On this page
- How do Megaways pokies work?
- How are Megaways ways to win calculated?
- What are cascades and why do Megaways games use them?
- Which Megaways pokies can I play in Australia?
- Which casinos have a Megaways section for Australian players?
- Where can I find the Pragmatic Play Megaways games?
- Are Megaways pokies high volatility?
- How much bankroll do I need for Megaways pokies?
- What does a 20,000x max win actually mean in A$?
- Can I play Megaways pokies with a welcome bonus?
- Should I buy the bonus on a Megaways pokie?
- What are the pros and cons of Megaways pokies?
- How do I check a Megaways game before I play for real money?
- Is it legal to play Megaways pokies online in Australia?
- Which Megaways casino would I choose?
- Where can I get help if pokies stop being fun?
Megaways pokies change the number of symbols on each reel every spin, so the ways to win move from a few hundred up to 117,649. For Australians, the two Megaways games we track are Madame Destiny Megaways (96.56% top RTP) and Great Rhino Megaways (96.50%, up to 20,000x). CrazyTower has the biggest Megaways section we found, with 96 games, ahead of 7aBet with 62.
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1
CrazyTower
4.4/5Welcome bonusUp to A$21,300 + 400 free spinsOver 4 deposits- 8,500+ pokies
- 35x wagering
- USDT bonus option
18+ | New players only | Wagering 35x deposit + bonus | Terms apply, check the casino site before you deposit. -
2
7aBet
4.0/5Welcome bonusUp to A$7,000 + 700 free spinsOver 4 deposits- Play'n GO and Yggdrasil
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Sportsbook included
18+ | New players only | Wagering 40x bonus | Terms apply, check the casino site before you deposit. -
3
FortunePlay
4.4/5Welcome bonusUp to A$5,000 + 300 free spinsOver 4 deposits- 3,000+ bonus buy pokies
- 10 cryptos
- MiFinity and Apple Pay
18+ | New players only | Wagering 40x bonus | Terms apply, check the casino site before you deposit. -
4
SpinsUp
4.3/5Welcome bonusUp to A$5,000 + 300 free spinsOver 4 deposits- 2,000+ jackpot pokies
- 3,000+ bonus buy pokies
- Instant crypto payouts
18+ | New players only | Wagering 40x bonus | Terms apply, check the casino site before you deposit. -
5
Stay Casino
4.3/5Welcome bonusUp to A$4,000 + 350 free spinsOver 5 deposits plus a secret 6th bonus- MiFinity and Apple Pay
- 7% cashback
- 6 crypto coins
18+ | New players only | Wagering 40x bonus | Terms apply, check the casino site before you deposit. -
6
Jackpot Jill
4.0/5Welcome bonus475% up to A$7,500 + 100 free spinsOver 5 deposits, spins wager-free- Wager-free free spins
- A$10 minimum
- 2,000+ games
18+ | New players only | Wagering 50x | Terms apply, check the casino site before you deposit.
This guide covers how the mechanic works, why the ways count swings so hard, what cascades do to your session, which Megaways games we have verified, and which casinos that accept Australians carry a Megaways section. Every lobby count comes from our own checks of each site from an Australian IP in September 2026. Every game figure comes from the studio’s own page.
If you want the broader view of every mechanic we cover, start at the pokies games hub. This page stays on Megaways only.
How do Megaways pokies work?
A Megaways pokie randomly sets how many symbols land on each reel for every spin. On the common six reel layout, each reel shows between two and seven symbols. Your number of ways to win is those reel heights multiplied together, so it changes every spin, topping out at 117,649 when every reel shows seven.
Megaways is a mechanic created and licensed by Big Time Gaming. Other studios pay to use it, which is why you see the word on games from Pragmatic Play and many other developers. The core idea stays the same across all of them: the reels are not a fixed grid.
On a classic five reel pokie with three rows, the screen always shows 15 symbols. On a Megaways game, one spin might show a short, squat screen and the next a tall one that fills the frame. That variable height is the entire trick.
Wins are paid on “ways”, not fixed paylines. A way is any path of matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel, with one symbol per reel. You do not need the symbols in a straight line. If reel one shows two cherries and reel two shows three cherries, that is already six possible ways for cherries across those two reels.
Ways to win = symbols on reel 1 x symbols on reel 2 x symbols on reel 3 x and so on. Six reels of seven symbols each gives 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649.
How are Megaways ways to win calculated?
Multiply the number of symbols showing on every reel. Six reels showing three symbols each gives 729 ways. Six reels showing five each gives 15,625. The famous 117,649 only appears when every reel lands at its tallest at the same moment, which is uncommon, so most spins sit far below the headline.
