Understanding Megaways Slots: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Want to learn how one of online slots’ hottest mechanics works? Read our complete Megaways slots explained guide. Megaways slots are completely different to your typical spin-the-reels-and-match-the-scatters style of online slot game. They’re constructed differently, they play differently, and they pay out differently.

The Problem…

Players start playing Megaways slots without understanding how the mechanic works. That’s a big problem because knowing how Megaways slots work before you play gives you the upper hand.

We cover everything you need to know below.

Megaways Slots Explained: Table of Contents

  1. What Are Megaways Slots?
  2. How Does the Megaways Mechanic Work?
  3. Key Features Beginner’s Should Know
  4. Best Megaways Slots
  5. Tips For Playing Megaways Slots

What Are Megaways Slots?

If you’re new to online slots then knowing what are Megaways slots is where we start. Megaways slots refer to a group of online slot games that use a unique reel modifier engine developed by Aussie studio Big Time Gaming (BTG).

Instead of traditional paylines Megaways slots have multiple symbols per reel that change with each spin.

Effectively, they have a fluctuating number of ways to win that increase with each pull of the lever.

Why? More on that below.

The Megaways slot engine first appeared in 2016 when Big Time Gaming released Bonanza, a gold rush-themed Megaways slot that caught the eyes (and reels) of players around the world. Since then more than 30 game studios have created over 200 unique Megaways titles.

Who knew Aussie dev’s would blaze such a trail for slots?

How Does the Megaways Mechanic Work?

Okay. Let’s break down the Megaways slot engine…

Standard Megaways slots have 6 reels. When you spin the reels, each reel will randomly show between 2 and 7 symbols at once. To work out the total ways to win you multiply the total number of symbols across all 6 reels together.

Formula Example: Ways to win = Reel 1 X reel 2 X reel 3 X reel 4 X reel 5 X reel 6

So if every reel shows 7 symbols down, you have 7,176 possible ways to win on that spin (7X7X7X7X7X7).

At full capacity most Megaways slots offer up to 117,649 ways to win per spin. Some games like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Megaways pushes that ceiling even higher at 1,000,000 possible ways to win.

Now compare that to your average online slot with 20 fixed paylines.

Here’s the thing…

More ways to win increases the amount of potential win combinations per spin.

Having more ways to win doesn’t guarantee you a win. Most Megaways slots are high-volatility games. Winning combinations will often land in big clusters — and go missing for longer stretches. That’s normal. Know the signs before playing.

Key Features Beginner’s Should Know

Megaways slots have a variety of features you won’t find on regular slot games. Knowing what’s what is essential.

Cascading Reels

A winning combination will cause the winning symbols to disappear from the reels. New symbols will fall into place to take their place. If new symbols complete another winning combination — they too will vanish.

Creating multiple consecutive wins from one spin.

This feature is known as cascading reels, and it’s what makes Megaways slots so much fun.

Win Multipliers

Most Megaways slots feature a win multiplier that increases during the free spins round. The multiplier starts at 1x and grows with each consecutive win. By the end of a massive cascade players have seen their multiplier reach astronomical figures.

Big wins are had during this stage.

Free Spins Bonus Round

Like most online slots, Megaways feature a bonus round where players can win free spins. When triggered by scatter symbols, the free spins round is where the win multiplier feature comes into play.

Slot hunters should do everything they can to trigger this bonus feature. It’s the difference between a good and bad Megaways experience.

The Extra Horizontal Reel

Have you noticed how a lot of Megaways slots have an extra horizontal reel resting above the main 6 reels? Well, that reel multiplies the total ways to win even higher, getting you closer to the maximum amount on each spin.

Best Megaways Slots

With hundreds of Megaways slots to choose from online today, beginners should start with these top three:

  • Bonanza Megaways — The original Megaways slot game from Big Time Gaming. Featuring up to 117,649 ways to win, a 96% RTP and a max win of 26,x your stake. A true Megaways classic!
  • Gonzo’s Quest Megaways — Originally developed by NetEnt, this long-running Megaways slot features multipliers that climb to 15x during free spins.
  • The Dog House Megaways — If you haven’t heard of The Dog House yet then where have you been? Developed by Pragmatic Play, the slot features a 96.55% RTP and max win of 12,305x your stake. Consistently one of the top performing Megaways slots online.

Pick one of these three Megaways slots to learn the basics. Get familiar with how cascading reels work and how the free spins bonus round affects your total winnings. From there you can start exploring bigger and better Megaways games.

