Megaways is a licensed mechanic rather than a game: reels change height on every spin, so the number of ways to win changes too, up to 117,649 on a standard six-reel implementation. It produces the highest volatility in mainstream slots, and it is worth understanding before you commit a bankroll to one.
How the ways count works
Each reel displays between two and seven symbols. Multiply the symbol counts across six reels and you get the ways figure for that spin. Seven symbols on all six reels gives 7^6, which is 117,649. Most spins land well below the maximum, and the enormous headline number is a best-case, not an average.
Why Megaways games swing so hard
- Wins are frequent but usually tiny, because a way with three low symbols pays very little.
- The real money sits in cascading sequences during free spins with an unlimited multiplier that persists between spins.
- A session without free spins can burn a bankroll steadily while showing constant small wins, which feels less costly than it is.
Choosing a Megaways title
| Check | Why |
|---|---|
| RTP in the info panel | Megaways titles have particularly wide RTP variant ranges between operators |
| Whether the free spin multiplier is unlimited | This is where the entire top-end return lives |
| Feature buy price | Often 100x or more, and the variance after buying is still brutal |
| Bet range | Some implementations start higher than standard slots |
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Frequently asked questions
What does 117,649 ways mean?
It is the maximum number of winning combinations when all six reels show seven symbols (7 to the power of 6). Most spins produce far fewer ways than the headline figure.