How the Megaways mechanic works, the best Megaways titles available in 2026, and which NZ pokies sites have the strongest selections.
If you've spent any time browsing pokies at NZ online casinos over the past few years, you've almost certainly encountered the Megaways label. It appears in the title of hundreds of games, from Bonanza Megaways to Gonzo's Quest Megaways, and it has become one of the most recognisable and sought-after mechanics in the entire online pokies industry. But what actually makes a Megaways pokie different from a standard title?
At its core, Megaways is a reel mechanic that replaces fixed paylines with a dynamic system where the number of symbols on each reel changes with every spin. Instead of the traditional 20, 25, or 50 fixed paylines that standard pokies use, a Megaways pokie can offer up to 117,649 ways to win on a single spin. The "ways to win" count shifts constantly because each reel can display anywhere from 2 to 7 symbols per spin, and the total ways to win is calculated by multiplying the symbol count across all reels. On one spin, you might have 324 ways to win; on the next, 46,656; and on the occasional maximum reel, the full 117,649.
This variable mechanic creates a fundamentally different experience from traditional pokies. There's an element of anticipation not just in which symbols land, but in how many symbols appear on each reel. When you see all six reels filling to maximum height, you know you're looking at the most ways to win possible, and the potential for cascading wins becomes enormous. It's this combination of variability and massive win potential that has made Megaways the dominant pokie mechanic of the modern era.
The maximum ways to win on a standard 6-reel Megaways pokie is 117,649. This is calculated as 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 (seven symbols on each of six reels). By comparison, a traditional 5-reel pokie with 25 paylines offers just 25 ways to win per spin. Megaways pokies can deliver nearly 4,706 times more winning combinations.
Understanding the technical workings of Megaways helps you appreciate why these pokies behave so differently from traditional titles and what that means for your bankroll and session experience. I'll break down the key components.
The defining feature of Megaways is that each reel independently generates a random number of symbols per spin, typically between 2 and 7. This is determined by the game's random number generator before the reels even start spinning. Some Megaways pokies also include a horizontal "top reel" that sits above reels 2 through 5, adding additional symbol positions that increase the ways to win further. The reel heights are completely independent — reel 1 might show 3 symbols while reel 6 shows 7, and the combination changes on every single spin.
Most Megaways pokies incorporate a cascading wins mechanic (also called "tumble" or "avalanche" depending on the provider). When you land a winning combination, the winning symbols are removed from the reels and new symbols fall down to replace them. If the new symbols create another winning combination, they cascade again, and this process continues until no more wins are formed. Cascading wins are what give Megaways pokies their explosive potential — a single spin can trigger multiple consecutive wins, each building on the last.
During free spins features on Megaways pokies, each cascade typically increases a win multiplier by 1x. This means your first cascade wins at 1x, the second at 2x, the third at 3x, and so on — with no upper limit on most titles. When you combine cascading wins with an escalating multiplier in a free spins round, the results can be extraordinary. I've seen multipliers climb above 30x during extended free spin sessions on Bonanza Megaways, which is when the truly massive payouts occur. This unlimited multiplier mechanic is the primary reason Megaways pokies can deliver wins of 10,000x to 50,000x your bet.
Hunter's Tip: The cascading wins and increasing multiplier mechanics mean that Megaways pokies are inherently high-volatility. You'll experience more dead spins (spins with no wins) than on traditional pokies, but when wins do come — especially during free spins — they can be significantly larger. This is important to understand for bankroll management. Read our RTP and Volatility guide for a deeper dive into what volatility means for your sessions.
Unlike traditional payline pokies where symbols must land on specific lines, Megaways pokies pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, regardless of their vertical position. If reel 1 has 2 matching symbols and reel 2 has 3 matching symbols, you have 2 x 3 = 6 winning combinations just from those two reels. Extend that across all six reels and you can see how the ways to win multiply exponentially. This system means that even relatively common symbols can produce meaningful wins when multiple reels are showing maximum height.
The Megaways mechanic was created and patented by Australian game developer Big Time Gaming (BTG), founded by Nik Robinson. The first Megaways title, Bonanza, was released in 2016 and immediately disrupted the online pokies landscape. The combination of variable reel heights, cascading wins, and a potentially unlimited free spins multiplier was unlike anything players had experienced before. Bonanza Megaways became one of the most popular online pokies ever created and remains a top title at NZ casinos nearly a decade later.
What made Megaways truly revolutionary for the industry was BTG's decision to licence the mechanic to other game developers. Rather than keeping the technology exclusive, BTG offered Megaways licences to major studios including Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Red Tiger, Blueprint Gaming, iSoftBet, and many others. This licensing model meant that within a few years, Megaways versions of beloved classic pokies began appearing across the market — Gonzo's Quest Megaways (Red Tiger/NetEnt), Starlight Princess Megaways (Pragmatic Play), Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic Play), and dozens more.
