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Quick verdict: Bonanza is Big Time Gaming’s 2016 gold-mining slot and the game that made Megaways famous. Up to 117,649 ways, cascading wins and free spins with a multiplier that rises with every win and has no upper limit. It has a 96% RTP, high volatility and a 26,000x top win.
Top-rated casino for Bonanza Megaways
If you want to play Bonanza Megaways for real, we recommend 1win (9.9/10, our top mark); we also like that its crypto payout to us cleared in 15 minutes. Search the lobby for Bonanza Megaways before you add funds.
Play at 1win18+. T&Cs apply. Not available in every country. Game libraries vary, so search the lobby for Bonanza Megaways.
Bonanza Megaways at a glance
| Provider | Big Time Gaming |
|---|---|
| Released | December 2016 |
| Layout | 6 reels plus a horizontal top reel |
| Ways to win | Up to 117,649 |
| RTP | 96% |
| Volatility | High (one source says medium-high) |
| Bet range | $0.20 to $20 |
| Max win | 26,000x your stake |
| Free spins | 12, plus 5 per extra scatter |
| Multiplier | Rises by 1 after every cascade win, no cap |
18+. T&Cs apply. Check that online gambling is legal where you live.
How Bonanza works
The reels change height on every spin, so the number of ways to win changes every time, from 324 up to 117,649. A horizontal reel of mine carts runs above reels 2 to 5 and adds one more symbol to each of them. Winning symbols explode in “reactions” and new ones drop in, so one spin can pay several times.
How many ways can one Bonanza spin have?
The number of ways on a spin is the number of symbols on each reel multiplied together. The two published limits, 324 and 117,649, fit one layout: the outer reels (1 and 6) hold 2 to 7 symbols, and reels 2 to 5 hold 3 to 7 once you count the extra symbol from the top reel. We worked out the range and a few example spins.
| Symbols on reels 1 to 6 | Working | Ways |
|---|---|---|
| Fewest: 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 | 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 2 | 324 |
| Example: 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 7 | 2 x 4 x 5 x 6 x 3 x 7 | 5,040 |
| Example: 7, 5, 6, 4, 6, 3 | 7 x 5 x 6 x 4 x 6 x 3 | 15,120 |
| Most: 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7 | 7 to the power of 6 | 117,649 |
Counting the options per reel, there are 6 x 6 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 = 22,500 possible combinations of reel heights, and only one of them gives the full 117,649 ways. So the headline figure is a ceiling, not what a normal spin looks like. More ways also do not mean more money back on average: the 96% RTP already includes every spin size.
How does the Bonanza free spins multiplier work?
Spell G-O-L-D with scatter letters to win 12 free spins, plus 5 more for each extra scatter. The win multiplier starts at 1x and goes up by 1 after every reaction, with no upper limit. Landing 3 or 4 scatters during the round adds 5 or 10 more spins.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The original Megaways slot | High volatility |
| Unlimited free spins multiplier | Older look than newer Megaways games |
| Up to 117,649 ways | Free spins need all four GOLD letters |
| 96% RTP | Bet range tops out at $20 |
Tips
- Free spins are the main event, so set a budget that lets you play long enough to trigger them.
- The multiplier only grows on winning reactions, so a short or unlucky bonus can still pay little.
- For a modern alternative, see our Sweet Bonanza review (a different game from a different studio).
Want more games like this? See our best Megaways slots, and our bonus buy slots guide explains feature buys and where they are restricted.
Bonanza vs other Megaways slots
Big Time Gaming licensed the Megaways engine to other studios after Bonanza, so there are now hundreds of Megaways slots. Most copy Bonanza’s cascades and rising free spins multiplier but change the theme, the number of ways or the top prize. Bonanza’s multiplier has no cap, which is why it still has a reputation for huge bonus rounds. In 2021 BTG released Bonanza Megapays, a remake that adds 4 progressive jackpots.
| Slot | Provider | Max ways | RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | 96% | 26,000x |
| Great Rhino Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 200,704 | 96.58% | 20,000x |
| Christmas Carol Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 200,704 | 96.47% | 20,000x |
| Big Bass Bonanza Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 46,656 | 96.7% | 4,000x |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | 96.15% to 96.41% | 20,000x in most sources |
| White Rabbit | Big Time Gaming | 248,832 in free spins | 97.24% in most sources | Sources disagree |
| Gold Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 1,000,000 in free spins | 96.42% | 20,200x |
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Megaways | Big Time Gaming | 117,649 | 96.27% | Sources disagree |
Who should play Bonanza Megaways?
Bonanza suits players who enjoy high volatility and long free spins rounds. The base game can be quiet, so most of the value comes from the free spins, where every cascade adds 1 to the multiplier. With a maximum bet of $20 it also suits smaller budgets better than many newer Megaways games. For more of this style, see our Megaways slots guide.
Where to play Bonanza Megaways
1win (9.9/10) is our first pick, and BitStarz (9.5/10) is the runner-up. Search the lobby for “Bonanza Megaways” (not Sweet Bonanza, a different game) and check the info screen shows 96%. Compare more options in our casino reviews.
How we checked this
- December 2016 release, 96% RTP, up to 117,649 ways and a 26,000x top win: OLBG and SlotCatalog.
- 12 free spins for G-O-L-D, extra spins for 3 or 4 scatters in the round, a top reel over reels 2 to 5 and a multiplier with no cap: OLBG and SlotCatalog.
- Volatility: SlotCatalog says high, OLBG says medium to high.
- The ways range, the example spins and the 22,500 possible reel-height combinations are our own calculation.
Last checked: 13 October 2026, when we worked out the range of ways per spin ourselves and checked each remaining number against two or more independent sources.
Bonanza Megaways FAQs
What is the RTP of Bonanza?
96%.
How many ways to win does Bonanza have?
Up to 117,649 Megaways.
How do you trigger free spins in Bonanza?
Collect the four scatter letters G, O, L and D for 12 free spins.
Is the free spins multiplier unlimited?
Yes. It rises by 1 after every winning reaction with no upper limit.
Is Bonanza the same as Sweet Bonanza?
No. Bonanza is a Big Time Gaming Megaways slot; Sweet Bonanza is a Pragmatic Play game.
Was Bonanza the first Megaways slot?
It was the game that made Megaways famous after its December 2016 release, and Big Time Gaming later licensed the engine to other studios.
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18+. T&Cs apply.
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