Bonanza Megaways
Bonanza Megaways is the slot that turned Big Time Gaming’s Megaways engine into a household name. Released in 2016, it sends you down a Wild West gold mine where every spin reshapes six reels, a row of mine carts adds extra symbols across the top, and winning symbols blow up to make room for new ones. With up to 117,649 ways to win and a free spins round driven by an unlimited multiplier, it is still one of the most recognised titles in Australian-facing casino lobbies.
This guide explains how the reels, Reactions and free spins actually work, what the official 96.00% RTP means in practice, and how to plan a session on a game that is known for big swings. Figures are checked against the rules inside the official demo on Evolution’s games site; where a detail is not published, we say so instead of guessing.
Where to Play Bonanza Megaways
Bonanza is carried by most casinos that offer Big Time Gaming content. The casinos below accept Australian players and are reviewed on BetsAuthority. Before you deposit, open the game’s help screen at the casino and check the RTP line, because operators can choose which configuration they run.
Quick Facts About Bonanza Megaways
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Slot | Bonanza (Bonanza Megaways) |
| Provider | Big Time Gaming |
| Release | 2016 |
| Layout | 6 reels with up to 7 symbols each; a horizontal cart reel adds one of them on reels 2–5 |
| Ways to win | Up to 117,649 |
| RTP | 96.00% standard (96.11% via bonus buy); lower operator versions exist |
| Volatility | High (volatility index 7.4) |
| Main mechanic | Reactions (cascading wins) |
| Free spins | 12 spins for G-O-L-D scatters, +5 per extra scatter |
| Multiplier | Starts at 1x in free spins and grows by +1 per Reaction, no cap |
| Maximum win | 26,000x the stake (Evolution game page); casinos may apply an award cap |
| Bet range | 0.20 to 15 per spin in the official demo (casino limits can differ) |
| Bonus buy | 12 free spins for 90x the stake, where permitted |
| Devices | Desktop and mobile (HTML5) |
How Bonanza Megaways Works
Bonanza has six main reels, and on every spin each reel shows a random number of symbols, up to seven. The more symbols a reel shows, the smaller they are drawn. Above reels 2 to 5 sits a horizontal reel of mine carts, which adds one symbol to each of those reels as part of that reel’s maximum of seven. Multiply the symbol counts together and you get the number of ways for that spin, which tops out at 117,649.
Wins pay from left to right when matching symbols land on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. The low-paying set is made up of card ranks, while the premium symbols are coloured gemstones, with the purple gem at the top of the table, paying 50x the stake for six of a kind. The wild only appears in the mine carts on the horizontal reel and substitutes for every symbol except the scatter, which makes the top row more important than it first looks.
Reactions: The Cascade Engine
Every win triggers a Reaction. Winning symbols explode, the symbols above fall into the gaps, and new symbols drop in from the top of the reels and in from the side of the cart row. If the refill creates another win, it pays and the process repeats. A single paid spin can therefore run through several Reactions in a row, and the number of ways can change from one Reaction to the next as reels fill up with different symbol sizes.
In the base game, Reactions simply chain small wins together. Their real job is in the bonus, where each Reaction feeds the multiplier. That is why base game sessions can feel steady but unremarkable: most of the game’s value is stored in the feature.
Free Spins and the Unlimited Multiplier
The scatter symbols in Bonanza are gold letters. Land G, O, L and D in one spin to unlock 12 free spins, with five more spins added for every scatter beyond the fourth. Spins that show three of the four letters are common, and near misses like these are part of the normal rhythm of the game rather than a sign that the bonus is close.
Once the round starts, a win multiplier appears at 1x. After every Reaction it rises by one, and it does not reset between spins. A round that produces several long cascades early on will apply a high multiplier to every win that follows, while a round with few Reactions can finish close to where it started. During the feature, free spin scatters can land in the mine carts: three award five extra spins and four award ten, which gives a growing multiplier more time to work.
This structure explains the game’s reputation. The multiplier has no ceiling, so the gap between an average bonus and a large one is very wide. It also means you should expect plenty of modest rounds for every memorable one.
Where the casino and jurisdiction allow it, a Bonus Buy button lets you purchase the 12 free spins directly for 90 times the chosen free spins stake. It skips the wait for G-O-L-D but not the volatility: the round still depends entirely on how many Reactions you get.