This is the part most reviews skip, and it matters. The 117,649 figure is a maximum, not an average. Here is what the count looks like if all six reels land at the same height. Real spins mix heights, so a typical spin lands somewhere between these rows.
| Symbols per reel (all six reels) | Calculation | Ways to win |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 | 64 |
| 3 | 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 | 729 |
| 4 | 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 | 4,096 |
| 5 | 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 | 15,625 |
| 6 | 6 x 6 x 6 x 6 x 6 x 6 | 46,656 |
| 7 | 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 | 117,649 |
Look at how steep that curve is. Going from five symbols per reel to seven multiplies the ways by more than seven. A mixed spin such as 3, 5, 7, 4, 6, 2 gives 3 x 5 x 7 x 4 x 6 x 2 = 5,040 ways, which is a very ordinary result.
More ways does not mean more money per spin in a straight line. The game’s pay table and symbol weighting are built around the full range of possible heights. A tall screen simply gives more chances for a symbol to connect across the reels, and the maths model has already priced that in.
What are cascades and why do Megaways games use them?
Cascades, also called tumbles or reactions, remove winning symbols from the screen and drop new ones into the gaps. Each drop can create another win within the same paid spin. Most Megaways games use them, and in many titles each cascade also feeds a multiplier during the free spins round.
Cascades are why Megaways feels so busy. One spin can chain three, four or five wins before it settles. Because the reel heights can also change as new symbols fall in, a single spin can build the ways count as it goes.
On the studio pages we checked, Pragmatic Play lists Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza as tumbling reel games, but those two are not Megaways titles. They use a “pay anywhere” style instead. I mention them because players often lump every cascading pokie together. If the game name does not include Megaways, it is running a different engine, even if the symbols fall the same way.
The honest downside of cascades: they hide how much you are losing. A spin that shows three celebratory drops might still return less than your stake. I always watch the balance, not the animation.
Which Megaways pokies can I play in Australia?
The two Megaways games we have verified from the studio’s own pages are Madame Destiny Megaways and Great Rhino Megaways, both from Pragmatic Play. Madame Destiny Megaways lists a top RTP of 96.56%. Great Rhino Megaways lists 96.50% and a win of up to 20,000x the bet.
- Great Rhino MegawaysPragmatic Play
- RTP
- 96.50%
- Volatility
- Not stated
- Max win
- 20,000x
- Mechanic
- Megaways
Play at Stay Casino (18+) - Madame Destiny MegawaysPragmatic Play
- RTP
- 96.56%
- Volatility
- Not stated
- Max win
- Not stated
- Mechanic
- Megaways
Play at Jackpot Jill (18+)
We only list games where we could check the numbers at the source. There are hundreds of other Megaways titles in Australian facing lobbies, and CrazyTower alone shows 96 in its Megaways section. I have not verified RTP, volatility or max win for those, so I will not quote them here.
| Game | Studio | Top RTP | Volatility | Max win | Where we saw it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madame Destiny Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.56% | Not stated | Not stated | Jackpot Jill |
| Great Rhino Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% | Not stated | 20,000x | Stay Casino |
Second, Pragmatic Play does not publish volatility on the game pages we checked, so we say “not stated” rather than guess. Megaways games as a family tend to be swingy because of the ways range and cascades, but I will not put a label on a specific game that the studio has not given.
The RTP shown is the studio’s top setting. Casinos can run lower RTP versions, so open the game’s info screen at your casino and read the figure printed there. Pragmatic Play does not state volatility on these pages, so we do not guess it.
If RTP is your main filter, our guide to high RTP pokies in Australia ranks every game we track by its published figure.
Which casinos have a Megaways section for Australian players?
From an Australian IP, CrazyTower shows 96 Megaways games, 7aBet shows 62 and SpinsUp shows 10. FortunePlay has a Megaways section but did not show a count we could record. CrownSlots (18) and 7Bit also list Megaways, but both show a banner asking visitors to confirm they are outside Australia.
Counts come from each casino’s own game collections, loaded from a Melbourne IP in September 2026. Lobbies change weekly, so treat these as a snapshot. Here is how the Megaways side of each lobby looked.
| Casino | Megaways section | Total pokies (AU IP) | Bonus buy section | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrazyTower | 96 games | 8,569 | 647 games | 4.4/5 |
| 7aBet | 62 games | Not separable (about 4,473 total games) | Yes, bonus funds not allowed | 4.0/5 |
| SpinsUp | 10 games | 7,613 | 3,064 games | 4.3/5 |
| FortunePlay | Yes, count not shown | 7,440 | 3,048 games | 4.4/5 |
| CrownSlots* | 18 games | 6,121 | 2,626 games | 3.7/5 |
| 7Bit Casino* | Yes, count not shown | about 4,524 | Yes | 3.7/5 |
*CrownSlots and 7Bit show a banner that reads “In proceeding I confirm that I am currently accessing this website outside of Australia”. I do not rank either in a top five, and I would not sign up at a site that asks me to confirm something untrue about where I am.
