Megaways is a slot mechanic invented by Big Time Gaming in which the number of symbols on each reel changes every spin, so the number of possible winning combinations changes with it — up to 117,649 in the original format, rather than a fixed set of paylines.
This guide explains how that actually works, what the numbers mean, and — crucially for anyone playing in Britain — the stake limits that became law in 2025. Those limits are written around the “game cycle”, which matters more for Megaways than for any other kind of slot.
Last updated: 20 October 2026. Stake limits verified against Gambling Commission guidance and the statutory wording on this date.
18+ only. Gambling involves risk.
This is an explainer about how a slot mechanic works. It is not a recommendation to gamble. Every slot game is designed to return less than it takes in, and no feature, strategy or pattern changes that. If gambling is causing you harm, the National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
What you need to know
- What it is: a Big Time Gaming mechanic, licensed to other studios
- Ways to win: up to 117,649 — six reels, up to seven symbols each
- UK stake limit, under 25: £2 per game cycle, since 21 May 2025
- UK stake limit, 25 and over: £5 per game cycle, since 9 April 2025
- Applies to: online slots only — not roulette or blackjack
- RTP: a long-run average, not a session expectation
- Help: National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7
What this article covers
How Megaways Actually Works
Image source: taxscan.in
A conventional slot has fixed reels and fixed paylines. Five reels, three symbols each, and a set number of lines running across them — often between five and fifty. You know before you spin exactly how many ways there are to win.
Megaways, developed by the Australian studio Big Time Gaming, changes that. Each reel displays a variable number of symbols, typically between two and seven, decided at random on every spin. Ways to win are calculated by multiplying the symbol counts together, so the figure changes constantly.
| Feature | Conventional slot | Megaways |
|---|---|---|
| Reel height | Fixed, usually three symbols | Variable, often two to seven |
| Ways to win | Fixed paylines, typically 5–50 | Changes every spin, up to 117,649 |
| How wins are read | Along defined paylines | Adjacent symbols left to right, any position |
| Cascades | Uncommon | Common — winning symbols vanish and are replaced |
| Volatility | Varies | Usually high — rarer wins, bigger spread |
| Who makes them | Each studio’s own design | Big Time Gaming’s mechanic, licensed to others |
A general comparison. Individual titles vary; always read the game’s own information panel.
The licensing point is worth noting. Megaways is Big Time Gaming’s intellectual property, so when you see it on a game from another studio, that studio has paid to use the mechanic. That is why it spread so quickly across so many brands.
What 117,649 Really Means
Image source: entrepreneur.com
The headline number is simple arithmetic rather than anything mysterious.
Six reels, each showing up to seven symbols: 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649. That is the maximum number of symbol combinations when every reel is at full height. Most spins are nowhere near it, because reel heights are randomised.
More ways to win does not mean better odds. This is the most common misunderstanding about Megaways. The game’s maths is balanced so the house edge lands where the designer intends. Spreading the same return across far more combinations means each individual combination is worth proportionally less. The number is a design feature, not an advantage.
The UK Stake Limits, In Law
Image source: gstatic.com
If you play in Britain, this is the most important thing on the page, and it is recent enough that a great many guides have not caught up.
| Your age | Maximum stake per game cycle | In force since |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 24 | £2 | 21 May 2025 |
| 25 and over | £5 | 9 April 2025 |
Source: Gambling Commission online slots stake limit guidance, read 20 October 2026.
The exact wording of the licence condition is this: for an online slots game, the total amount which an individual may stake in relation to any game cycle may not exceed £2, where the individual is less than 25 years old, and £5, where the individual is 25 years old or over.
- It is a licence condition, attached to every remote casino operating licence by the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions)(Amendment) Regulations 2025 — including licences issued before the regulation came into force.
- It applies to online slots only. Roulette, blackjack and other casino games are not covered.
- It is not optional for the operator. A site letting you stake more than this on a slot is breaching its licence.
- Your age band matters. An operator must apply the £2 cap to anyone under 25, which is why age verification is enforced more tightly than it used to be.
Why “Game Cycle” Matters for Megaways
Here is the detail that is specific to this mechanic, and that no other Megaways guide seems to mention.
The law caps the stake per game cycle, not per cascade. A Megaways spin frequently triggers a chain: winning symbols disappear, new ones drop in, another win lands, and so on, sometimes many times over. All of that is one game cycle arising from one stake.
So the cap covers the whole sequence. You cannot be charged again mid-cascade, and the rule cannot be sidestepped by a game that breaks a spin into parts. For a mechanic built on cascades, that is precisely the right place to draw the line — and it is why the drafting says “game cycle” rather than “spin”.
