter.
• WILD AND SCATTER — The Wild and Scatter symbols are not unique to Megaways™ casino games but are welcomed nonetheless. A Wild usually substitutes for any other symbol in a sequence, except for other special symbols, like the Scatter or Bonus. The function of the Scatter may vary. In some games, it may activate a Free Spins round; in others, it can double up as a Wild or unlock extra reels. Make sure to read through the rules of the game before you commit to a real wager!
• CASCADING REELS — Cascading reels, also known as Avalanches/Reactions or Rolling/Tumbling reels, is a mechanic that pairs very well with the Megaways™ reel modifier. Every time a winning combo lands on the reels, symbols that are a part of this sequence will be removed from the reels and will be replaced with new symbols. These chain reactions will continue until no new winning sequences can be formed.
• MULTIPLIERS — When it comes to bigger payouts, multipliers are often the key ingredient. Megaways™ slots are packed with multipliers of all shapes and sizes, from Stacking Multipliers to Unlimited Multipliers — you’ll find it all. Multipliers come in handy especially on slots with Cascading reels!
• FEATURE DROP — A Feature Drop is the fastest way to trigger a game’s bonus, such as a Megaways™ Free Spins bonus round. This feature is most commonly found in BTG slots and is activated by directly purchasing the Feature Drop at a value that is proportional to the wager. Usually, this value is set at 100x the wager but can often be reduced by landing special symbols!
• SPECIAL SYMBOLS AND FEATURES — When you play Megaways™ games, you will surely run into dozens of unique symbols or bonus functions, so make sure to always check out the game’s rules before diving in! Here are just some of the special symbols and features that you may come across: Sticky Wilds, Expanding Wilds/symbols/reels, Bonus symbols, Wheel of Fortune, Exploding symbols, Sliding Wilds, Respins and even Large symbols that can stretch over several reels and rows at once!

Together, these features can make a truly fantastic game — and a Megaways™ game with multiple bonus features is not unheard of! These innovative features push the limits of imagination, bringing the players better gameplay every year. Red Tiger, for example, merged Megaways™ with Expanding reels to triumph over every single Megaways™ slot game out there. How? By allowing the reels of Laser Fruit to expand into more reels on every winning spin, the theoretical number of ways to win can reach 60,466,176!

MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS WITH A RANDOM NUMBER OF SYMBOLS

What else is there to know about the Megaways™ random reel modifier? We’ve already covered the basics, but something else to keep in mind is the fluctuation of ways to win. Since the number of symbols on every reel can vary, the number of ways to win (theoretical paylines) does as well. If you’re playing a 6-reel Megaways™ casino slot, there is no guarantee that you will land seven symbols on every reel regularly. Instead, you’ll see something like 2*4*2*6*3*7 on your average spin, which results in 2,016 ways to win.

Keep in mind that the number of active ways to win does not correspond to any winnings, this is simply the number of possible combinations if all landed symbols were identical. Just like with paylines, you have to meet the criteria of triggering the win!

BEST MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS

The best online casinos in Ireland, like EnergyCasino, offer dozens of extraordinary Megaways™ games for you to enjoy. Here are the top 10 of the most-played Megaways™ slots amongst our Irish players:

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

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

HOW TO PLAY MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS?

Playing Megaways™ slots is pretty straightforward, the only thing you need to watch out for is the game’s bonus features, like a Free Spins round or a mini-game. Before you set your wager, make sure to look through the detailed rules of the game. You’ll find all of the pertinent info and gameplay instructions, which will help you familiarise yourself with the slot’s symbols, payouts, RTP, volatility and any bonus features. When you’re ready, adjust your wager, hit the ‘Spin’ button and enjoy!

In Megaways™ games, wins are attributed to sequences of identical symbols that land on adjacent reels. Unlike classic slots, the symbols do not have to touch or land in a specific order to fit one of the predetermined, fixed paylines. The amount you win depends on the type of symbol, the symbol’s payout value and the wager you have placed on that spin. The more identical symbols land adjacently across the reels, the larger the win will be. A Megaways™ slot’s RTP will usually be 95% or above, but keep in mind that many Megaways™ casino games have a relatively high volatility rating.

If you’re thinking of trying out one of these incredible games, why not give it a go in a Megaways™ free-play demo? A Megaways™ slot’s demo version is an excellent way to check out the game and learn more about its features without the financial risk of setting a real wager! All winnings and wagers in a Megaways™ demo will be virtual, but these free-to-play games are perfect for anyone looking to try something new. Megaways™ demo availability is subject to the player’s jurisdiction and may require age verification before access can be granted.

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