Megaways is a slot mechanic licensed from Big Time Gaming that varies the number of symbols on each reel every spin, producing up to 117,649 ways to win on a single 6-reel game. It became one of the dominant slot formats in the late 2010s and remains a top category on most Canadian casino lobbies.
Also known as: megaways slots
Traditional slots have fixed paylines (e.g., 20 lines, 50 lines). Megaways replaces paylines with "ways" — any combination of matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right wins, with the count of ways shifting every spin.
Megaways games are typically high-volatility: long dry spells punctuated by feature triggers (free spins with multiplying win multipliers) that produce the headline payouts.
Studios that license the mechanic include Pragmatic Play, Blueprint Gaming, iSoftBet, and Red Tiger. RTPs span the standard 94–96.5% range — same long-run math, different feel.