Bonanza Megaways

Bonanza Megaways is the slot that started a revolution. Released by Big Time Gaming in 2016, it was the first game to use the now-ubiquitous Megaways engine, and its mining-and-gems theme has become an icon of modern slot design. With up to 117,649 ways to win, cascading Reactions and an unlimited multiplier in free spins, it remains a benchmark title and a firm favourite, with a maximum win of up to 12,000x your stake.

The game is built on six reels plus a horizontal carriage reel above them. On every spin, each reel shows a random number of symbols — between two and seven — so the total number of ways to win changes constantly, peaking at 117,649. This variable-reel system is what "Megaways" means, and Bonanza was its debut.

Reactions and the unlimited multiplier

Bonanza uses cascading wins, which BTG calls Reactions: any winning combination is removed and new symbols drop in, potentially chaining several wins from a single spin. In the base game, each consecutive Reaction increases a win multiplier, resetting when the cascade ends.

The real magic happens in the free spins. Collect Gold Bar scatters from the carriage reel to trigger the bonus, and during it the Reaction multiplier is unlimited and never resets — it keeps climbing with every consecutive win for the whole round. A long chain of Reactions during free spins, with the multiplier rising step by step, is how Bonanza reaches its biggest wins.

RTP, volatility and stakes

Bonanza Megaways runs at a default 96.0% RTP, with operators sometimes offering lower versions. It is a high-volatility slot, though its frequent base-game cascades make it feel a touch more active than some extreme titles. Stakes range from 0.20 to 20 per spin, and free spins can be retriggered by collecting more Gold Bar scatters during the feature.

Tips and who it's for

The unlimited multiplier in free spins is everything, so the goal is to reach the bonus and then hope for a long Reaction chain. A measured stake helps you spin often enough to trigger it. Bonanza suits players who enjoy busy, unpredictable gameplay and the thrill of a shifting board — and anyone curious to play the game that defined the Megaways format now found across thousands of slots.

Strategy and bankroll tips

Bonanza Megaways rewards players who understand that its real engine is the free-spins round and its ever-climbing, never-resetting multiplier. In the base game the frequent cascades keep things lively, but the life-changing wins come from collecting the Gold Bar scatters, reaching the bonus, and then enjoying a long chain of Reactions while the multiplier ratchets upward. Because of that, the priority is simply to spin often enough to trigger the feature, which argues for a modest stake relative to your bankroll rather than big bets that burn through your balance quickly. The shifting number of ways to win — anywhere up to 117,649 — makes every spin feel different, but it does not change the underlying high-volatility maths, so quiet spells are normal and chasing them by raising your stake is a mistake. Confirm whether your casino runs the standard 96% RTP or a lower configuration, decide on a session limit before you start, and treat the Megaways format as the entertaining innovation it is rather than a shortcut to profit. As a slice of slot history that still plays brilliantly today, Bonanza is well worth experiencing in demo mode first.

As the original Megaways slot, Bonanza is a genuine piece of slot history as well as a great game in its own right. Try Bonanza Megaways in free demo mode here to experience the format before you play for real, and always set a budget and play responsibly.

How Bonanza Megaways compares

At 96%, Bonanza Megaways sits below the 96.49% median of the 16 slots we have reviewed, on high volatility. Return alone rarely settles the choice, though: volatility and the ceiling decide how that same percentage feels across a session. The table below puts Bonanza Megaways next to the closest alternatives in our catalogue.

Every figure is the studio's default configuration. Operators are free to run a lower RTP build of many of these games — our guide to RTP explains why that happens and where to check the version you are actually playing.