CrazyTower is my pick for Megaways depth. Ninety six games is a proper section, not a token row, and the site’s top studios for Australia include Yggdrasil (514 titles) and Hacksaw Gaming (348). The weak spot is trust: CrazyTower shows no licence or regulator on its footer or About page, and the operator company is not named in its terms. That drops it in our scoring, and you should weigh it.
7aBet is the second deepest at 62 Megaways games, with a dedicated Australian market built around Play’n GO, Yggdrasil and Novomatic titles. It also hides some studios for Australia, including Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw and Relax, so its Megaways row leans on other developers.
Where can I find the Pragmatic Play Megaways games?
In our checks, Stay Casino and Jackpot Jill both list Pragmatic Play among their providers, and our game tiles point to them: Great Rhino Megaways at Stay Casino and Madame Destiny Megaways at Jackpot Jill. Several other casinos hide Pragmatic Play from Australian IPs, so a studio being famous does not mean it is available.
Stay Casino is licensed by the Tobique Gaming Commission (licence 0000064) and operated by Metlait SRL. It lists Pragmatic Play first among its providers, and its welcome offer runs to A$4,000 plus 350 free spins across stated stages, wagered at 40x the bonus. The max bet while wagering is A$8.
Jackpot Jill lists Pragmatic Play among its providers and runs a 475% package up to A$7,500 plus 100 zero wager spins on Dragon Pearls. The bonus wagering is 50x the bonus amount, and no licence is stated on the site, which I count against it.
Are Megaways pokies high volatility?
Megaways games usually play as high volatility, because the ways count swings from dozens to over 100,000 and the big wins cluster in free spins with multipliers. But volatility is set per game, and Pragmatic Play does not state it for the two Megaways titles we track. Always check the game’s rules screen.
In practice, Megaways sessions tend to feel like long stretches of small cascades, then a free spins round that either does nothing or does a lot. Your balance moves in steps, not a smooth line.
If you are new to the idea, our explainer on pokies volatility shows how studios label it and how bankroll size should change with it.
A Megaways game can only pay its biggest wins by making you wait for them. Size your bet for the wait, not for the win.
How much bankroll do I need for Megaways pokies?
Plan for at least 200 to 300 spins at your chosen bet. At A$0.50 a spin that means A$100 to A$150. At a 96.50% RTP the long run cost is about 3.5 cents per A$1 staked, so A$500 of total spins costs around A$17.50 on average, with huge swings either side.
The RTP maths is simple. RTP is the long run share of stakes returned. At 96.50%, the house edge is 3.50%. Every A$1,000 you cycle through the reels costs A$35 on average over a very long run. At a lower casino setting, say 94%, that same A$1,000 costs A$60.
The short run is where Megaways gets rough. Because free spins carry so much of the return, you can lose most of a A$100 bankroll before a bonus lands. That is not the game being broken. That is volatility doing exactly what it was built to do.
| Bet per spin | 300 spins costs you (stake) | Average loss at 96.50% | Average loss at 94% |
|---|---|---|---|
| A$0.20 | A$60 | A$2.10 | A$3.60 |
| A$0.50 | A$150 | A$5.25 | A$9.00 |
| A$1.00 | A$300 | A$10.50 | A$18.00 |
| A$2.00 | A$600 | A$21.00 | A$36.00 |
My own rule on a Megaways game: I pick a bet where 300 spins is money I am fine to lose, then I stop at that point win or lose. I would rather play A$0.40 spins for an evening than burn through A$2 spins in ten minutes.
What does a 20,000x max win actually mean in A$?
A max win is a multiple of your total bet. On Great Rhino Megaways, 20,000x at A$0.20 is A$4,000, and at A$1 it is A$20,000. That is the ceiling, not a target, and it is reached very rarely. Casino withdrawal limits can also stretch how fast a large win is paid out.
I like to translate the ceiling into the cashier, because that is where it becomes real. FortunePlay and SpinsUp both cap withdrawals at A$3,000 per day, A$7,500 per rolling seven days and A$30,000 per month. FortunePlay states that progressive jackpots are paid in full, but a big Megaways hit is not a progressive jackpot.