Tips For Playing Megaways Slots

Ready to start playing Megaways slots online? First, read these tips:

Know the volatility. Megaways slots don’t pay out small wins as often as you’d think. There will be longer periods without wins that test your patience. Adapt your session budgets accordingly. Don’t get panicked during a cold streak.

Look at the RTP%. Return to player percentages can vary from Megaways slot to Megaways slot. Always look for games with an RTP of 96% or greater. Bonanza has 96% RTP, The Dog House Megaways has 96.55%. Learn the others before diving into a new Megaways game.

Play demo mode. Don’t jump into a new Megaways game without testing out the demo version first. Learn how the cascading reels interacts with the free spins multiplier. Get a feel for the game in question without risking real money.

Budget your session. Unlike low or medium volatile slots, Megaways games can run through a bankroll quickly during a cold-loss streak. Set a budget before you start playing and stick to it.

The Bottom Line

Megaways slots are an exciting addition to the online slots industry. Learning how Megaways slots work is the first step to getting the most out of your sessions.

Here’s a quick recap:

  • Megaways slots use special mechanics that change the number of ways to win on every spin.
  • While most Megaways slots have a maximum of 117,649 ways to win. Some offer over 1 Million ways!
  • Megaways slots have unique features like cascading reels and win multipliers.
  • Megaways slots are generally high-volatility. Don’t get discouraged if wins come less frequently.
  • If you’re new to Megaways start playing Bonanza Megaways, Gonzo’s Quest Megaways or The Dog House Megaways — three of the most popular Megaways slots available online today.

 

iWALK LinkPod Reel 10,000mAh 30W powerbank review

The iWALK LinkPod Reel 10,000mAh powerbank is a handy portable kit to have at home or the office and of course travel which will fit in most pockets and travel bags and if you are someone like me who is on the go with multiple devices this is a must have and convenient.

You can charge up to three devices at once such as earbuds tablets phones laptops and much more and with 10,000mAh of juice inside you are good to go for days depending on your on personal gear on your person.

It looks cool too like a music player of sorts and has a digital display up top to inform you of what power is left, which is quite handy it has bi directional charging and pass through charging making it more efficient and can be used whilst it is charging itself again handy.

It has 30W PD charging on deck with three outputs and so you can also share with others if needed, the party trick with this is the retractable cable on board which means you cant loose it as cables are a thing that go missing all the time and perhaps in their next model they could offer more than one cable and this would be an excellent idea going forward meaning less cables to worry about and go missing.

Check the video below for more and a hands on look.

 

 

 

  • 70cm/27.5 inches/2.3ft Retractable USB-C Cable: iWALK LinkPod Reel power bank is equipped with a built-in retractable cable. Adjustable cable length, charge easier with Reel. Say goodbye to tangled cables and a messy charging environments.
  • 10000mAh Capacity for Widely Devices: Provides enough power for nearly 2 charges for cellphone. Compatible with iPhone, Samsung, android mobile phone, iPad and even MacBook. Experience effortless energy on the go.
  • 30W PD Bi-Directional Fast Charging: Boost your portable charger to 50% in just 45 minutes or charge your iPhone 15 Pro Max to 60% in 30 minutes, thanks to PD 30W fast charging in both directions.
  • Triple Devices Simultaneous Charging: Total 3 Output, PD USB-C cable1, PD USB-C port1, QC USB-A port1. Effortlessly charging three devices at once. Share the power to your friends.
  • Smart LED Display: This Pocket Size power bank features an LED digital display that shows the remaining battery power, ensuring you won’t run out of power unexpectedly.

BUY

Other iWalk reviews

Video Review

Tech Review – JOBY Beamo Reel Color

The JOBY Beamo Reel Color is a simple to use light to enhance your creator side with 12 RGB colors built in and a built in diffuser this works with other JOBY products too or standalone tripods which is how we used it, it is simple to use with two buttons and no app required to get going.

The build quality is also robust with a simple twist to turn it on and up the the brightness, you have the two buttons then to change the temp and colour and that is all there is to it really so in short shot just place where required and turn it on set the tone and job is done. The Beamo Reel color is for those who want to add a mood or tone to their creative side or just have a different look to their scene, it can be used in many ways and each creator is different,Check the video below for more.

