Games
Megaways slots: how the ways to win are counted and what they mean
Reels that change height every spin: how Megaways counts its ways, why the big number is not your odds, and what to check first.
The legal status of casino-style games offered by bookmakers is disputed in South Africa and depends on the province that licenses the bookmaker.
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Where to play Megaways slots for real money
Provincially licensed South African bookmakers whose published game lobbies list Megaways slots, ordered by our score. Check that the game is in the lobby of your account before you deposit.
| # | Bookmaker | Score | Welcome offer | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  BetsheziWestern Cape licenceRead review | Up to R10,000 in match bonuses over first four deposits, plus R50... | Play now | |
| 2 |  ScorebetNorthern Cape licenceRead review | First Deposit 100% Match (up to R5,000) plus up to 150 Free Spins on... | Play now | |
| 3 |  SportingbetWestern Cape licenceRead review | Triple Welcome Bonus: up to R3,000 in bonus funds spread across first... | Play now | |
| 4 |  World Sports BettingWestern Cape licenceRead review | None on file | Play now | |
| 5 |  GbetsWestern Cape licenceRead review | 50 Free Spins and a R50 Free Bet for new customers | Play now | |
| 6 |  PlayBetMpumalanga licenceRead review | 100% first deposit match up to R20,000, split between Casino and... | Play now | |
| 7 |  BetfredMpumalanga licenceRead review | Up to R21,000 plus 750 free spins for new customers | Play now | |
| 8 |  YesPlayWestern Cape licenceRead review | 100% deposit bonus up to R3,000, minimum deposit R20, valid 7 days | Play now |
18+ Casino-style games at bookmakers are offered under provincial licences, and their legal status is disputed nationally since a 2025 appeal court ruling on Gauteng bookmakers. Welcome offers have terms; read them first. Set a limit and never play to win back losses. Help: National Responsible Gambling Programme, 0800 006 008, responsible gambling.
Megaways, in plain terms
Megaways is a reel mechanic in which each reel shows a different number of symbols on every spin, usually two to seven across six reels. A win needs matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, in any position, so the number of ways to win is the symbol counts multiplied together. Six reels of seven give 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649 ways, the figure you see advertised. More ways do not mean better odds: the paytable is set so the game returns its RTP whatever the count on a spin.
"Megaways" appears in the names of many slots, from 5 Lions Megaways in this guide to Extra Juicy Megaways, which Betfred names in its published game list. The big number is eye-catching and easy to misread. This page explains how the ways are counted, with a counter you can try, how the count spreads from spin to spin, what usually comes with the mechanic (tumbling reels and multiplier free spins), and what to check before playing any Megaways title.
How the ways are counted
A Megaways game typically has six reels. On every spin, each reel shows a random number of symbols. A winning combination needs the same symbol on reel 1, reel 2, reel 3 and so on, in any position on each reel. Count the combinations and you multiply the reel heights:
Tool
Try the ways counter
- Ways to win this spin
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- Sum
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Arithmetic only. More ways do not mean a higher RTP: the paytable is set so the game returns its published RTP whatever the number of ways on a spin.
Change one reel from seven symbols to two and the count drops by more than two-thirds. The headline maximum needs every reel at seven, which is rare. Most spins show a mix of heights.
How the count changes with reel height
Because the ways are a product, they grow very fast as the reels get taller. With all six reels at the same height:
| Symbols on every reel | Ways to win |
|---|---|
| 2 | 64 |
| 3 | 729 |
| 4 | 4,096 |
| 5 | 15,625 |
| 6 | 46,656 |
| 7 | 117,649 |
Sources do not always agree on a game's maximum. For 5 Lions Megaways one gives up to 117,649 ways and another up to 200,704; the spec card uses 117,649, which is what six reels of seven produce. The game's own help screen settles it for the version you open.
Why more ways are not better odds
It is tempting to think 117,649 ways must beat 20 lines. It does not work like that. A game designer sets the paytable and the symbol frequencies so the game returns its published RTP over a very long run, whatever the ways count on a given spin. Many ways means many small combinations, most of them paying less than the stake. The RTP, not the ways count, tells you the average cost; the volatility tells you how bumpy the ride is.
What usually comes with Megaways
Megaways titles tend to pair the mechanic with tumbling reels, where winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in, and with free spins that carry multipliers. 5 Lions Megaways in this guide is a good example:
- Tumbling reels One spin can produce a chain of wins as symbols are replaced, and reel heights can change during the chain.
