Great Rhino Megaways slot

Great Rhino Megaways: Pragmatic Play’s first Megaways slot

Megaways is a reel engine created and trademarked by Big Time Gaming, which other studios license. Pragmatic Play announced a partnership with Big Time Gaming in April 2020 and released Great Rhino Megaways on 30 April 2020 as its first game using the engine. It is a sequel to the studio’s earlier Great Rhino, keeping the African savannah setting and the rhino as the star symbol.

The look is bright and uncluttered, with a savannah backdrop and wildlife symbols sitting above the usual card ranks. The interest is in the maths rather than the art. A changing number of symbols per reel, tumbles that can chain wins, and a free spins round with a climbing multiplier give this game much bigger swings than its fixed-reel predecessor.

Where the 200,704 ways come from

Most Megaways games use six reels of two to seven symbols, giving up to 117,649 ways (7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7). Great Rhino Megaways adds a horizontal reel that runs above reels two to five, adding one more symbol to each of those four reels. At full height that makes 7 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 7 = 200,704 ways.

More ways doesn’t mean more money per spin on average. The game’s RTP is the same whatever the reel heights; the ways count simply describes how many left-to-right paths a symbol can take. A win needs matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from reel one. Our guide on how Megaways works covers the engine in detail, including how it compares with fixed paylines.

Tumbles and the rhino wild in the base game

Every win triggers a tumble: winning symbols vanish and replacements fall into the gaps, which can create another win on the same paid spin. Because reel heights stay fixed during a tumble sequence, a high-ways spin keeps its large number of paths for each refill.

Pragmatic Play’s launch announcement describes the rhino as the wild across the reels, substituting to complete wins. A rhino landing on a middle reel during a tall spin can connect thousands of paths at once, which is where many of the base game’s better hits come from.

In the base game wins don’t carry a multiplier, so a tumble chain is paid at face value. The multiplier only appears in free spins.

Great Rhino Megaways free spins and the choice you make

Four to six golden scatters in one spin trigger the bonus. Pragmatic Play’s game page says you then choose from options that trade spins for multiplier: more free spins with a low starting multiplier, or fewer spins with a higher one. It quotes free spin counts in the 15 to 23 range and starting multipliers of 1x, 5x or 10x; the exact menu on screen depends on how many scatters you landed.

Once the round starts, every tumble win adds 1x to the multiplier, and it doesn’t reset between spins. Three or more scatters in one free spin add five more spins, and the developer says there is no limit to how often that can happen.

Which option is better?

Both kinds of choice are designed to return about the same on average; they differ in shape. A low starting multiplier with more spins gives the multiplier more time to climb through tumble wins and tends to produce steadier results. A high starting multiplier with fewer spins pays more from the first win but leaves less time, so outcomes are more all-or-nothing.

The table is a simple illustration of how the trade-off works, not a prediction. Many rounds pay well below these figures and a few pay far more.

How to play Great Rhino Megaways

1. Sign in at a UKGC-licensed casino and complete age verification (needed even for the demo).
2. Open the game’s help screen and check the RTP figure your casino is running.
3. Pick a stake no higher than £5 a spin, or £2 if you are 18 to 24.
4. Spin and let any tumble sequence finish; each spin takes at least 2.5 seconds.
5. If four or more scatters land, choose your free spins option from the menu.
6. After the round, compare your balance with the net position display and stop at your planned limit.

Great Rhino Megaways RTP and what high volatility costs

Our verified figure for Great Rhino Megaways is 96.58%, slightly above the 96.5% Pragmatic Play commonly targets. Some sources and casino versions show 96.50% or less, so the number in your casino’s help screen is the one that applies to you. Our explainer on slot RTP versions shows where to look.

At 96.58%, every £100 staked over the very long run costs about £3.42 on average. Over 150 spins at 40p, which is £60 staked, the average cost is about £2.05. Because the game is high volatility, most real sessions land far from that average. The free spins round can take a long time to appear, and a session without one usually ends with a clear loss.

The 20,000x max win in practice

Great Rhino Megaways caps wins at 20,000x stake: £4,000 on a 20p spin, £20,000 on £1, and £100,000 at the £5 UK maximum. Reaching it needs a free spins round where the multiplier climbs high and then meets full-height spins with premium symbols across many ways. That combination is extremely rare. Treat the cap as the outer edge of the maths, and see our slot max win explained guide for how these figures are set.

UK rules: no bonus buy, stake limits and spin speed

Where the law allows it, Megaways games often come with an option to buy the free spins round. That option isn’t offered to players in Great Britain, so UK versions only reach free spins through scatters. Other UK rules apply too: no autoplay, a minimum 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam stop, and stake limits of £5 a spin (age 25+) or £2 a spin (18–24). Our UK slot rules guide has the dates and details.

Great Rhino Megaways compared with other Megaways slots

Buffalo King Megaways shares the 200,704-ways layout and a similar wildlife theme but has a much lower cap. The Dog House Megaways is more volatile still. Bonanza Megaways is Big Time Gaming’s own original. For a rhino slot without Megaways, Raging Rhino uses a fixed 4,096-ways layout.

Great Rhino Megaways pros, cons and who it suits

It suits players who like Megaways games and enjoy having a decision to make at the start of a bonus. Players on small budgets may prefer something calmer; our Megaways slots hub lists games across the volatility range.

Where to play Great Rhino Megaways

Most UK casinos that carry Pragmatic Play stock this game, but confirm it in the lobby first. Ladbrokes gives up to 500 no-wagering spins over 10 days after £10 on slots, Coral gives 100 no-wagering spins on selected games after a £10 slots bet, and Casumo adds 50% up to £100 on a £20+ first deposit with 10x wagering. 18+, T&Cs apply.

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.