Megaways Slots UK
Simply put, Megaways slots are online games that incorporate the popular Megaways mechanic. Megaways games have taken to the UK slot industry by storm, coming in many different forms for players to enjoy. The term was coined by popular Australian slot developer, Big Time Gaming (BTG for short) back in 2016 when they first unleashed the Megaways mechanic on an unsuspecting gaming world via their slot game Dragon Born, featuring the now established 117,649 ways to win. BTG followed up with a Bonanza Megaways in the same year, and a star was born. The technology was so innovative, so popular, and so revolutionary, that the other slot developers just had to get their hands on it. Hence, BTG did the only sensible thing they could do - they licensed it out to other companies such as Red Tiger, Pragmatic Play and Blueprint Gaming, among others. Some developers were even inspired to innovate their version of the Megaways mechanic. NetEnt, for example, patented its version called InfiniReels. Microgaming did the same with their proprietary Wonderways system. However good these mechanics may be, none of them has been able to match the popularity that Megaways enjoys.
Nowadays if a developer is looking to refresh an existing slot game, one of the ways they do it is to create a Megaways version of it. Not only does it give them the chance to revamp the gameplay, but it also allows them to improve the game’s graphics, music, and sound effects - basically every facet of a slot’s presentation.
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How do Megaways slots work?
So how does the Megaways mechanic work, anyway? There are a few moving parts, so let’s break these down one by one. First of all, Megaways slots use a unique mathematical equation alongside a random reel modifier. As a result, Megaways slots almost always have a larger than usual game grid of 6 reels and between 2 - 7 rows depending on the on-screen action and size of the symbols in play, as opposed to the smaller game grids with a fixed number of rows and reels found in games that don’t use the mechanic. In a Megaways slot, each reel can reveal up to 7 symbols in view, and landing consecutive symbols on all reels after a spin could lead to a maximum of 117,649 ways to win! Some slots have 4 game grids, and each of these has a 6-reel set-up plus a horizontal 4-reel row at the top. All 4 of these horizontal rows - featuring the aforementioned 117,649 ways to win - are active at the same time. This all adds up to a staggering 470,596 paylines should winning combinations occur on all game grids! And that’s only the tip of the proverbial iceberg! Slots such as 1 Million Megaways BC offer over 1 million ways to win, more than double that of Gorilla Gold Megaways!
Another feature of the Megaways mechanic is the Cascading Reels feature, and these are exactly what the name implies they are. In-game, all winning symbols will cause a chain reaction, meaning that they are removed from the reels and replaced by new symbols coming into play from above the reels. Cascades continue until no more winning symbols are generated. In slots such as Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, the way the reels cascade is unique; rather than copying the usual spinning reel movement found in other online slots, the stone blocks just fall on top of each other. They then crumble and disappear.
On the other hand, online slots that don’t incorporate BTG’s popular mechanic usually display a limited and fixed number of paylines that cannot be adjusted or modified. This in turn means that players have to bet on every possible combination of symbols and activate all of them during a spin for a better chance at a payout. Examples of slots with a limited number of paylines include Fruit Shop slot (15 paylines) and Dragon’s Luck (10 paylines, although the latter has a Megaways iteration which of course offers many more potential wins to win). So you can see that the Megaways mechanic offers infinitely more possibilities for landing winning combinations due to the increased number of symbols landing on the expanded game grids.
The rise of the Megaways slot game genre
In just a few short years, the Megaways mechanic has risen to become one of the most popular and sought-after in the UK casino world, with more and more developers incorporating it into their online slots. Some entrepreneurial devs have developed their variants; these are good in their own right, but nothing has quite hit as Megaways did, and slot games that use the technology are some of the most popular ones on the market. That there are now over 150 online slots that use Megaways is a testament to the impact it's had, as is the fact that a lot of online suppliers now have a dedicated Megaways tab. And the number of slots using the tech will no doubt grow exponentially in the coming months and years.
Big Time Gaming has cornered the market with its Megaways mechanic, but of course, this would not have been possible without the players; they are the real reason why the technology exploded as it did, and why developers are falling over themselves to either make Megaways versions of their most popular games or create the proprietary mechanic that they hope will at least rival that of BTG’s. The market is set to be flooded with Megaways slots potentially providing 100,000s upon 100,000s of ways to win alongside other bonuses and features such as modifiers, multipliers and free spin features that can pay out huge sums worth many times the original bet. Additionally, Megaways slots comprise all manner of themes and genres, so just like all online slots, there’ll be something to suit everyone’s tastes and likes. The Megaways mechanic exists in this symbiotic relationship between developer, supplier and player. The Megaways train is going full speed ahead and you won’t want it to stop at any station.