So a A$20,000 Megaways win at FortunePlay or SpinsUp would, under those stated limits, take several weeks to come out in instalments. At CrazyTower the limits depend on your VIP level, starting at A$800 per day and A$10,500 per month for a new “Beginner” account.
Can I play Megaways pokies with a welcome bonus?
Usually yes, since pokies generally count in full toward wagering. The catch is the max bet rule while wagering (A$7.50 at FortunePlay and SpinsUp, A$10 at 7aBet, A$8 at Stay Casino) and bans on bonus buys. 7aBet states feature buys are not allowed with bonus funds, which rules out buying straight into Megaways free spins.
Here is the wagering maths on a A$100 first deposit, using each casino’s stated terms. Turnover is how much you must bet before the bonus money can be withdrawn.
| Casino | First deposit offer | Bonus on A$100 | Wagering | Turnover needed | Max bet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrazyTower | 100% up to A$4,500 + 100 FS | A$100 | 35x deposit + bonus | A$7,000 | A$150 |
| 7aBet | 200% up to A$1,000 | A$200 | 40x bonus | A$8,000 | A$10 |
| FortunePlay | 100% up to A$1,000 + 100 FS | A$100 | 40x bonus | A$4,000 | A$7.50 |
| SpinsUp | 100% up to A$1,000 + 100 FS | A$100 | 40x bonus | A$4,000 | A$7.50 |
| Stay Casino | 100% up to A$1,000 + 100 FS | A$100 | 40x bonus | A$4,000 | A$8 |
Now apply the house edge. At a 96.50% RTP, A$4,000 of turnover costs A$140 on average. A$7,000 at CrazyTower costs A$245 on average, and A$8,000 at 7aBet costs A$280. Compare those figures to the bonus you get, and you can see why a 35x deposit plus bonus rule is tougher than a 40x bonus only rule, even though the headline multiple looks smaller.
Megaways volatility makes wagering harder in one specific way: your balance can hit zero long before you clear the turnover. A steadier game grinds through wagering more predictably. If clearing a bonus is your goal, I would use lower volatility pokies for the wagering and save Megaways for cash play.
Bonus terms also cap what free spins and bonuses can turn into. CrazyTower caps cashout from each bonus at 10x the bonus and free spin wins at A$80 or A$150 depending on the number of spins. FortunePlay caps withdrawable winnings at 10x the deposit on offers of 300% and above. Our wagering requirements guide works through more examples.
A Megaways free spins round can tempt you to raise your stake. Going over the max bet while a bonus is active can void the bonus and its winnings at most casinos. At FortunePlay and SpinsUp the limit is A$7.50 a spin.
Should I buy the bonus on a Megaways pokie?
Only with cash, only if you accept losing the full buy price, and never with bonus funds where the terms ban it. A feature buy skips the base game and charges a multiple of your bet for instant entry to free spins. It concentrates volatility into one expensive spin rather than reducing it.
Many Megaways titles offer a buy option, and the lobbies are full of them: CrazyTower has 647 bonus buy games, SpinsUp 3,064 and FortunePlay 3,048. The buy price is set by the game and shown before you confirm, so read it every time. A buy costing 100x at a A$1 bet is A$100 on one result.
For the full picture, including which casinos restrict buys during wagering, see our bonus buy pokies guide.
What are the pros and cons of Megaways pokies?
Megaways offer huge ways counts, busy cascades and big ceilings like 20,000x, with published RTPs in the 96.5% range on the titles we track. The cost is high short term swings, bonus rounds that can do very little, and wins that cluster into rare sessions. They suit patient players with a set budget.
What I like
- Every spin looks different, so the base game rarely feels flat
- Cascades can chain several wins from one paid spin
- Top published RTPs of 96.50% and 96.56% on our two verified titles
- Large ceilings, such as 20,000x on Great Rhino Megaways
- Deep Megaways sections at CrazyTower (96) and 7aBet (62)
What to watch
- Long dry spells between meaningful wins
- The 117,649 headline is a rare maximum, not the norm
- Cascade animations can mask a losing session
- Casinos can run lower RTP versions than the studio’s top setting
- Pragmatic Play titles are hidden for Australia at several casinos
How do I check a Megaways game before I play for real money?
Open the game, tap the info or rules icon, and read four things: the RTP printed there, the max win, how the ways are calculated, and whether a bonus buy has its own RTP. Then check the game loads from the studio, and that your casino’s bonus terms allow it.
- Read the RTP in the game. Compare it to the studio’s top figure. Madame Destiny Megaways lists 96.56% at the top setting. If your casino shows less, that version costs you more per spin.
