Bonanza Megaways Slot Review
Last updated: June 2026
The Bonanza Megaways slot by Big Time Gaming is the game that made Megaways a global phenomenon, a gold-mining cascade slot with up to 117,649 ways to win and an unlimited free-spins multiplier. It runs a 96% RTP and is high volatility. One honest correction: Bonanza popularised Megaways but did not invent it. Here is the full guide.
Our score: 4.2/5. A genre-defining classic whose unlimited free-spins multiplier still delivers a real thrill, and the game that launched a thousand Megaways imitators. Marked down only for a 96% RTP that is merely average and high volatility.
Bonanza Megaways at a glance
What is the Bonanza Megaways slot?
Bonanza is the slot that made Megaways famous, released by Big Time Gaming in 2016. Its gold-mining theme, six reels with a moving top row, and up to 117,649 ways to win became the template the entire industry copied, and the Megaways mechanic is now licensed to studios everywhere through Blueprint Gaming. Bonanza is, quite simply, one of the most important slots of the last decade.
One honest correction, because it is repeated everywhere: Bonanza was not the first Megaways slot. That was Dragon Born, also by Big Time Gaming, released earlier in 2016. Bonanza was the breakout hit that took Megaways mainstream, which is a different and more accurate claim than “the first”.
How Bonanza Megaways works
The Megaways engine changes the game every spin. Each of the six reels can show a different number of symbols, and a horizontal reel on top adds extra symbols to the middle four, so the number of ways to win shifts spin to spin, up to a massive 117,649. Wins come from matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, and winning symbols then disappear in a Reaction, a cascade, letting new symbols drop for more wins from one spin.
The free spins are the signature. Land the gold scatters that spell out G-O-L-D across the mine carts to win 12 free spins. The killer feature: an unlimited increasing win multiplier that rises by one with every Reaction and, crucially, does not reset for the whole round. Chain a long run of cascades and that multiplier can climb high, which is where the big wins and the 12,000x ceiling come from.
Bonanza Megaways RTP and max win
The RTP is 96%, which is bang average, and as with most games you should check the info screen for the version your casino runs. Volatility is high, with the value concentrated in those free-spins cascades and the climbing multiplier. On max win, the original Bonanza caps at 12,000x your stake; a later updated version raised this to 26,000x, so check which one you are playing. Either way, it is a substantial ceiling for a game of this age.
Where to play Bonanza Megaways
Bonanza Megaways is available wherever Big Time Gaming is licensed, with its heartland in the UK and Europe, plus regulated US states and crypto casinos. The casinos below are the ones we have tested that carry it. Scores are out of 10.
| Casino | Our score | Type | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM Casino | 8.9 | Real money | Read review |
| LeoVegas | 8.8 | Real money | Read review |
| bet365 Casino | 8.7 | Real money | Read review |
| Stake.com | 7.9 | Crypto | Read review |
| BitStarz | 7.4 | Crypto | Read review |
For the studio behind it, see our best Big Time Gaming casinos guide, and our best Megaways slots roundup.
Chip’s verdict on Bonanza Megaways
Bonanza is a piece of slot history that still plays brilliantly. The shifting ways to win keep every spin alive, the Reactions give it momentum, and that unlimited free-spins multiplier is one of the great bonus mechanics, the feature thousands of Megaways slots have since tried to copy. For defining a whole genre, it has more than earned its place.
The honest knocks are minor: the 96% RTP is only average, and it is high volatility, so the bonus can be slow to arrive. Check whether you are on the 12,000x or 26,000x version, bankroll for the swings, and enjoy the game that made Megaways what it is. Score it 4.2 out of 5. See how we rate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTP of Bonanza Megaways?
The RTP is 96%, which is around average. As with any game, check the in-game info screen for the version your casino runs.
Was Bonanza the first Megaways slot?
No. The first Megaways slot was Dragon Born, also by Big Time Gaming, released earlier in 2016. Bonanza was the breakout hit that popularised Megaways and made it a global phenomenon, but it was not the first.
What is the max win on Bonanza Megaways?
The original Bonanza caps at 12,000x your stake. A later updated version raised the maximum to 26,000x, so check which version your casino runs.
How do the Bonanza free spins work?
Land the gold scatters spelling GOLD to win 12 free spins. The signature feature is an unlimited increasing multiplier that rises by one with every Reaction and does not reset for the whole round.
What is Megaways?
Megaways is Big Time Gaming’s mechanic where each reel shows a varying number of symbols, so the number of ways to win changes every spin, up to 117,649 in Bonanza. It is licensed to studios across the industry.
Who makes Bonanza Megaways?
Bonanza Megaways is made by Big Time Gaming and was released in 2016. The studio invented the Megaways mechanic and licenses it to other developers via Blueprint Gaming.
Related guides
- All slot reviews and Gonzo’s Quest
- Best Big Time Gaming casinos
- Best Megaways slots and best online slots
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