One of the main reasons that the Megaways slot game genre gained so much popularity was due to some of the most iconic slot games receiving their own Megaways version. This meant that slot fan favourite games such as the underwater Fishin Frenzy Megaways and the Ancient Egypt centred Eye of Horus Megaways were created. The Megaways mechanic has been used to transform many slot games and take them to the next level with the ammount of paylines now available. Many of the top game providers have licensed the Megaways mechanic and combined them with their biggest slot games in order to produce some of the hottest games available to players.
What makes Megaways slots so popular in the UK?
Megaways slots are already hugely popular in the UK, so what do you think could make them even more so? Why, Branded Megaways, of course! And what exactly is that, you may ask? It’s simple really. The idea was pioneered by developer Iron Dog Studios, who saw a gap in the market that no one had hitherto thought about. So, they jumped right in. And the idea? To create a fully customisable Megaways slot based on Pirate Kingdom Megaways. More of a template than a fully realised game, Branded Megaways allows Iron Dog Studio’s casino partners to brand a Megaways slot in their inimitable style. This can mean including imagery such as logos, mascots or symbols. And just like that, online casinos can have their very own specific and exclusive Megaways slots based on a wide variety of themes. Finally, Branded Megaways slots use the traditional Megaways set-up, with a game grid consisting of 6 reels and 2-7 rows. The precise number of symbols in these online casino games change with each spin, but when the reels are fully expanded, players can expect a maximum of 117,649 ways to win, again just like in traditional Megaways slots. Other popular features of Branded Megaways slots include cascading reels, free spins, locked reels and multipliers.
A lot of these features and bonuses carry over into traditional Megaways slots. We have already discussed the Cascading Reels feature in an earlier section. Linked to this mechanic, a lot of slots, including Extra Chilli Megaways, have a Free Spins feature with an unlimited win multiplier. This multiplier usually starts at 1x but increases by a factor of 1 with every cascade that triggers during free spins. In theory, unlimited win multipliers can go on increasing indefinitely, so long as the Free Spins bonus round is active.
Mystery symbols can also play a significant role in Megaways slots. In Blueprint Gaming’s Bison Rising Megaways, for example, this is represented by the sun setting over distant mountains. In Red Tiger’s Dragon’s Luck Megaways, the symbol is represented by a golden dragon coin. Whichever form it takes, the Mystery symbol can appear on any reel, and when it does, substitutes for all other symbols apart from the Scatter. This creates the possibility of landing more winning combinations that would ordinarily be possible on non-Megaways slots. It should be noted, however, that not all Megaways slots have bonus Mystery symbols. Eye of Horus Megaways, for example, is one of the few that doesn’t, although it makes up for it in other ways, including an extensive Free Spins feature.
Another benefit of Megaways slots that makes them especially popular is the relatively high RTP compared to traditional video slots. The average RTP on a Megaways slot is around 96%. On the other hand, the RTP on non-Megaways slots can fluctuate considerably. Allied to a higher potential max win - Vikings Unleashed Megaways has a maximum potential win rate of 50,000x the stake - and you can see why Megaways slots are considered so lucrative.
Another reason for their popularity that should not be understated is that Megaways slots play just as well on mobile and tablet devices as they do on a desktop. This is due to them using the same HTML 5/JavaScript technology as their non-Megaways brethren. This means lossless visuals, music, sound effects, and more! All you need to enjoy some of the best Megaways slots on the market today is a stable internet connection!
What are the best Megaways games at Lottomart?
And what are some of the best Megaways slots you ask? Let’s start with one we’ve already mentioned, Bonanza Megaways. It may have been the second Megaways slot ever conceived, but with its 117,649 ways to win and potential win of 12,000x the stake, it’s still popular to this day! It’s the perfect encapsulation of why Megaways slots are so beloved and worth playing!
Rainbow Riches is one of the most popular slot games ever created, so it stood to reason that Light & Wonder (formally SG Digital) would want to create an even more lucrative Megaways version. Rainbow Riches Megaways is the result and it doesn’t disappoint, with its combination of 117,649 paylines and a potential win of 12,500x the stake. This is combined with cascading reels, unlimited win multipliers, free spins and more, alongside the winsome charming personality that the Rainbow Riches saga is known for! If you’re hankering for a Megaways Irish-themed slot, then it's hard to go wrong with this one!
From the emerald isle to a steamy jungle setting, Return of Kong Megaways swings into action with the now standard 117,649 ways to win and a staggering potential max win of 50,000x the stake! Coupled with features such as cascading reels, mystery symbols, free spins and more, this Megaways slot isn’t monkeying around!
If you’re looking for staple Megaways classics, you’re onto a good bet with either Diamond Mine Megaways or Gonzo’s Quest Megaways. Both feature 117,649 ways to win and include several immersive bonus features such as cascading reels, win multipliers, mystery symbols, and more. And if you’re a fan of either gold prospecting or exploring ancient Aztec temples, then these slots have you more than covered.