- Check the max win. Great Rhino Megaways lists up to 20,000x. Multiply that by your bet so you know the real ceiling in A$.
- Find the ways rules. Look for how many reels and symbol heights the game uses and whether a top reel adds extra symbols.
- Check the bonus terms. Confirm the game is not excluded, note the max bet, and confirm whether feature buys are allowed with bonus funds.
- Set a stop point. Decide your spin count or loss limit before the first spin, not during a cold run.
If you have doubts about whether a copy of a game is genuine, our guide on whether online pokies are rigged shows how to check that a game is served by the real studio.
Is it legal to play Megaways pokies online in Australia?
Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, it is illegal for companies to offer online casino games, including pokies, to people in Australia. Players are not prosecuted for playing. The casinos in this guide are licensed offshore, not in Australia, so local protection is limited and ACMA can block their sites.
That matters for Megaways players in a practical way. If a casino refuses to pay a large win, you cannot take it to an Australian regulator. Your only route is the offshore licence holder, where one exists. Several casinos in this guide, including CrazyTower, 7aBet and Jackpot Jill, show no regulator at all.
I will not tell you to use a VPN, and you should not. It usually breaks casino terms and can give a casino grounds to void winnings. We explain how we weigh licences and operators in how we rate casinos.
Which Megaways casino would I choose?
For the widest Megaways choice, I would start at CrazyTower with 96 titles, accepting its missing licence details. For a more established licence setup with a Megaways row, FortunePlay on its Tobique licence is my balanced pick. For Pragmatic Play Megaways specifically, check Stay Casino’s lobby first.
My order is driven by the lobby first, then the cashier. CrazyTower has the most Megaways games, a 35x deposit plus bonus wagering rule and a three business day processing window. 7aBet is second for depth, with an Australian market and 62 Megaways games, but no named regulator.
FortunePlay and SpinsUp share an operator, a licence and the same A$30 minimum deposit, with crypto listed as instant once a withdrawal is approved and a 72 hour processing aim. FortunePlay’s larger Bonus Buy and Megaways setup edges it ahead for me.
Where can I get help if pokies stop being fun?
Gambling Help Online runs a free, confidential 24/7 service on 1800 858 858 and via gamblinghelponline.org.au. BetStop, at betstop.gov.au, is the national self-exclusion register for licensed Australian wagering providers. Setting deposit and time limits before you play is the simplest protection.
Megaways games are fast, noisy and built for long sessions, which makes them easy to overplay. Set a budget you can afford to lose, set a timer, and walk away when either runs out. If gambling is costing you money, sleep or relationships, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858, or read our responsible gambling page for tools and support. BetStop (betstop.gov.au) lets you self-exclude from licensed Australian betting services. You must be 18 or over to gamble.
Frequently asked questions
Who created the Megaways mechanic?
Megaways was created by Big Time Gaming, which licenses it to other studios. That is why Pragmatic Play and many other developers release games with Megaways in the name. The core rule is shared: random reel heights on every spin, with wins paid on ways rather than fixed paylines.
Does a spin with more ways cost more?
No. Your stake stays the same whether the reels land at 64 ways or 117,649 ways. The game's pay table and symbol weights are designed around the whole range of heights, so a tall screen simply raises the chance of a connecting win on that one spin.
Can I play Megaways pokies on my phone?
Yes. The casinos we checked run responsive mobile sites, and Megaways games load in the mobile browser like any other pokie. Tall reel layouts can look cramped on a small screen, so turning the phone sideways often makes the symbols easier to read.
Why can I not find a Pragmatic Play Megaways game at my casino?
Some casinos hide Pragmatic Play from Australian IPs. In our checks SpinsUp, ReelsOn and 7aBet showed no Pragmatic titles for Australia, and 7Bit marked the studio unavailable. Search the lobby for the exact game name before you make a deposit.
Is a Megaways free spins round guaranteed to pay well?
No. A free spins round can return less than a single base bet. Multipliers and cascades raise the ceiling, but the outcome is random each time. Treat any bonus round as a chance at a bigger result, never as a payout you can count on.
Do Megaways pokies count toward bonus wagering?
Pokies generally count in full toward wagering at the casinos we checked, but individual games can be excluded and a max bet applies, such as A$7.50 at FortunePlay and SpinsUp. Read the eligible games list in the bonus terms before you start clearing the turnover.
Dean Maddox
Dean Maddox is the Pokies Analyst at Online Pokies Insider, based in Perth, WA. He tests online pokies lobbies from an Australian connection, reads every line of the bonus terms, checks RTP in game info screens and times withdrawals where he can, then scores each casino on nine fixed checks.