- Free spins choice 5 Lions Megaways lets you pick one of seven set-ups, from 6 spins with 15x to 40x wilds to 25 spins with 2x to 5x wilds.
- Multiplier wilds Wilds with multipliers do most of the heavy lifting in the bonus, which is where the game's volatility sits.
The Megaways game in this guide
Megaways game file
Figures from each game's spec card. Where a provider ships several RTP versions, the highest is shown; the bookmaker chooses which version it runs.
5 Lions Megaways by Pragmatic Play lists a 96.50% RTP, high volatility and a 5,000x top win. Its full file explains the free spins choice and includes the ways counter too.
Megaways next to other grids
| Grid | How a win forms | Combinations per spin | Example in this guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5x3 with lines | Matching symbols on a fixed line from the left | 5 to 25 lines | Wolf Gold (25) |
| 6x5 scatter pays | 8 or more matching symbols anywhere | No lines; count matters | Sweet Bonanza |
| 7x7 cluster pays | 5 or more touching symbols | No lines; shape matters | Sugar Rush |
| Megaways | Matching symbols on adjacent reels, any position | Changes every spin, up to 117,649 | 5 Lions Megaways |
Each grid is a different way of dressing up the same thing: a paytable tuned so that the game returns its published RTP over a very long run. The grid changes how wins look and how often small ones come, not what the game keeps.
Tumbles and the changing count
In Megaways games with tumbling reels, a chain of wins can run on a single paid spin as winning symbols are removed and new ones drop in. The game's help screen explains whether reel heights, and so the number of ways, can change during the chain. The count shown on screen is a description of the grid at that moment, nothing more.
Before playing any Megaways slot
- Read the RTP on the info screen. Megaways titles, like other slots, may come in several RTP versions.
- Check the volatility. Many Megaways games are high volatility, with value concentrated in free spins.
- Look at the bonus options. A free spins choice or a buy feature changes the shape of your risk, not the average.
- Ignore the ways count. It is a description of the grid, not of your chances.
Where Megaways games are listed
Betfred names Extra Juicy Megaways among its slots, and 5 Lions Megaways is a Pragmatic Play title; the licensed bookmakers whose published pages name Pragmatic Play are listed at the foot of this page. Lobbies change, so check the bookmaker's own games list. The legal status of casino-style games at bookmakers is disputed and depends on the province: a 2025 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling bars Gauteng bookmakers from casino games, while the Western Cape board says its licensees are not affected.
Megaways and your budget
Megaways spins look busy, and tumbles make each spin last longer, but every spin costs the same stake. Count spins per minute honestly when you plan:
Responsible gambling
Megaways spin budget
- Spins if nothing comes back
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- Staked per hour
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- Average cost per hour
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- Stop-loss to set
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- Set the deposit limit in your bookmaker account before you start, not during a session.
- Use a timer: the clock runs faster than it feels when rounds take seconds.
- Never raise the stake to win back a loss.
Averages only: a single session can lose the whole budget much faster. Free, confidential help: National Responsible Gambling Programme, 0800 006 008. 18+ only.
Slots are for adults aged 18 and over. For limits, self-exclusion and free counselling, see responsible gambling. Other grid types are compared on the slots page and the Pragmatic Play page.
Listed in the game lobbies of
Names only, from the bookmakers' published game lobbies. Not a recommendation to play.
Questions and answers
What does Megaways mean?
A reel mechanic where each reel shows a different number of symbols every spin, usually two to seven. The ways to win are the symbol counts multiplied together.
How do you get 117,649 ways?
With six reels showing seven symbols each: 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649.
Do more ways mean better odds?
No. The paytable is set so the game returns its RTP over a long run, whatever the ways count on a spin.
Which Megaways slot is in this guide?
5 Lions Megaways by Pragmatic Play, with a 96.50% RTP, high volatility and a 5,000x top win.
Are Megaways slots high volatility?
Many are, with value concentrated in free spins with multipliers. Check each game's own volatility rating.
What are tumbling reels in Megaways?
Winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in, so one spin can produce a chain of wins.
Which SA bookmakers list Megaways games?
Betfred names Extra Juicy Megaways; bookmakers naming Pragmatic Play are listed at the foot of this page. Lobbies change.