Bonanza

Bonanza Megaways is the original Megaways slot — released by Big Time Gaming in 2016 and the title that created the entire Megaways slot category. Bonanza introduced the variable-reel engine that generates up to 117,649 ways to win, cascading reels that replace winning symbols with new ones, and the unlimited win multiplier free spins feature. RTP is 96.0%, volatility is very high, and the max win is 10,000× stake. Every Megaways slot released since is built on or licensed from this mechanic.

How Bonanza Megaways Works

Bonanza uses a 6-reel Megaways grid with a horizontal top reel running above the main reels. Each main reel shows 2–7 symbols per spin; the horizontal reel adds one symbol above each position. The combined symbol count creates up to 117,649 ways to win when all reels show the maximum height.

Cascading Reactions: Winning symbols explode and are replaced by new symbols from above. Multiple consecutive cascades in one spin are possible — each cascade resets the reel heights, potentially creating further wins. This was one of the first implementations of cascades in a Megaways format.

Scatter triggers: Four or more GOLD scatter symbols appearing anywhere on the reels trigger the free spins feature. Scatters can appear on any reel.

Unlimited win multiplier: The free spins begin with a 1× multiplier that increases by 1 with each cascade reaction. No cap — this is the mechanic that enables Bonanza's large payouts. A sustained cascade chain with a 20–30× multiplier in place produces the session's largest wins.

Bonanza vs Modern Megaways Slots

Bonanza set the template that most subsequent Megaways slots follow. Modern titles ([Extra Chilli](/slots/big-time-gaming/extra-chilli/), Primal, [Rick and Morty Megaways](/slots/blueprint-gaming/rick-and-morty-megaways/)) have added features — multiple bonus modes, hold-and-spin mechanics, bonus buy — but the core Bonanza mechanic remains the clearest expression of what Megaways does. Its advantage: no feature bloat. Its disadvantage: some modern titles offer higher RTP variants or larger max wins (Extra Chilli offers 50,000× vs Bonanza's 10,000×).

Play Bonanza for Free

A free demo is widely available at Big Time Gaming partner casinos and aggregator platforms. The demo runs the full Megaways mechanic including the free spins multiplier — the clearest way to understand why Bonanza created the genre.