MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS

The Megaways™ slots series is Big Time Gaming’s most prominent success. Founded in 2011, this Sydney-based iGaming software provider was driven to make its mark on the industry — and that it did! The company has already established itself as one of the leading talents in online slot design, but the development of the Megaways™ engine transformed slot gameplay as we know it. Megaways™ games are, to this day, some of the most innovative and interactive casino slots around! Let’s take a peek at the inner workings of these games and find out where you can play the best Megaways™ slots in New Zealand!

WHAT ARE MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS?

The Megaways™ engine is a patented reel modifier that was first showcased in 2016 with the release of Dragon Born and Bonanza, slots 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 along 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?

In Megaways™ slots, the total number of ways to win is simply the number of ways that a sequence of symbols can be arranged when taking into account solely the symbol’s reel placement. These games are most commonly 5-reel or 6-reel slots, where each reel can land between two and seven symbols. Each reel of the slot will land a random number of symbols (usually from two to seven) on every new spin. The more symbols land per reel, the more potential ‘winning paylines’ can be formed for identical symbols on adjacent reels.

Let’s take a non-Megaways™ slot with a classic 3x3 setup, Hot Sunrise™ from BF Games, as an example. This casino slot has three reels and three static rows, meaning that three symbols will appear, per reel, on every new spin. Hot Sunrise™ boasts a handful of bonus features, but only five paylines! If we remove the concept of fixed paylines, and grant wins for symbols on adjacent reels, then all we have to do is calculate the number of symbols on each reel and multiply them by one another. In this case, it’s quick math: 3*3*3=27 ways to win. Sweet 27 from Play’n GO is a great example of a game that utilises this limited 3x3 layout to the max.

In Megaways™ games, players will land a varied number of symbols on every spin, so the number of ways to win will fluctuate as well. In Bonanza, for example, there are six reels that can land two to seven symbols each. Following the same principle as before, if all six reels land seven symbols each then the maximum number of ways to win is 117,649 (7*7*7*7*7*7=117,649).

BONUS FEATURES

The best Megaways™ slots stand out in many ways! The reel modifier lends itself to a variety of bonus features and new mechanics, which perfectly blend together for an unparalleled casino gaming experience. Here are some of the most common bonus features found in Megaways™ casino slots:

• FREE SPINS — Many Megaways™ games offer a Free Spins bonus round, where players can enjoy a few extra spins at no cost. This bonus feature is most often activated by landing a number of special symbols, such as the Scatter or Free Spins symbols. This will vary from game to game, so make sure to take a look at the rules before you play!
• WILD AND SCATTER — The Wild symbol usually substitutes for any other symbol in a winning sequence, except for other special symbols, like the Scatter or Bonus. The Scatter symbol is often the key to activating a slot’s bonus feature, such as a Free Spins bonus. This will vary though, you may run into a Scatter that doubles up as a Wild or a whole array of special Wild symbols!
• CASCADING REELS — Also known as Avalanches/Reactions or Rolling/Tumbling reels, Cascading reels go 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, which can result in some impressive streaks!
• MULTIPLIERS — Megaways™ slots are packed with multipliers, which are especially desired on slots with Cascading reels. Multipliers can appear as symbols (for example, a 2x Wild symbol) 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 entails directly purchasing the game’s bonus feature, such as a Megaways™ Free Spins bonus. The cost of this bonus is usually proportional to the wager. In some games, players may also reduce the cost of the Feature Drop by landing special symbols.
• SPECIAL SYMBOLS AND FEATURES — When you play Megaways™ games, you will come across dozens of unique symbols or bonus functions, so make sure to always check out the game’s rules before staking real cash! 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 stretch over multiple reels.

MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS WITH A RANDOM NUMBER OF SYMBOLS

Keep in mind that although Megaways™ slots offer more ways for a player to win, they do not offer a guarantee of increased winnings. In fact, the RTP percentages of these casino slots do not stray away from their more traditional counterparts. Since the number of symbols on every reel can vary, the number of ways to win — the theoretical paylines — does as well. 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. If you are playing a 6-reel Megaways™ casino slot, there is no guarantee that you will land seven symbols on every reel regularly. Even if you do, you will see that there are 117,649 possible ways to win but they may not be triggered if you don’t meet the winning criteria: landing a sequence of identical symbols on adjacent reels.

BEST MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS

The best online casino in New Zealand will offer dozens of extraordinary Megaways™ games for you to enjoy, and EnergyCasino is no exception. With us, you’ll find all of your favourite Megaways™ hits and over 2,000 incredible online slot games! To help you get started, here are 10 of the most popular Megaways™ slots among New Zealanders:

• Bonanzaa — 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 latest Megaways™ slots at EnergyCasino!

HOW TO PLAY MEGAWAYS™ SLOTS?

Before you set your wager on a Megaways™ game, make sure to look through the detailed rules. You’ll find all of the pertinent info on the slot’s symbols, payouts, RTP, volatility and any bonus features that it may have. Make note of any special symbols or combinations that can help you unlock these entertaining features, like a Free Spins bonus. When you’re ready, adjust your wager, hit the ‘Spin’ button and have fun!

The payouts will depend on the type of symbol, the symbol’s 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, just like most online slots, but keep in mind that many Megaways™ casino games have a relatively high volatility rating. Which means that while the wins may be larger, they will drop infrequently.

If you’re thinking of trying out one of these Megaways™ games, why not take them for a spin 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 playing for free can help players gain familiarity with all bonus features, volatility and betting options which, in turn, aids players in making responsible gambling decisions. Megaways™ demo availability is subject to the player’s jurisdiction and may require age verification before access can be granted.

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