By 2026, there are well over 200 Megaways pokies available from more than 20 different game providers. The mechanic has become so ubiquitous that many NZ players now specifically filter casino game libraries for Megaways titles. Big Time Gaming continues to innovate with new variations and features, but the core mechanic — variable reel heights creating up to 117,649 ways to win with cascading wins — remains the foundation that every Megaways pokie is built upon.
Big Time Gaming's decision to licence Megaways rather than keep it proprietary is one of the most significant business decisions in online pokies history. It transformed a single game mechanic into an industry standard and ensured that NZ players can find Megaways pokies at virtually every online casino, regardless of which software providers power the site.
After testing dozens of Megaways titles from my base in Mount Maunganui, these are the games I keep coming back to. I've considered gameplay quality, win potential, RTP, visual design, and overall entertainment value in compiling this list. Every title below is widely available at NZ-facing pokies sites.
| Pokie | Provider | Max Ways | RTP | Volatility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | 96.00% | High |
| Gonzo's Quest Megaways | Red Tiger / NetEnt | 117,649 | 96.00% | High |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 46,656 | 96.50% | High |
| Starlight Princess 1000 | Pragmatic Play | All-Ways Pay | 96.50% | Very High |
| Buffalo King Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 200,704 | 96.52% | High |
| Aztec Gold Megaways | iSoftBet | 117,649 | 96.10% | High |
| Fishin' Frenzy Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 15,625 | 95.02% | High |
| Kingmaker Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | 96.65% | High |
| Legacy of the Gods Megaways | Blueprint Gaming | 117,649 | 95.62% | High |
| Gems Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | Cluster Pay | 96.51% | Very High |
Bonanza Megaways is where it all started, and in my opinion, it's still the gold standard for the mechanic. The gold mining theme is charming, the cascading wins feel satisfying, and the free spins feature with unlimited increasing multipliers delivers the kind of explosive potential that makes Megaways so compelling. I've played Bonanza more than any other Megaways title and it consistently provides engaging sessions. The 96.00% RTP is solid, and the maximum win potential of over 10,000x your bet means every free spins round carries genuine excitement. If you play one Megaways pokie, make it this one.
NetEnt's original Gonzo's Quest was already a beloved title, and the Megaways version (developed by Red Tiger Gaming) elevates it dramatically. The Avalanche feature — NetEnt's name for cascading wins — was actually a precursor to the tumble mechanic that Megaways relies on, so the marriage of these two concepts feels natural. The free spins round with escalating multipliers on every cascade can produce extraordinary results. Visual design is superb, with the explorer Gonzo reacting to your wins on the side of the screen.
Pragmatic Play's Buffalo King Megaways is notable for offering up to 200,704 ways to win — exceeding the standard 117,649 maximum thanks to its expanded reel setup. The American wilderness theme, featuring buffalo, eagles, and mountain lions, is well-executed. The free spins feature offers up to 50 free spins with a multiplier that increases with every tumble win. At 96.52% RTP, it's one of the higher-paying Megaways titles available, and the higher ways-to-win count means bigger potential wins during maximum reel sessions.
Hunter's Tip: When choosing a Megaways pokie, pay attention to the RTP. Some providers offer different RTP versions of the same game to different casinos. Always check the game's info screen to confirm you're playing the highest RTP version. Our High RTP Pokies guide covers this in more detail.
Understanding the differences between Megaways and traditional pokies helps you decide which mechanic suits your playing style and bankroll. Neither is objectively "better" — they offer fundamentally different experiences, and most experienced NZ players enjoy both depending on their mood and budget.
| Feature | Megaways Pokies | Traditional Pokies |
|---|---|---|
| Ways to Win | Up to 117,649+ (variable per spin) | Fixed (typically 10–50 paylines) |
| Volatility | High to very high | Low, medium, or high |
| Win Potential | 10,000x–50,000x+ bet | 500x–10,000x bet (typically) |
| Win Frequency | Lower (more dead spins) | Higher (more frequent small wins) |
| Cascading Wins | Standard feature | Optional (not all titles) |
| Free Spins Multiplier | Usually unlimited increasing | Fixed or limited increases |
| Bankroll Duration | Shorter (higher variance) | Longer (more consistent returns) |
| Ideal Bankroll | Larger (to survive dry spells) | Flexible (works with smaller bankrolls) |
The critical distinction is volatility. Megaways pokies are almost universally high or very high volatility, meaning you'll experience longer stretches without wins interspersed with potentially massive payouts. Traditional pokies come in all volatility levels, including low-volatility titles that pay small wins frequently. If you're playing with a smaller bankroll and want your session to last, traditional pokies are often the better choice. If you have a larger bankroll and you're chasing big wins, Megaways offers superior maximum payout potential.
