Slots, as a genre of games, are the most profitable type of gambling content for both retail and online casinos. As such, it should come as no surprise that the gambling businesses are eager to invest in slot innovation or new features that can attract and retain players. Megaways was one of these new features that came out back in 2016, and it became so popular that it turned into its own category or genre of slots.
Now, for someone who loves the classic or traditional slot experience, it’s understandable that these games aren’t their cup of tea. But for players who are new to this slot category, understanding how Megaways mechanics work can be useful when evaluating different game formats and volatility structures.This is a genre that has received a lot of love from software studios all over the world, and a lot of iconic slot titles have their own Megaways version. So let’s discuss. Megaways has evolved into a distinct slot category, and detailed Megaways slots information can help explain how variable reel structures and payout mechanics differ from traditional formats.
Megaways vs Traditional Slots
Just like traditional slots, outcomes in Megaways are completely random.As with all slot games, Megaways outcomes are determined by random number generators, meaning results cannot be influenced or predicted by player actions. Megaways games are often presented through high potential multipliers and dynamic layouts, which can create strong visual impressions around possible outcomes.
Unlike regular games in this category, Megaways doesn’t use a 5×3 or 3×3 layout. The reels they use can produce thousands of paylines or ways to win, which is why they got the name “Megaways.” In traditional slots, you’ll typically see 10, 15, or 25 paylines, but when you play a Megaways game, there will be 4000+ or even 10000+ paylines.
The higher number of paylines can lead to an impression that there are more chances to score a winning combination. That’s not really the case, though. It only means that winning is more disproportionate. What increased number of paylines does is move the cap on what can be won in a single spin. So if a traditional slot can have a maximum win on a spin of 1000x the stake, a Megaways title can have a possible win of 10,000x the stake.
That said, the odds of that happening are not proportionate like in the regular game. If one can 1000x their stake, the odds of that happening should be nearly 1000:1. That is definitely not the case with a Megaways, where one can 10,000x the stake on a spin. However, outcomes associated with the highest multipliers occur far less frequently than those found in traditional slot formats.
These aren’t designed around proportionate odds but rather around the overall RTP. In other words, there is a possible outcome that multiplies the stake by, let’s say, 100,000x or even more, and its likelihood is maybe 95,000:1, which aims to offset the disproportionate distribution of other outcomes and make up the difference needed to reach the set RTP.
So, when testers run the code and do a simulation that includes hundreds of thousands of spins, the target RTP will come up. However, in practice, the same level of consistency will almost never be observed.
History of Megaways
The first ever Megaways game was BTG’s Dragon Born, but that one simply flew under the radar and wasn’t considered a commercial success. The studio didn’t give up, though; they released another one shortly after called Bonanza Megaways, and that one was well received. It managed to help BTG get more attention from players, and it was eventually bought by Evolution Gaming (in 2021).
Why Megaways Became Popular
Megaways do resemble regular slots with different boards, but there is a big mechanical difference. In regular slots, players can choose how many paylines are active, and their bet is evenly distributed between those paylines.
In Megaways slots, the layout changes with each spin, so there is no fixed number of paylines. So the payouts are calculated based on the number of aligned symbols, and their multiplier is applied to an entire stake, e.g., 4 same symbols award 0,4x the stake. In other words, even when you get a matching combination, you are still losing money, but the game packages it like you’ve won.
As mentioned, hitting outcomes with these high multipliers or jackpots is extremely unlikely, and players are actually aware of it. However, our risk perception is more active on numbers that we can grasp (e,g. 2:1, 5:1, 10:1), when you reach levels that go as high as 10,000:1, or 100,000:1, the difference stops mattering. When the possibility is so low, that’s just how we perceive it as “extremely unlikely.”
Smaller stakes are another reason why players will often disregard those odds. Because Megaways slots often feature high volatility and variable outcomes, using responsible gambling tools such as spending limits, session reminders, or self-exclusion options can help players maintain control over their gambling activity. This can contribute to common cognitive biases associated with gambling behaviour, particularly when outcomes are evaluated over short sessions rather than long-term play. This is an indicator that one is developing negative habits or succumbing to common gambling fallacies that they haven’t spent a lot of money. The best thing to do is to keep your distance either through a self-exclusion program or to use responsible gambling tools to strictly limit your spending.
Article by Evelina Brown.