RTP: What 96.00% Means
Big Time Gaming publishes an RTP of 96.00% for Bonanza. RTP is a long-term theoretical figure calculated over millions of spins, not a promise for a single session. With a high volatility game, short-term results can sit far above or far below that number. The game’s help file also lists 96.11% when buying the bonus and lower configurations of 95.52%, 94.33%, 91.21% and 86.07% that operators can choose, so the only reliable check is the RTP line in the help screen of the game at your casino.
The in-game rules do not set a fixed maximum win, while Evolution’s official game page quotes a top payout of 26,000x the stake. Some jurisdictions and casinos apply an award cap, and the help screen shows it when one is in place.
Worked Example: How the Multiplier Builds
Imagine free spins at a A$1 stake. On the first spin you get three Reactions in a row, so the multiplier climbs from 1x to 4x by the time the cascade stops. The second spin is dead and the multiplier stays at 4x. On the third spin a five-of-a-kind blue gem win that would normally pay A$1.50 lands while the multiplier is 4x, so it pays A$6, and the Reaction it triggers lifts the multiplier to 5x for the next win.
The numbers in this example are illustrative, but the principle is exact: every Reaction adds one, nothing ever takes it away during the round, and the later spins benefit most. That is also why the opening spins of the bonus often feel the most important.
Bankroll Tips for Bonanza Megaways
- Pick a stake that gives you at least 250 to 300 spins from your session budget; the four scatter letters can take a long time to line up.
- Judge the game on the bonus, not on individual base game spins. Most base game wins are small and get absorbed by the next few spins.
- Do not chase a bonus because “it is due”. Each spin is independent and the scatter odds do not change after a dry spell.
- Set a loss limit, a time limit and a target for walking away after a strong feature, then stick to them.
- Use the deposit limit and reality check tools your casino provides, and take breaks during long sessions.
Pros and Cons of Bonanza Megaways
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The original Megaways slot, with up to 117,649 ways | High volatility with long dry spells |
| Reactions chain several wins from one spin | Base game wins are mostly small |
| Unlimited free spins multiplier | Bonus quality varies a lot from round to round |
| Clear, published 96.00% RTP | Lower-RTP versions exist, down to 86.07% |
| Runs smoothly on mobile and desktop | Graphics look dated next to newer releases |
Demo Play vs Real Money
Big Time Gaming’s own free-play portal asks visitors to sign in, and Evolution’s official demo is not available from Australia, so we have not embedded a demo on this page. Many licensed casinos offer Bonanza in fun mode, and using it shows how rarely the scatters line up and how much one bonus can differ from the next. If the swings feel uncomfortable with play money, they will feel worse with your own.
For real money play, choose a licensed casino that displays the RTP in the game rules, processes withdrawals quickly once your account is verified and offers proper responsible gambling tools. You can compare options in our casino reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard version returns 96.00% (96.11% via the bonus buy). The rules also list lower versions down to 86.07%, so open the game rules at your casino to confirm the figure before you play.
Each of the six reels can show up to seven symbols, with the horizontal cart reel supplying one of them on reels 2 to 5. Together they create up to 117,649 ways to win on a single spin.
Land the four gold scatter letters G, O, L and D in the same spin to unlock 12 free spins. Each extra scatter beyond the fourth adds five more spins to the starting total.
The win multiplier starts at 1x and rises by one after every Reaction during the round. It never resets between spins, so long cascades early in the feature make every later win more valuable.
Yes. Most of the game’s return is concentrated in the free spins round, so long dry spells in the base game are normal and results swing widely between sessions.
Big Time Gaming’s own free-play portal requires a sign-in and Evolution’s official demo is not available from Australia, so a demo is not embedded on this page. Many licensed casinos offer a free-play mode you can use before betting real money.
Responsible Gaming Note
Bonanza Megaways is a form of entertainment, not a way to earn money. Only play if you are 18 or older, decide on your limits before you start and stop when you reach them. If gambling is no longer fun or you feel you are losing control, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.
Final Verdict
The shifting reels and Reactions keep every spin unpredictable, and the uncapped free spins multiplier gives the bonus genuine upside. The trade-off is volatility: the base game is quiet, scatters are hard to collect and the feature can disappoint as often as it delivers. Keep stakes modest, confirm the RTP at your casino and treat it as the high-variance classic it is.