Another classic which could potentially be considered one of the most popular titles out there is the Eye of Horus Megaways from Blueprint Gaming. Like with all of their other releases, this online slot game captures the developers' extpertise in the field of graphics, accurately capturing the era of Ancient Egypt with a enigmatic temple backdrop and a collection of jewel-esque pendants which represennt various pieces of Egyptian iconography. What's more, due to the Megaways mechanic also being implemented, the playtable at hand becomes dynamic, offering the trademark 117,649 individual paylines!
117,649 ways to win getting a bit too tame? Then sail the seven seas under the jolly roger with Pirates Plenty Megaways, a slot that allows up to a maximum of 200,704 ways to win thanks to its Wild Ways feature! Still not enough? Up the ante with Megaways slots such as the aforementioned Gorilla Gold Megaways and 1 Million Megaways BC. The former features a staggering 470,596 paylines, and the latter was one of the first Megaways slots to feature over one million ways to win! However, these are not the only slots to go beyond the traditional 117,649 ways to win. The gold standard - so to speak - was set by Big Time Gaming’s own Gold Megaways. Inspired by the classic 80s Spandau Ballet song, this slot features up to 1,000,000 ways to win alongside cascading symbols, expanding reels, and win multipliers among a plethora of bonus features!
All these Megaways slots and more await here at Lottomart. Whatever genre or theme you enjoy, we have Megaways games to suit all your preferences. So have a look and see what we have to offer. Who knows, you might find a new favourite!
Other Casino Games at Lottomart
If you love our selection of Megaways slots, we of course have versions of the same games that don’t use Big Time Gaming’s mechanic but still offer thrilling mechanics and high potential max payouts. If you love Gonzo’s Quest Megaways, have a go on the original Gonzo’s Quest by NetEnt. Featuring a similar cascading reel feature with win multipliers (called the Avalanche function) and a Free Spins bonus round, it’s possible to win a max possible payout of 1,875x the stake.
Similarly, if you enjoy playing Rainbow Riches Megaways, you can go back and play the slot that started it all, the original and still classic, Rainbow Riches slot! With multiple bonus features, a max possible payout of 500x the stake and oodles of charm and personality, we’re sure you’ll love the first title in the Rainbow Riches saga!
If you dug the previously discused Eye of Horus Megaways variation, then you will love exploring Ancient Egyptian temples in the other entries in Blueprint Gaming’s seminal slots series. 2016's original is the classic slot that started it all, but Eye of Horus the Golden Tablet, upped the ante with an expanding wilds feature alongside free spins and a symbol upgrade mechanic that allow a max potential payout of 50,000x the stake. Not bad going for a non-Megaways slot!
If you had a swinging time in the jungle in Return of Kong Megaways, we have several other thrilling slots from the classic series featuring the famous ape, including the equally as popular King Kong Cashpots! This title is an exciting monkey-themed adventure game packed with a slew of exciting bonus rounds and modifiers in which an electrifying max win of 1000x the stake is possible! The latter is a high-swinging slot packed with features from the free spins bonus wheel to the cash pots themselves, offering a potential instant win of up to 1000x the stake! There’s a good time to be had whichever Kong slot you choose to play!The above is just scratching the surface of what we offer here at Lottomart! With an ever-expanding roster of slots, live casino games, lotto and scratch cards - we’re sure you’ll find something you like in no time!
FAQs
What are Megaways Slots?
The Megaways category of slot games features a popular mechanic developed by Big Time Gaming that offers huge payline counts to play. Many of the most popular slot titles have a Megaways release to enjoy, so there will surely be something for everyone.
How to Play Megaways Slots?
Megaways slot games play like any other with the use of different shaped symbols providing between 2 and 7 symbols per reel. The more symbols in a reel, the higher the pay line count in play, providing more ways for players to land symbol combinations.
Where can I play Megaways Slots?
On many online casinos such as ours, you can find a great selection of Megaways game titles to choose from by the biggest developers in the industry. Choose from various slot genres with Megaways slot game titles like Centurion Megaways or Christmas Megaways.
What are the Best Megaways Slots?
The best Megaways slot game is down to opinion though Bonanza Megaways was the slot that catapulted this mechanic into popularity. There are other popular titles, including Big Bass Bonanza Megaways and many more.
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Play Megaways Casino Games at Lottomart Games
If you are a UK mobile casino player, you can join today for our great range of online casino games featuring the thrilling Megaways mechanic from Big Time Gaming! If you are a new Lottomart UK customer, you can access our generous welcome bonus, which will grant you some extra gaming funds. New customers can get a 100% deposit match bonus up to £100! 18+, terms apply. If you join and deposit £100, we will give you another £100 in bonus funds to play around with!
£10 min deposit. £100 max match. 50x wagering. Game eligibility & contributions vary. 10p to £5 bet range. £500 max redemption. New players only. Limited time offer. Valid 7 days. Terms apply.
