Megaways slots calculate ways to win by multiplying the number of active symbol positions on each reel for the current spin. Because the number of symbols visible on each reel can change from spin to spin, the total number of possible winning combinations can change as well. Megaways is a random reel-modifier system that produces different numbers of symbols across the reels.
In a common six-reel Megaways layout, a spin with seven active positions on every reel produces:
7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways to win
That 117,649 figure is common in classic Megaways games, but it is not a universal limit. Different Megaways implementations and bonus features can use different reel structures and much larger numbers of ways.
Quick answers
- Megaways normally uses ways to win instead of fixed paylines.
- The Megaways ways to win calculation is based mainly on the number of active positions on each reel.
- The number of ways can change from one spin to the next.
- A larger Megaways number does not mean that a win is guaranteed.
- More ways do not automatically mean higher RTP, lower volatility, or a better game.
- The specific game’s paytable remains the final authority on how winning combinations are evaluated.
Megaways is usually most appealing to players who prefer changing reel layouts, cascading wins and feature-heavy slots. Players who prefer simple fixed paylines and an immediately predictable reel structure may find traditional slots easier to read.
How the Megaways Ways to Win Calculation Works
The basic Megaways calculation is multiplication.
If a six-reel spin shows these numbers of active symbol positions:
| Reel | Active positions |
| Reel 1 | 3 |
| Reel 2 | 5 |
| Reel 3 | 4 |
| Reel 4 | 7 |
| Reel 5 | 2 |
| Reel 6 | 6 |
The number of theoretical ways for that reel configuration is:
3 × 5 × 4 × 7 × 2 × 6 = 5,040 ways
On another spin, the reel heights might change, so the calculation must be performed again.
For example:
4 × 7 × 6 × 5 × 7 × 3 = 17,640 ways
The key idea is simple: Megaways does not need thousands of individually drawn paylines. It creates combinations from the active positions across the reels.
Why 117,649 Ways to Win Is So Common
The number 117,649 comes from a six-reel configuration with seven available symbol positions on every reel:
7⁶ = 117,649
The calculation can also be written as:
7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649
If the same six-reel structure showed only two active positions on every reel, the mathematical result would instead be:
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 64
This explains why the Megaways counter can vary dramatically between spins in games using variable reel heights.
The original Megaways mechanic is commonly associated with a random reel modifier capable of creating up to 117,649 win ways in the classic implementation.
Does Every Megaways Way Represent a Winning Combination?
No. The number displayed as Megaways represents the available positional combinations for that reel configuration, not the number of combinations that actually win.
Suppose a game currently displays 10,000 ways. That does not mean 10,000 prizes are available on that spin.
A payout still depends on the required symbols appearing in the correct reel sequence according to the game’s paytable.
Most ways-based games require matching symbols to appear on consecutive reels, usually beginning from the leftmost reel. However, individual games can introduce different rules, special symbols or bonus mechanics, so the exact conditions should always be checked in the paytable.
How Individual Winning Ways Are Counted
The overall Megaways number and the number of winning combinations for a specific symbol are related but different calculations.
Imagine a symbol appears:
- twice on reel 1,
- three times on reel 2,
- once on reel 3,
- twice on reel 4.
If four consecutive matching reels qualify for a payout, those symbol positions can create:
2 × 3 × 1 × 2 = 12 combinations
This is why several copies of the same symbol on adjacent reels can produce multiple winning ways from a single result.
Wild symbols can complicate this calculation because they may substitute for regular symbols. The exact treatment of Wilds, Scatters and other special symbols depends on the game’s rules.
Megaways vs Fixed Paylines
| Feature | Fixed Payline Slot | Megaways Slot |
| Win structure | Predetermined lines | Ways across reel positions |
| Reel height | Usually fixed | Can vary |
| Number of ways | Usually fixed | Can change each spin |
| Matching pattern | Specific line pattern | Usually consecutive reels |
| Maximum ways | Defined by paylines | Depends on reel configuration |
| Complexity | Usually easier to visualize | More dynamic |
A fixed 20-payline slot checks specific predefined routes through the reel grid.
A Megaways slot generally removes the need to follow those individual line patterns. Matching symbols can form combinations across eligible positions on consecutive reels instead.
This does not mean Megaways is automatically more generous. The payout model, symbol distribution, RTP, volatility and bonus mathematics are separate parts of the game design.
