How megaways slots impacted volatility, RTP and the future of online slots
Online slots have come a long way since the first electronic gaming machines entered casinos in the 1970s. Slots were limited to just a few reels and paylines. Gameplay was simple with little variation between titles. Fast forward to today and slots have transformed almost beyond recognition, offering immersive gameplay features, 3D graphics and innovative bonus rounds.
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the introduction of the megaways mechanic in 2016. The first megaways slot, developed by Big Time Gaming, shook up industry norms by delivering an unprecedented 117,649 ways to win. Not only did this completely reimagine how slots could pay but it also signaled a shift towards higher volatility slots with greater return-to-player (RTP) rates.
Rise of the Megaways
Megaways slots at RocketPlay Casino Australia derive their name from the randomly generated number of symbols per reel, made possible by an innovative reel modifier mechanic. This creates thousands, if not millions, of ways to win as the reels expand and contract with every spin. Alongside adjustable reels, megaways games also introduced the innovative cascading wins feature. This sees winning symbols removed and replaced with new ones, enabling consecutive wins to stack up within a single spin.
The unique selling point of the first megaways slots was the level of volatility they facilitated. While classic slots tend to have low to medium volatility with smaller, more frequent payouts, megaways slots can have extreme volatility but with less frequent, higher payout potential.
| Year | Significant Megaways Slot Releases |
| 2016 | Bonanza Megaways (Big Time Gaming) |
| 2018 | Extra Chilli Megaways (Big Time Gaming) |
| 2019 | Gonzo’s Quest Megaways (NetEnt) |
| 2020 | John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen (Pragmatic Play) |
| 2023 | Buffalo Rising Megaways Jackpots (Blueprint Gaming) |
Big Time Gaming held the patent for the megaways mechanic until 2021 when it expired, allowing other providers to implement the feature. This led to significant growth in the number of megaways titles being released from 2021 onwards. Major developers like Pragmatic Play, Blueprint Gaming and Red Tiger have all tried their hand at megaways slots. Even classic titles like Gonzo’s Quest have been reinvented with the mechanic.
Volatility and RTP Upside in Megaways
So how exactly did the introduction of megaways impact slot volatility and RTPs? In short, the adjustable reels and cascading wins opened the door for game developers to increase both without relying solely on bonus features.
Higher volatility in the base game translates to a lower frequency of payouts, but increased size of payouts when they do land. While base game hits are less consistent, the ceiling is also practically limitless with certain megaways slots paying out five figure sums on a single spin. When it comes to volatility, megaways slots can reach levels that were previously unheard of in the online slots space.
At the same time, early megaways releases also exceeded the industry standard RTP rate of 96% that had dominated up until that point. Bonanza, for example, launched with an RTP of 96.5% while Extra Chilli went even further with 96.8%. Higher RTP slots give more money back to players over an extended period of play. With megaways powering bigger payout potential, developers could improve RTP without significantly increasing their risk.
The introduction of megaways in 2016 facilitated a shift towards higher volatility slots with increased RTP rates over 96%.
Slot Innovation Powered by Megaways
The megaways phenomenon also triggered wider innovation across the slots industry. Seeing the success of early megaways titles prompted developers to experiment with new mechanics and features to attract players.
Big Time Gaming itself went on to pioneer additional slot innovations including the ways to pay mechanics and progressive bonus bets. Other providers also followed suit, enhancing their slots with fresh takes on bonus buys, multipliers, symbol collection and beyond.
As more studios got their hands on the now expired megaways trademark, this massively increased the diversity of megaways titles available. Leading developers have used the mechanic as a base while adding their own twists via bespoke features and themes.
Blueprint Gaming, for example, integrated the popular jackpot mechanic into their megaways slots series. Similarly, Relax Gaming created an innovative dual spin feature for their Money Train 2 slot. This sees two sets of reels spin independently with wins paid from both.
Future of Online Slot Development
As we now move into 2025, megaways slots show no sign of decreasing in popularity or innovation. Providers continue to enhance the player experience through features like horizontal reel expansions, symbol transformations and beyond. Given the range of customizations now possible on top of the base mechanic, I expect megaways slots to continue leading innovation in the market.
Alongside further development of the megaways mechanic itself, I also predict we’ll see additional growth in slots with higher volatility and RTP rates. The success of early megaways releases have normalized slots with over 96% RTPs. Players are now more accustomed to slots with lower base game hit frequency but exponential win ceiling through features like bonus bets.
So while classic low to medium volatility slots still have their place today, the popularity of megaways has facilitated an exciting shift towards more diverse game volatility and return rates. Slots in 2025 cater to an even wider breadth of player preferences thanks to the innovation first triggered by megaways back in 2016.
I expect this trajectory towards higher volatility and RTP rates to continue shaping slot development for years to come. Megaways established key proof points that players welcome slots that push the boundaries when it comes to payout potential and variance. This has only encouraged providers to continue iterating and enhancing their offerings to cater perfectly to all types of slots enthusiasts today and into the future.
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