Because of their high volatility, I recommend having at least 200–300 bets worth of bankroll when playing Megaways pokies. If you're betting NZ$1 per spin, that means a session bankroll of NZ$200–$300. This gives you enough runway to survive the dry spells and still be playing when the cascading wins and multipliers kick in during free spins. With a smaller bankroll, you risk depleting your funds before the game's potential has a chance to materialise.
The strength of a casino's Megaways selection depends on which game providers it partners with. Because the Megaways licence has been granted to so many studios, multi-provider casinos tend to have the strongest selections. Here are the NZ-facing sites I recommend specifically for Megaways play.
Rockwin carries titles from Big Time Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Blueprint Gaming, Red Tiger, and iSoftBet — all major Megaways licensees. This means you'll find everything from Bonanza Megaways to Buffalo King Megaways to Gonzo's Quest Megaways in a single casino. The game library is well-organised with a dedicated Megaways filter, making it easy to browse specifically for these titles. Rockwin's welcome bonus is generous and its NZ banking options are solid, making it my top pick for dedicated Megaways players.
Rolling Slots lives up to its name with one of the deepest pokie catalogues available to NZ players. The Megaways selection is extensive thanks to partnerships with over 50 game providers, ensuring you'll find Megaways titles from virtually every studio that holds the licence. Rolling Slots also frequently features Megaways pokies in their promotional offers, including free spins on specific Megaways titles. If variety is your priority, Rolling Slots delivers.
Most of the multi-provider casinos on our recommended list carry a healthy selection of Megaways pokies. The notable exception is Jackpot City, which runs exclusively on Microgaming/Games Global and doesn't carry Big Time Gaming, Pragmatic Play, or other Megaways licensees. If you're specifically interested in Megaways pokies, choose a casino that partners with multiple providers to ensure the widest selection.
Hunter's Tip: Use the search or filter function at your chosen casino to find Megaways titles quickly. Most modern casinos allow you to search by game name or filter by mechanic type. Searching "Megaways" typically surfaces the full catalogue in seconds.
One of the most significant recent developments in Megaways pokies is the "bonus buy" or "feature buy" option. This allows players to pay a premium — typically 80x to 100x their base bet — to instantly trigger the free spins bonus round, bypassing the base game entirely. It's a controversial feature that divides the pokies community, and it's worth understanding the pros and cons before you use it.
When a Megaways pokie offers a bonus buy option, you'll typically see a button on the game screen (often labelled "Buy Feature" or "Bonus Buy") with a price displayed as a multiple of your bet. For example, Bonanza Megaways might offer a bonus buy at 100x your bet. If you're playing at NZ$1 per spin, the bonus buy costs NZ$100 and immediately triggers the free spins round. The free spins round then plays out exactly as it would if you'd triggered it naturally through scatter symbols.
The mathematical expected value of a bonus buy is designed to be roughly equivalent to the cost of triggering the feature naturally through base game play. In theory, you're paying a fair price for guaranteed access to the free spins round. In practice, the advantage of bonus buy is time savings and guaranteed access to the most exciting part of the game. The disadvantage is the dramatically increased cost per feature — NZ$100 per bonus buy versus the gradual cost of base game spins.
Warning: Bonus buy can dramatically accelerate your spending. At NZ$100 per feature buy (100x a NZ$1 bet), you can burn through NZ$500 in just five feature purchases, which might take less than 15 minutes. Always set strict session budgets when using bonus buy, and never buy features with money you can't afford to lose. The free spins round is not guaranteed to produce a profit — even with cascading wins and increasing multipliers, individual bonus rounds can return less than the buy-in price.
Bonus buy is available at most NZ-facing online casinos, as it's not restricted by the jurisdictions that regulate offshore sites accessible to New Zealand players. Some jurisdictions (notably the UK) have banned the feature, but NZ players at Curacao, Malta, and other internationally-licensed casinos can typically access bonus buy on all supported titles. Not every Megaways pokie includes the option — it depends on the specific game developer and title.
Bonanza Megaways (BTG): 100x bet
Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic): 100x bet
Gonzo's Quest Megaways (Red Tiger): 80x bet
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways (Pragmatic): 100x bet
These costs represent a significant outlay per feature. At NZ$2 per spin base bet, each bonus buy costs NZ$160–$200. Budget accordingly.
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