Megaways free spins

Two meanings of Megaways free spins

People search for Megaways free spins with two different things in mind, and the difference matters when you read an offer.

A casino’s bonus spin can trigger the game’s own free spins feature, so the two sometimes overlap. When that happens, the feature plays at the bonus spin’s value.

How Megaways reels change the value of a spin

Megaways is a mechanic created by Big Time Gaming and licensed to many other studios. On a standard layout, each of six reels shows between two and seven symbols on every spin, and the number of ways to win is those counts multiplied together.

• A spin showing 2, 3, 7, 4, 5 and 6 symbols gives 2 × 3 × 7 × 4 × 5 × 6 = 5,040 ways.
• A spin with seven symbols on every reel gives 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways.
• A spin with two on every reel gives just 64 ways.

Your stake doesn’t change with the number of ways; the payout per way does. That is why Megaways games feel streaky: most spins show modest ways and small or no wins, while a tall set of reels with matching symbols can pay many lines at once. For the mechanic in more depth, read how Megaways works.

Popular Megaways slots and their published figures

If you have bonus spins or no-wagering winnings to use, these are some of the best-known Megaways titles. Figures are the developer’s published or default numbers; casinos can run different RTP versions.

Reviews: Bonanza Megaways, White Rabbit Megaways, The Dog House Megaways and Fishin’ Frenzy Megaways. The full list is on our Megaways slots page.

What 10p free spins look like on a Megaways slot

Take 100 bonus spins at 10p, £10 at face value, on a Megaways game with a 96% RTP. On average they return about £9.60. On a high-volatility title, though, that average is made of many sessions that return a few pounds and a few that return far more.

Compare a low-volatility classic like Starburst, where most of 100 spins would produce small wins and the total tends to land nearer the average. On a Megaways game, it is normal for long runs of spins to pay nothing and for the bulk of the return to arrive in one cascade sequence or one feature. Neither outcome is predictable, and none is due.

The game’s max win still caps any single spin. On The Dog House Megaways, 12,305x on a 10p spin is £1,230.50; on Big Bass Bonanza Megaways, 4,000x is £400. These are rare ceilings, not targets.

How the free spins round triggers inside Megaways games

Most Megaways slots trigger their free spins round with scatter symbols, commonly four or more anywhere on the reels, although the exact number varies by game. The info screen states the rule.

Inside the round, many Megaways games add a growing multiplier. In several Big Time Gaming titles, each cascade during free spins raises the win multiplier, so long chains of wins compound. Other games use sticky wilds, extra reel height or symbol upgrades. Retriggers are common, usually by landing more scatters during the round.

Because the round plays at the stake that triggered it, a feature started by a 10p bonus spin pays on 10p. How slot features trigger explains why feature frequency varies so much between games.

Do our partners’ welcome spins land on Megaways games?

Not as far as their published terms show. Coral’s 100 spins and Ladbrokes’ up to 500 spins are on selected games, and the key terms don’t name a Megaways title. PlayOJO’s 80 spins are on Big Bass Bonanza, the original 10-payline game, not the Megaways version.

Coral’s app listing does mention Megaways slots, and both Coral and Ladbrokes have Megaways sections in their lobbies. Because the welcome spins carry no wagering, any winnings become cash you can play on whichever eligible Megaways game you prefer, at your own chosen stake. See Coral Megaways slots and Ladbrokes Megaways slots for what each lobby offers.

UK rules that change how Megaways games play

Many Megaways games outside the UK include a bonus buy button to jump straight into free spins. Feature buys are not offered to players in Great Britain, so the round can only be reached by landing the scatters. That also means bonus spins can’t be spent on buying features.

• Spins take at least 2.5 seconds, with no autoplay, turbo or slam stop.
• Stakes are capped at £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds.
• Wins smaller than the stake can’t be celebrated as wins, which matters on Megaways games where many small cascades return less than the bet.
• Bonus wagering, where it applies, is capped at 10x.

Our UK slot game design rules page explains each rule.

What to check on a Megaways game before using spins

1. Open the info or help screen and find the RTP; note whether it matches the developer’s published figure.
2. Find the max win, usually stated as a multiple of the stake.
3. Read how the free spins round is triggered and whether it can retrigger.
4. Check the minimum stake, so you know whether a 10p bonus spin is playable on that game.
5. Look for any reel modifiers, such as a horizontal top reel, that change the ways count.

Our guide to reading a slot’s game info screen walks through each section.

How to claim spins and use them around Megaways games

1. Pick an offer and read its eligible games list for any Megaways titles.
2. Register as a new customer aged 18 or over and verify your account.
3. Make the qualifying deposit and, at Coral and Ladbrokes, stake £10 on slots.
4. Accept the spins (within 48 hours at Coral, before 23:59 daily at Ladbrokes) and play them on the selected games.
5. Withdraw any winnings, or, if you choose to keep playing, set a budget before moving to a Megaways game.

Where to find spins to use with Megaways slots

No partner offer is tied to a Megaways slot, so the closest fits are Coral’s 100 spins and Ladbrokes’ up to 500 spins at 10p with no wagering, followed by PlayOJO’s 80 spins on Big Bass Bonanza. Winnings are cash. Every one of them holds a UKGC licence, and each offer is for new customers aged 18 or over, subject to terms.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.