Why the Number of Megaways Changes Every Spin
The number changes because the reel modifier can change how many symbol positions are active on individual reels.
For example, one spin might produce:
2 × 4 × 5 × 3 × 6 × 4 = 2,880 ways
The next could produce:
7 × 6 × 7 × 5 × 7 × 6 = 61,740 ways
The second configuration offers many more positional combinations, but that fact alone cannot predict whether the spin will win.
The actual outcome still depends on which symbols occupy those positions and how the paytable evaluates them.
Do More Megaways Mean a Better Chance of Winning?
Not necessarily.
A higher ways count creates more possible routes through the current reel configuration, but the probability of a payout also depends on factors such as:
- symbol frequency;
- symbol weighting;
- Wild behavior;
- paytable requirements;
- bonus mechanics;
- reel strips or equivalent game mathematics;
- feature probabilities.
For this reason, comparing two Megaways slots only by their maximum number of ways can be misleading.
A game with 117,649 ways is not automatically better than a game with fewer ways. The complete mathematical model matters more than the headline number.
Do More Ways Mean Higher RTP?
No. The number of ways to win does not directly determine RTP.
RTP, or return to player, is a theoretical long-term percentage built into the game’s mathematical model. Ways to win describe how symbol positions can form eligible combinations.
A developer can therefore create two games with very different numbers of ways but similar theoretical RTP values.
Players should also remember that RTP describes long-term mathematical behavior. It does not predict what will happen during a particular session or series of spins.
If a slot is offered with multiple RTP configurations, check the information screen or paytable for the version available at the casino.
Do More Megaways Mean Lower Volatility?
No. Maximum ways and volatility measure different characteristics.
Volatility describes how payouts are distributed. A higher-volatility slot may concentrate more of its theoretical return into less frequent or larger potential payouts, while a lower-volatility design may distribute more of the return through smaller or more frequent prizes.
A Megaways game can therefore have many ways to win and still be highly volatile.
Players looking for a particular playing style should examine the game’s volatility information, RTP, paytable and bonus structure instead of using the Megaways number as a substitute for those metrics.
How Cascades Affect Megaways Wins
Many Megaways games combine variable reel layouts with cascading or reaction mechanics.
After a winning combination is evaluated, winning symbols may be removed and new symbols can fall into the available positions. The game can then evaluate the new grid without requiring a completely separate paid spin.
Depending on the game, cascades may also interact with multipliers, expanding reels, Wilds or bonus triggers.
The important distinction is that Megaways determines the available positional combinations, while cascades determine what happens after certain results. They are related mechanics but are not the same thing.
Always check the specific game’s rules because reaction behavior varies between titles.
Can Megaways Slots Have More Than 117,649 Ways?
Yes. The familiar 117,649 figure is associated with the classic six-reel, seven-position configuration, but newer Megaways implementations can go beyond it.
For example, some Megaways games can expand the available ways significantly during Free Spins or other features, reaching totals above the classic 117,649 figure.
This is an important reason not to treat 117,649 as a technical definition of Megaways.
Megaways describes the variable reel mechanic. The maximum number of combinations depends on how a particular game implements that mechanic.
How to Read the Megaways Counter
When a Megaways game displays a number such as 4,800 Megaways, that number generally tells you how many positional ways are available with the current reel configuration.
It does not tell you:
- how many winning symbols are present;
- how much the spin will pay;
- when the next win will occur;
- whether a bonus is close;
- whether the slot is currently “hot”;
- whether the next spin will have more ways.
The Megaways counter is therefore best understood as a description of the current reel geometry rather than a prediction.
Common Megaways Calculation Mistakes
Mistake 1: Treating ways as paylines
Megaways uses combinations of eligible reel positions rather than thousands of permanently drawn paylines.
Mistake 2: Assuming 117,649 ways are available on every spin
In variable-reel games, the number can change substantially depending on the active reel heights.
Mistake 3: Assuming more ways guarantee more wins
More available combinations do not guarantee that matching symbols will appear.
Mistake 4: Assuming every Megaways game has exactly 117,649 ways
Some games use smaller maximum configurations, while newer implementations and bonus features can exceed the classic 117,649 figure.
Mistake 5: Using ways to win as a substitute for RTP
RTP and Megaways measure different things. A larger number of ways does not automatically produce a higher theoretical return.
