Megaways pokies change the number of symbols on each reel every spin, so the number of ways to win changes too, up to 117,649 on the classic six-reel layout. The mechanic was created by Big Time Gaming, an Australian studio, and is now licensed to many other developers. For New Zealand players it’s mostly an online format, and the key thing to understand is the volatility that comes with it.
Where Megaways came from
Big Time Gaming was founded in 2011 and is based in Surry Hills, New South Wales. The studio says its first Megaways game, Dragon Born, launched at the end of 2015, and that Bonanza, released in 2016, was the title that made its name. Big Time Gaming describes Megaways as a random reel modifier: each spin can produce a different number of symbols on each reel. The studio began licensing the mechanic to other developers, starting with deals such as the one with Blueprint Gaming and the Gauselmann Group, and it now appears in games from many providers.
How variable reels work
The ways count
On a six-reel Megaways game, each reel can show a different number of symbols on each spin. Multiply the symbol counts on all reels together and you get the number of ways to win for that spin. If every reel shows seven symbols, that’s 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649 ways.
| Symbols per reel (6 reels) | Ways to win |
|---|---|
| 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 | 64 |
| 4, 3, 5, 4, 3, 6 | 4,320 |
| 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 | 117,649 |
Wins are usually counted from the leftmost reel on adjacent reels, so a symbol has to appear on reels one, two, three and so on. Some games add a horizontal reel above the main reels to add more symbols. The game’s rules will say exactly how it counts.
Common add-ons
Many Megaways games pair the mechanic with cascades (winning symbols are removed and replaced), free spins and multipliers that grow during the bonus. These are design choices by each studio, not part of Megaways itself, so read the paytable for each game.
Why the volatility is often high
A big ways count can look generous, but a spin with 100,000+ ways may still pay little or nothing, and lower-paying symbols tend to make up most wins. Many Megaways games concentrate their return in bonus rounds with escalating multipliers. Expect swings, and don’t read a high ways number as a sign you’re close to something.
RTP is a long-run average across a very large number of spins. We don’t quote figures because Megaways games come from many studios and may be supplied with different RTP settings that operators choose between. Check the info screen of the version you’re looking at. Our how to play pokies guide explains where to look, and the Gates of Olympus-style and Sweet Bonanza-style pages cover two other high-volatility formats.
The New Zealand picture
Megaways is primarily an online mechanic. Casino and pub machines in New Zealand come from land-based manufacturers with their own game families, so we haven’t verified any Megaways title at SkyCity Auckland or at pub and club venues. Game mixes change, so check in person if you’re interested.
Online casino gambling in New Zealand is moving to a licensing regime under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. The Department of Internal Affairs says unlicensed operators must stop offering online casino gambling to New Zealand customers from 1 December 2026. Licensed operators must let customers set spending limits and can’t offer autoplay. The minimum age for licensed online casino gambling is 18. We don’t say whether any particular site is licensed. See our online pokies New Zealand page and pokies rules New Zealand for more.
Before you spin
- Look at the cost per spin, not the ways count. On Megaways games the stake is per spin, whatever the number of ways.
- Set a spend limit and a session length, and keep them even if a bonus seems close.
- Check whether the game offers feature buys, and read the price carefully.
- Expect losing runs. That’s how high-volatility maths works, not a sign that a big win is coming.
- If gambling is causing stress, our responsible gambling resources list free help, including Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655 and Safer Gambling Aotearoa.