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The world of online slots has evolved dramatically over the years, introducing countless innovative features and game mechanics to capture players' interest. Among these, the Megaways™ game engine stands out as one of the most revolutionary developments in slot mechanics. One of the most famous Megaways games is Bonanza, developed by Big Time Gaming (BTG).
In this article, we'll dive deep into how Megaways works in the Bonanza slot, explaining why it’s one of the most thrilling and dynamic online slots available to Australian players today.
Before we explore the nitty-gritty of Bonanza, it's essential to understand what Megaways™ means.
Megaways™ is a slot game mechanic created by Big Time Gaming, released in 2015. This engine features a unique reel configuration where the number of symbols on each reel changes with every spin. This variability causes the potential number of ways to win or pay lines to fluctuate, often reaching tens of thousands.
Launched in 2016 by BTG, Bonanza was the first slot to use the Megaways mechanic. Set in a mining theme, Bonanza takes players on an adventure through a gold mine where the objective is to find valuable gemstones and nuggets through his unique gameplay.
Bonanza is known for:
Bonanza uses a vertical reel layout with six main mining reels plus an additional seventh reel or row displayed at the top. Typically when referring to Megaways, the focus is on the six main reels.
Instead of a fixed number of symbols displayed per reel, Bonanza varies this number every spin — usually between 2 and 7 symbols per reel. This means one spin there could be 3 symbols on reel 1, 7 on reel 2, 6 on reel 3, and so on, and the next spin could be an entirely different configuration.
Since the number of symbols per reel differs each spin, the total number of Megaways is calculated by multiplying the number of symbols on each reel together. For example:
| Reel | Symbols (example spin) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 7 |
Total Megaways = 3 × 7 × 6 × 5 × 4 × 7 = 17,640 ways to win
The maximum number of ways to win in Bonanza is 117,649 (7 symbols appear on each of the six reels: 7^6 = 117,649).
Unlike traditional fixed paylines, Megaways pays based on symbol adjacencies from left to right. If matching symbols appear anywhere on consecutive reels, you win. The variability in symbols provides loads of opportunities, as the accumulated symbols massively increase possible ways to win compared to classic slots.
One of the standout features of Bonanza is its Cascade mechanic. Whenever a player lands a winning combination, those symbols "explode," and disappear, allowing new symbols to fall into their place. This can produce multiple successive wins from a single spin count.
This feature aligns exceptionally well with the Megaways mechanic because it allows players to benefit from the high symbol variability over multiple cascades — compounding winning opportunities and excitement.
While the Megaways mechanic itself makes Bonanza exciting, several on-screen features complement it perfectly:
Triggering free spins in Bonanza involves landing four or more Scatter symbols - represented by the letters G, O, L, and D — in a single spin.
Once you've entered the free spins round:
Due to the unlimited Megaways combinations and high multipliers, free spins in Bonanza are where huge wins frequently occur.
Each Cascade increases multiplier in free spins, and this ties into the Megaways mechanism by allowing even bigger winning combo counts on each spilling cascade, heightening all possible payouts.
Bonanza's combination of experimental reel mechanics and exhilarating bonus features resonates well with many Australian online slot fans, thanks to:
If you’re keen to enjoy Bonanza, consider the following tips to enhance your experience:
The incorporation of the Megaways system into Bonanza has reshaped what players can expect from online slot games. Its complex variable reel structure powers tens of thousands of unique winning combinations, made all the more exciting by cascades and multipliers.
For Australian players looking for fresh and rewarding online casino slot gameplay, Bonanza offers a captivating blend of big win potential, continuous excitement, and a polished immersive experience underpinned beautifully by the Megaways mechanism.
Dive into the gold mine today – with Megaways, every spin feels like striking it lucky!