Mistake 6: Believing a high Megaways count predicts the next result
The configuration visible on one spin does not create a reliable method for predicting later random outcomes.
What Should You Check Before Playing a Megaways Slot?
- Maximum ways to win: Find out whether the number is fixed, variable or expanded during special features.
- Winning combination rules: Check how many matching symbols are required and whether wins must begin from a particular reel.
- RTP: Confirm the RTP shown in the actual game because available configurations may differ between operators.
- Volatility: Use volatility to understand the intended payout distribution rather than trying to infer it from the number of Megaways.
- Wild and Scatter rules: Special symbols can change how combinations are formed or bonuses are triggered.
- Cascades or reactions: Check whether winning symbols disappear and whether multipliers or reel changes continue through consecutive reactions.
- Free Spins and bonus mechanics: Reel heights, multipliers or maximum ways may behave differently during bonus rounds.
- Bet limits: Use stakes that fit a predetermined entertainment budget rather than adjusting bets based on recent wins or losses.
Megaways slots should be treated as entertainment rather than a method of making money. A large number of ways, high RTP or a particular volatility rating cannot guarantee a profitable session.
How This Information Was Reviewed
The Megaways ways to win calculation can be evaluated using the reel configuration, the game’s published rules and the general structure of the mechanic. The classic format is commonly associated with variable reel heights and a maximum of 117,649 ways, while some newer feature configurations can produce larger totals.
For an individual game, players should still check its official paytable and information screen. Winning rules, reel heights, Wild behavior, RTP, volatility and bonus mechanics can differ between Megaways titles.
Neither the number of Megaways nor the RTP can predict the result of an individual session. Slot outcomes remain uncertain, so players should set spending and time limits before playing and stop if gambling is no longer enjoyable.
FAQ
How do Megaways slots calculate ways to win?
Megaways slots usually calculate ways to win by multiplying the number of active symbol positions on each reel. For example, a six-reel layout showing 3, 5, 4, 7, 2 and 6 positions produces 3 × 5 × 4 × 7 × 2 × 6 = 5,040 ways.
How do Megaways slots get 117,649 ways to win?
A classic six-reel Megaways configuration reaches 117,649 ways when all six reels have seven active positions. The calculation is 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649.
Are 117,649 Megaways the same as 117,649 paylines?
No. Megaways uses combinations of positions across eligible reels rather than 117,649 permanently defined line patterns. The headline figure describes the number of available ways created by the current reel configuration.
Does every Megaways spin have 117,649 ways?
No. Many Megaways slots use variable reel heights, so one spin may have only a few thousand ways while another approaches the game’s maximum. Some games or bonus modes can also exceed 117,649 ways.
Do more Megaways increase the chance of winning?
More Megaways create more positional combinations, but they do not guarantee a higher probability of a payout. Actual win probability depends on the game’s complete mathematical model, including symbol distribution and paytable rules.
Do more Megaways mean a higher RTP?
No. RTP and ways to win are separate properties. RTP describes theoretical long-term return, while Megaways describes the number of available positional combinations. A game can have many ways without having a higher RTP.
Can a Megaways slot have more than 117,649 ways?
Yes. Some newer implementations or bonus features can expand beyond the classic six-reel, seven-position configuration and create more than 117,649 ways.
How are multiple matching symbols calculated in Megaways?
If several copies of the same paying symbol appear across consecutive reels, the number of combinations can be calculated by multiplying the number of matching eligible symbols on those reels. Wild substitution and special mechanics can change the evaluation, so the game’s paytable should be checked.
Are Megaways wins predictable from the reel configuration?
No. A high Megaways count does not reliably predict whether the spin will win or what will happen next. The number describes the current reel structure, not a strategy for forecasting future outcomes.
Brief Conclusion
Megaways ways to win are calculated primarily by multiplying the number of active positions across the reels. A classic six-reel layout with seven positions on every reel produces 117,649 ways, but variable reel heights mean the total can change from spin to spin, and some newer Megaways features can exceed that number.
The number of ways should not be confused with paylines, RTP, volatility or win probability. More Megaways create more possible symbol routes, but they do not guarantee a payout or predict future results. The most reliable way to understand any Megaways slot is to check its paytable, reel rules, RTP, volatility and bonus mechanics before playing.
