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What Does Megaways Mean In Slots? Megaways Number Explained

Posted on Mon, 13/02/2023

The creation of online slot games completely revolutionised the casino gaming industry. Since then, online slots have seen massive growth and change. 

One of these changes included the addition of megaways slots. If you are wondering what megaways mean in online slots, continue reading this Wizard Slots blog post to find out!

What Does Megaways Mean In Slots?

The megaways mechanic was first introduced by Big Time Gaming through the Dragon Born online slot. Since then, it has been making waves in the online slots industry, with so many online slot players choosing to play megaways slots.

Before the megaways creation, slot games online typically offered a number of paylines, often no more than 300. But, with megaways, the number of win ways can significantly increase.

This is because the megaways mechanic changes how many symbols may appear on a reel on any given spin. So, instead of offering a number of ‘paylines’, megaways slots can offer a higher number of ‘ways to win’. Some may even reach up to a million!

So, essentially, megaways is a mechanic that unlocks a large number of win ways by increasing the number of reels and or symbols available in a slot. That can either be with each spin or each winning spin. However, the standard number is generally between 243 to 117,649 ways to win.

An example of an online slot with megaways is Dragon’s Luck Megaways. It is one of the most popular online slots by Red Tiger Gaming. It features up to 117,649 winning ways with 6 reels and up to 7 rows. 

How Do Megaways Slots Work?

A megaways slot works differently than a regular online slot. One of the major differences is the number of symbols each reel can hold on every spin.

On a regular slot, the number of symbols remains the same throughout. If it is a 5x3 slot game, then on each spin, you will see 15 symbols. The number of rows is also fixed to the same number throughout each spin.

On the contrary, in megaways slots, the number of rows and symbols in each row or reel change with every spin. They can usually carry anything between 2-7 symbols. Additionally, these numbers are entirely random, so you cannot know how many symbols each reel may have on any given spin.

That is why the number of winning ways can go up to a million. So, how do the win ways reach so high? The formula is simple:

  • Megaways slots often have 6 reels and between 2-7 rows. 
  • Each reel can carry between 2-7 symbols.
  • The higher the number of symbols and rows, the higher the win ways.
  • If the slot reaches the maximum number of reels and rows, you reach the maximum number of win ways.
  • Because there are so many different win ways on any given spin, you can usually form winning combinations by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from left to right. However, some slots may have different rules depending on other mechanics they are using, such as cascades or tumbling reels and expanding symbols. 

What Does The Megaways Number Mean?

You may notice that most megaways slots usually display a number next to the megaways term. That number is simply an indication of how many win ways, or ‘paylines’, if you will, the slot has. For example, in the 1 Million Megaways™ BC slot, you can potentially unlock up to one million win ways!

In addition, the number next to megaways does not only appear in titles. You can also see different numbers while you are spinning the reels. Those numbers indicate the number of win ways you have unlocked with a particular spin, so you do not have to try and calculate them yourself. 

Let’s say you are playing the Athens Megaways online slot. You might notice a number above the reels as you spin the reels. You notice that this number would display a different number with every spin, such as; 64, 384, 243, 10,584 etc. These are just indicators of your number of win ways on your current spin.

As we have mentioned, they change and fluctuate depending on the number of symbols and reels the screen shows. 

Are Megaways Better Than Normal Slots?

The answer to this question would depend on your personal preference. Traditional slots have their own perks that megaways slots do not have and vice versa. So, to paint a better picture, we will compare them below so you can decide which may be better for you.

Predictability

Traditional slots typically keep the same number of reels, rows and paylines throughout. So, you can always expect your paylines and number of symbols to remain the same on any spin. Some players enjoy this. 

However, this cannot be said about megaways slots. The win ways and the number of symbols change frequently, and you never know which you will get. However, there are a lot of slot players who particularly enjoy this aspect of a megaways slot. For them, this keeps things fun and entertaining.

More Ways to Win

Generally, megaways can offer significantly more ways to win compared to traditional slot games. Most traditional slot games can have anything between 3 and 50 paylines. Conversely, megaways can carry anything between 243 and up to a million win ways!

While this difference does not necessarily mean you can win more with megaways slots than traditional slots, it does give you more ways you could potentially win. But, the results remain random and are generated by the Random Number Generator (RNG).

Conclusion

The megaways mechanic has changed online slots forever. Some may even argue that they have improved slot games.

If you would like to experience for yourself what all the fuss is about, you could give the following megaways slots a try:

*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to these slot games are subject to change at any time.