RTP and Volatility, Honestly
| Term | What it actually means |
|---|---|
| RTP | Return to player. The share of all money staked that a game returns over millions of spins. A 96% RTP keeps about 4%. It tells you nothing about your session |
| House edge | The other side of RTP. It is built in, permanent, and not affected by how or when you play |
| Volatility | How wins are distributed. High volatility means rarer wins with a wider spread. Megaways titles are usually high volatility |
| Max win | An advertised ceiling, usually expressed as a multiple of stake. Reaching it is extraordinarily unlikely by design |
| Hit frequency | How often any win lands. On cascading games a ‘win’ is often less than the stake |
Every licensed game must publish its RTP in the information panel. Read it before you play, not after.
The honest summary: no mechanic, feature, bet pattern or time of day changes the house edge. Megaways makes outcomes more dramatic, not more favourable. A game that pays rarely and largely feels different from one that pays often and small, but over the long run both return less than they take.
Checking an Operator Is Licensed
Any operator taking bets from customers in Great Britain must hold a Gambling Commission licence. This is checkable in under a minute and almost nobody does it.
- Search the Gambling Commission public register by company or trading name. It is free.
- Check the licence covers the right activity — remote casino, for online slots.
- Look for the licence number in the site footer, then verify it on the register rather than trusting the logo.
- If it is not on the register, it is not licensed here, and you have no UK protection if something goes wrong.
Staying in Control, and Getting Help
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAMSTOP | Free national self-exclusion. One registration blocks you from every online operator licensed in Great Britain, for six months, one year or five years |
| Deposit limits | Every licensed site must let you set one. Set it before you play, not during |
| Reality checks | On-screen reminders of elapsed time and spend |
| Time-outs | A short cooling-off period, from 24 hours upwards |
| National Gambling Helpline | 0808 8020 133 — free, confidential, 24 hours a day |
| GamCare and GambleAware | Free advice, treatment and support, including for family members |
All GB-licensed operators are required to offer the control tools listed here.
Warning signs worth taking seriously: chasing losses, gambling with money meant for something else, hiding it from people close to you, or playing to change how you feel rather than for entertainment. If any of that is familiar, call 0808 8020 133. It is free and it is confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Megaways slots?
A slot mechanic created by Big Time Gaming in which the number of symbols on each reel varies from spin to spin, so the number of ways to win changes too — up to 117,649 in the original format. Other studios license it rather than build their own.
What is the UK stake limit on online slots?
£2 per game cycle if you are under 25, and £5 if you are 25 or over. The £5 limit took effect on 9 April 2025 and the £2 limit on 21 May 2025. It applies to online slots only, not to roulette or blackjack.
Does the stake limit apply to a whole Megaways spin?
Yes. The condition is written around the game cycle, not the individual cascade. A Megaways spin that triggers a chain of cascading wins is one game cycle, so the cap covers the whole sequence.
Who sets the stake limit?
It is a licence condition attached to every remote casino operating licence by the Gambling Act 2005 (Operating Licence Conditions)(Amendment) Regulations 2025, and enforced by the Gambling Commission.
What does 117,649 ways to win actually mean?
It is six reels each showing up to seven symbols: 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 possible symbol combinations. More ways to win does not mean better odds — the maths is balanced so the house edge stays where the designer set it.
What is RTP?
Return to player: the percentage of all money staked that a game returns over a very long run of play. A 96% RTP means the game is designed to keep about 4% over millions of spins. It says nothing about any individual session.
Are Megaways slots better odds than normal slots?
No. Higher volatility and more ways to win change how wins are distributed, not how much the game returns. A high-volatility game typically pays less often and more when it does.
How do I check a gambling site is legal in the UK?
Search the Gambling Commission’s public register. Any operator taking bets from Great Britain must hold a licence, and the register is free to search by company or trading name.
How can I block myself from gambling sites?
GAMSTOP is the free national self-exclusion scheme. One registration blocks you from every online operator licensed in Great Britain, for six months, one year or five years.
Where can I get help?
The National Gambling Helpline is free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day. GamCare and GambleAware both offer free, confidential support.
Final Thoughts
Megaways is a genuinely clever piece of design. Variable reel heights and cascading wins made slots feel less mechanical, and the idea spread across the industry because it worked.
What it did not do is change the arithmetic. The house edge is unchanged, 117,649 ways to win is a design choice rather than an advantage, and in Britain your stake is now capped at £2 or £5 per game cycle depending on your age. Play for entertainment, set a limit before you start, and stop when you reach it. Background reading on the mechanic is at online-slot.co.uk, and we look at the technology shaping this sector in our piece on the role of artificial intelligence.
Sources
- Gambling Commission — online slots stake limit guidance and licence condition
- Gambling Commission — public register of licensed operators
- GAMSTOP — national online self-exclusion scheme
- GamCare — free support and treatment
- GambleAware — advice and information
- Background on the Megaways mechanic
- The Guardian
Disclaimer
18+ only. This article explains how a slot mechanic works and is not advice to gamble or an endorsement of any operator. Stake limits were verified against Gambling Commission guidance on 20 October 2026; rules change, so check the current position before playing. All gambling carries risk and every slot game is designed to return less than it takes in. If gambling is causing harm, call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133. More from The UK Post.