A Megaways slot does not use fixed paylines. Instead, each reel can display a variable number of symbols on every spin, typically between two and seven. The total number of winning combinations is calculated by multiplying the symbol count across all reels. With six reels and up to seven symbols per reel, the maximum ways to win reaches 117,649.
Big Time Gaming developed the engine and licensed it to other studios, so the same underlying logic now appears in hundreds of titles. Players who compare standard slots with titles at a non GamStop casino often notice how differently the reel grid behaves from one spin to the next. The shifting layout means a spin with only 324 ways can follow one with over 50,000, which changes how wins form without altering the core rules.
How the Random Reel Modifier Works
Symbol Count Is Decided Independently per Reel
Before the reels stop, the game selects a random number of symbols for each column. Most Megaways slots use six vertical reels, and each can land between two and seven symbols. The total ways for that spin is the product of those six numbers. A layout of 7-6-5-4-3-2 creates only 5,040 ways, while a full 7-7-7-7-7-7 grid delivers the maximum 117,649.
The modifier runs on every spin, so the number of active ways changes constantly. This matters because winning combinations still require matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. On a spin with fewer symbols on the first two reels, the pool of possible matches shrinks considerably even if the later reels are fully stacked.
How Cascading Reels Extend a Single Spin
Winning symbols are removed from the grid and new symbols drop into the empty spaces. The game recalculates the number of ways after each cascade. Cascades continue until no new win appears, and all payouts from the sequence are added together. Because the reel height stays the same during cascades, the number of ways does not reset until the next paid spin. A sequence that starts with 30,000 ways can sustain that level through several cascades.
Extra Reels and Expanding Grids
The Horizontal Reel Adds Another Factor
Many Megaways slots place a four-symbol horizontal reel above or below the main grid. Each symbol on that track counts as an extra symbol for the reel it sits above, increasing the multiplier for that column. When every reel gets a matching symbol from the horizontal track, the total ways calculation shifts. On a six-reel setup with the extra reel active, the maximum can reach 586,971 or more depending on the title. The horizontal reel usually spins with the main reels and can carry wilds or multipliers. Its contribution is not a separate payline but a direct factor in the multiplication across reels.
Grid Expansion During Bonus Rounds
Certain Megaways slots start with fewer reels or restricted symbol heights and unlock extra rows as part of a feature. The ways calculation runs again after each expansion. Bonus rounds sometimes guarantee a minimum number of symbols per reel, removing the lowest possible counts. A game might set a floor of four symbols per reel, meaning the smallest possible grid during the feature is 4,096 ways instead of the 64 ways possible in the base game.
How Wins Are Calculated Without Paylines
Adjacent Reels Replace Fixed Patterns
In a fixed-payline slot, a win counts only when symbols land on one of the predetermined lines. Megaways ignores lines entirely. Instead, any three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel count as a win, regardless of their vertical position. Multiple winning combinations can include the same symbol position. A single symbol on reel one might form part of several different matches if the subsequent reels carry matching symbols in different rows. The game pays each combination separately.
Multiplier Symbols and Win Accumulation
Many Megaways slots include a multiplier symbol that appears only during free spins. Each time one lands, its value is added to a running total that applies to all subsequent wins in the feature. Because the multiplier grows without a cap in some titles, a long cascade sequence can produce payouts far above the base-game ceiling.
The table below compares the key structural differences between standard Megaways and two common variants.
| Feature | Standard Megaways | Megaways with Horizontal Reel |
| Base reels | 6 vertical | 6 vertical + 1 horizontal |
| Max symbols per reel | 7 | 7 (plus up to 4 from horizontal track) |
| Max ways | 117,649 | Typically 200,704 to 586,971 |
| Cascade mechanic | Yes | Yes |
A standard grid multiplies six reel heights. The horizontal-reel variant adds extra symbols to some or all columns before that multiplication runs.
RTP, Volatility and Practical Differences
Return to Player in Megaways Titles
Most Megaways slots sit in the 94% to 97% RTP range, similar to other high-volatility online slots. The variable reel heights do not directly change the return percentage, which is set by the game maths across millions of spins. A few titles offer RTP settings that casinos can adjust within a small band, so the same game might show 96.1% at one site and 94.2% at another. Much of the RTP is concentrated in the bonus round where the cascade and multiplier features interact.
What Players Usually Compare
When choosing between Megaways titles, players often look at these details:
- Maximum ways available in the base game
- Presence and cap of a progressive multiplier in free spins
- Minimum and maximum bet limits
- Whether a horizontal reel or expanding grid is included
- RTP range and any adjustable return settings
These factors affect session pacing more than the headline ways figure alone. Two games advertising 117,649 ways can feel very different if one limits cascades to three drops and the other allows unlimited chains with a growing multiplier.
Questions Players Often Ask
Do all Megaways slots have exactly 117,649 ways to win?
No. That figure is the maximum when six reels each display seven symbols. Many titles add a horizontal reel or extra reels that push the number higher. The actual ways on any spin depend on the random symbol count per reel and usually sit far below the maximum.
Can you choose how many ways are active on a spin?
No. The number of ways is determined randomly by the reel modifier at the start of each spin. There is no option to fix the count or to pay extra for more ways.
Are Megaways slots more volatile than standard slots?
They tend to be. The combination of variable ways, cascading wins and bonus-round multipliers pushes a large share of the return into infrequent feature sequences. The base game can produce many non-winning spins between bonus triggers.
What happens to the number of ways during cascades?
The per-reel symbol count usually stays the same until the cascades finish and a new paid spin begins. The ways calculation does not change mid-sequence unless a special symbol explicitly alters reel height.
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