How BTG transformed the market with Megaways mechanics

Australian studio Big Time Gaming (BTG), founded in 2011, made history in the global slot industry with the creation of Megaways, a unique system for changing the number of characters on the drums that changed the perception of slot machines and set a new standard in gameplay. Today, Megaways are used by dozens of leading providers, and the mechanics themselves have become a symbol of high dynamics and unpredictable winnings.

1. The essence of Megaways

Megaways is a technology where each reel can contain a different number of characters on each back (usually 2 to 7).

The number of winning combinations varies with each rotation, reaching 117,649 ways in some games.
Symbols are not arranged along fixed lines, but according to the principle "from left to right" when coinciding on neighboring reels.

2. Why it became a revolution

Before Megaways, the market was saturated with slots with a fixed number of lines (20, 40, 243 ways). BTG suggested:

• Maximum variability: each spin is unique in the number of ways.
• High engagement: the player monitors not only the symbols, but also the size of the field.
• Momentum: The combination of cascades, multipliers and bonuses makes for a packed session.

3. First hit and explosion of popularity

Bonanza Megaways (2016) was a game changer:

• The gold mining theme, cascading winnings and unlimited multiplier growth in the bonus made the slot iconic.
• The popularity of the game led BTG to license the mechanics to other studios - Blueprint, Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, NetEnt.

4. Impact on player strategy

Megaways has changed its approach to rates and expectations:

• Players began to focus on the potential of one good spin, and not for a long series.
• The volatility of most Megaways games is high, which attracts risk-takers.
• Free Spins with progressive multipliers became the standard for this mechanic.

5. Concept extension

BTG did not stop at the basic version of Megaways:

• Megaquads - four fields with Megaways at the same time.
• Megaclusters is a system with the destruction of characters and the addition of new ones (similar to "match-3").
• Megapays is the progressive jackpot version.

6. Examples of iconic Megaways slots from BTG

Bonanza Megaways - gold mining and unlimited multiplier.
Extra Chilli Megaways - bonus risk selection and unique "Gamble Feature."
White Rabbit Megaways - expanding drums up to 248,832 ways.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Megaways is a quiz game with a choice of bonus conditions.

7. Total market impact

BTG has proven that one innovation can change an entire industry. Megaways has become not just a mechanic, but a separate genre in slots. Today there are hundreds of games on the market with this technology, and the BTG license is considered prestigious and commercially successful.