Available in 3 models: The Beamo Reel which produces super soft light with the built-in diffuser and offers three different white color temperature options.
Beamo Reel Color which produces super soft light with the built-in diffuser, offers three different white color temperature options and 12 additional preset RGB colors.
Beamo Reel Creator Kit, an all-in-one kit that includes the PodZilla Medium mobile tripod kit, Wavo Mobile vlogging microphone, and Beamo Reel LED light. This ready-to-vlog bundle stabilizes your phone, captures crispy audio, and provides easy-to-use soft lighting.

Features 

  • Control on/off and brightness by rotating the rim of the light
  • Faceted faces allows it to be placed at 0°, 15°, and 30° angles
  • Toggle through 12 preset RGB colors with a touch of button
  • Cold Shoe attachment to lock your LED and device in place
  • Up to 7 hours of run time on 50% brightness

Buy

Video Review

Introducing JOBY Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kit

JOBY – the reference brand for content creator gear that empowers creators and helps uplift their creativity has announced the launch of the new Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kits as part of their extensive range of lighting for smartphones and cameras.

Designed to help creators achieve the perfect lighting in any on-the-go or at-home-studio situation, the JOBY Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kits will make any video content stand out.
Both products are part of JOBY’s ongoing dedication to empower over 40 million creators worldwide; helping to uplift creativity and provide an ecosystem of products that is simple to operate and capable of creating unconventional content. The Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kits are the latest additions to the popular Beamo range that help to light up the content creation process making it easier and more fun. 

The Beamo Studio Kit is JOBY’s one stop YouTube home studio lighting kit. Ideal for anyone looking to start up their own YouTube channel, it contains everything needed – including the Beamo Studio Key Light and Beamo Studio Background Light – to create top quality videos from home.

The built in soft-lens diffusion of the Key Light ensures the best image quality for recording a YouTube video from the comfort of a home studio. It features 10 brightness levels and 3 color temperatures to choose from to match the tones and effects to whatever content is planned. The table stand means the Key Light can be adjusted for use, raising it to the ideal height (68-85cm) as needed. The included phone mount is supported by a flexible GorillaPod Arm for easy angling and framing, and the cold shoes on both the key light and phone mount allow a JOBY Wavo mic to be added to improve audio quality.

Looking for a way to really make videos pop? The Beamo Studio Background Light is a one-of-a-kind addition that allows users to add color to a background without the need for background paper or paint. With 12 colors and 10 brightness levels to choose from, the lighting can be mixed up to create a unique look that reflects any content creator’s style.
Both lights are USB powered making them easy to use anywhere. 

The Beamo Studio Kit is available in various kits:

Beamo Studio Creator Kit: covers all you need to start a channel from your home, including a key light, a color background light and a microphone.
Beamo Studio Deluxe Kit: a one-stop lighting solution for your home video studio including a key light and a color background light to get your channel started.
Beamo Studio Key Light
Beamo Studio Background Light.

The Beamo Reel is designed for content creators who are always on the go. Perfect f

or a travel vlogger filming an action-packed video, or an IRL creator filming a daily routine, this compact and lightweight LED light is great for capturing high-quality footage anywhere, from a smartphone or camera. 

The brightness is controlled by simply twisting the rim of the light whilst vlogging – meaning users no longer have to reach to the back of the LED to guess where the buttons and dial are located. It could not be easier to adjust the lighting during a video thanks to this simple yet effective design.

The ergonomic design fits nicely into your palm for handheld lighting, and the standard ¼” thread on the bottom allows it to connect to any JOBY tripod. In addition, Beamo Reel can be easily mounted to a camera or smartphone clamp thanks to the included cold shoe adapter and it can also stand on the table or on the ground by itself, making it a versatile tool for content creation.


Available in 3 models:

Beamo Reel which produces super soft light with the built-in diffuser and offers three different white color temperature options.
Beamo Reel Color which produces super soft light with the built-in diffuser, offers three different white color temperature options and 12 additional preset RGB colors.
Beamo Reel Creator Kit, an all-in-one kit that includes the PodZilla Medium mobile tripod kit, Wavo Mobile vlogging microphone, and Beamo Reel LED light. This ready-to-vlog bundle stabilizes your phone, captures crispy audio, and provides easy-to-use soft lighting.

JOBY Beamo Reel and Beamo Studio Kit are the newest additions to the successful Beamo Range; the Beamo RingLight 12”, the Beamo RingLight for MagSafe, and the Beamo and Beamo Mini. The perfect integrations to the Beamo lighting suite, these innovative new products will help make any creators lighting goals a reality.