Megaways Pokies: How They Work & Best Games to Play

We reckon Megaways pokies are the biggest shake-up to hit online pokies in the last decade. Studio Big Time Gaming invented the Megaways mechanic, and it's been licensed to dozens of developers ever since. The core idea is simple: instead of fixed paylines, the number of symbols on each reel changes on every spin, so the number of ways to win shifts constantly — up to 117,649 on a single spin.

Forget fixed paylines. In a standard Megaways pokie, you get 6 reels. Each reel can show anywhere from 2 to 7 symbols per spin. The total number of megaways is calculated by multiplying the symbol count across all reels together.

Here's a quick worked example. Say your 6 reels land with 7, 6, 5, 7, 6, 7 symbols. Multiply those together: 7 × 6 × 5 × 7 × 6 × 7 = 61,740 ways to win on that spin alone. Hit the maximum of 7 symbols per reel across all six and you reach 117,649. Compare that to traditional pokies with 243 or even 1,024 fixed ways — it's a different beast entirely.

Wins pay left to right with matching symbols on consecutive reels. After a win, cascading reels kick in — winning symbols explode off the screen and new ones drop in to replace them. Consecutive wins in a single spin are the engine behind those monster payouts.

Most titles also stack a win multiplier onto the cascading reels feature. Each cascade bumps the multiplier up, so a long chain can see wild multipliers climbing fast. That's where the big win potential really lives.

The upside is obvious: thousands of ways to win on every spin, cascading wins, and multiplier chains that can swing hard. The number of megaways changing constantly keeps each spin feeling fresh in a way traditional pokies simply don't.

The downside? High volatility. These games are built for peaks and valleys. You can spin 100 spins and barely cover your bets, then hit a bonus round that wipes the slate clean in one go. That's the trade-off.

RTPs vary — Bonanza Megaways runs at 96%, which is solid for the genre. But volatility is always high, so bankroll management matters. If steady, low-risk sessions are your thing, this style might test your patience. If you're chasing a big swing and are comfortable riding dry spells, Megaways titles were made for you.

Australian players will find these games online at most reputable casino sites. Many offer demo mode so you can play free before committing real money — we always recommend this first with a high volatility pokie. When you're ready to play megaways for real, PayID and POLi are the easiest deposit options at Australian-friendly sites. Find megaways titles in the filter or search function at your casino; they're usually grouped separately from standard online pokie games.