Bonanza Megapays Slot Review
Big Time Gaming refined a beloved classic by introducing their patented Megapays progressive jackpot system to the original Bonanza Megaways formula. Bonanza Megapays maintains the core mechanics that made the predecessor legendary whilst fundamentally altering the win structure through a four-tier progressive system. Released in 2021, this evolution represents a meaningful shift from the original’s design philosophy—one that polarises players between those captivated by the new progressive potential and those who prefer traditional Megaways mechanics.
Base Game & Features
Bonanza Megapays operates on a 6-reel, Megaways grid with dynamic row heights—each reel displays between 2 and 7 symbols per spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win. The reel configuration changes on every spin due to cascading mechanics, ensuring no two spins play identically. The game employs £/€0.20 to £/€30 betting range with a solid 96.40% RTP positioned across regular gameplay and progressive features.
The thematic mining setting features gold rush-inspired symbols with a distinctly dated 3D visual style. Whilst the design hasn’t evolved significantly from the original, it maintains functional clarity—symbol distinction remains sharp and gameplay never feels muddled despite the dynamic grid complexity.
Win Mechanics & Cascades
Cascading reels form the foundation of Bonanza Megapays’ base game. Winning symbol combinations disappear and respawn from above, creating chains of consecutive wins on a single spin. Each cascade maintains the Megaways multiplier effect, meaning longer chains can generate substantial payouts in the base game alone. This mechanic drives both excitement and occasional frustration—players appreciate the cascade potential but acknowledge that base game hits without cascades feel underwhelming.
Special Symbols & Wild Mechanics
The Sliding Reel feature adds an extra reel above the main 6×7 grid, containing a Wild symbol that substitutes for all symbols except scatters. This extra reel occasionally displays Megapays symbols as well, feeding into the progressive jackpot mechanic. Scatter symbols (represented by the GOLD icon) trigger the free spins feature and independently trigger the Megapays round when collected during standard gameplay.
Free Spins & Bonus Features
Bonanza Megapays features two distinct bonus mechanics that diverge significantly from the original Bonanza Megaways formula. The free spins mode pairs traditional free spin awards with an unlimited multiplier system, whilst the Megapays progressive jackpot operates as an independent feature with its own trigger conditions.
Free Spins Mechanics
Landing 4 GOLD scatter symbols anywhere on the grid awards 12 free spins. Additional scatters trigger further spins—5 scatters add 5 more spins, and 6 scatters add another 5 spins. Players can accumulate significant free spin totals through fortunate scatter combinations.
The standout mechanic emerges during free spins: a cascading multiplier with no upper limit. The multiplier begins at 1x and increases by +1 after every cascade win. This creates explosive potential during extended cascade sequences—players report free spin wins reaching 500x to 1,000x+ stake through accumulated multipliers alone. The unlimited multiplier design fundamentally differs from the original Bonanza Megaways, positioning free spins as the primary win vehicle rather than merely supplementary to base game potential.
Regarding bonus buy mechanics: Bonanza Megapays does not offer a traditional bonus buy feature. Free spins trigger exclusively through the scatter mechanic, ensuring all players access this feature through organic gameplay. Some high-volatility players express frustration with this limitation, as certain Big Time Gaming titles include ante bet or direct feature purchase options, neither of which appear in Bonanza Megapays.
Megapays Progressive Jackpot System
Megapays represents Big Time Gaming’s proprietary progressive jackpot mechanism and functions as the game’s defining innovation. The feature triggers randomly on any spin and operates independently from free spins. When activated, a 6×7 grid of collection positions appears, and players must collect Megapays symbols through spinning to fill positions and unlock progressive tiers.
The system features four distinct jackpot tiers:
- Mini Jackpot: Requires 4 Megapays symbols (minimum seed £100)
- Midi Jackpot: Requires 8-11 Megapays symbols (minimum seed £1,500)
- Major Jackpot: Requires 12-14 Megapays symbols (minimum seed £20,000)
- Mega Jackpot: Requires 15+ Megapays symbols (minimum seed £300,000)
The progressive system distributes 0.60% of the 96.40% RTP across four jackpot tiers—Mini receives 0.15%, Midi 0.13%, Major 0.12%, and Mega 0.11%. This allocation ensures all players theoretically contribute to potential jackpot wins, though higher-stake players encounter better odds. Each collected Megapays symbol awards an additional spin, creating the potential for extended collection sequences. Players frequently chase the Mega tier on minimal stakes (10p bets) when jackpots accumulate, generating significant excitement potential given the multiplier effect of low stakes against large progressive pools.
Notably, the Megapays feature has proven divisive amongst the player base. Enthusiasts embrace the progressive excitement and the possibility of 3,000,000x stake wins at minimal investment. Conversely, traditional Megaways players feel the RTP allocation to progressives (9.44% total) diminishes regular gameplay returns—only 86.96% returns to the standard game, compared to traditional slots where base mechanics retain the full RTP.
Our Honest Verdict
Bonanza Megapays succeeds as a mechanics-driven evolution despite polarising opinions. Big Time Gaming created a meaningful innovation by introducing their progressive system to an established template rather than merely rehashing the original. The free spins with unlimited multipliers deliver genuine excitement and explosive potential unmatched across most contemporary Megaways releases.
However, the trade-offs warrant explicit acknowledgement. The 9.44% RTP allocation to Megapays means regular base game returns diminish to 86.96%—a deliberate sacrifice to fund progressive excitement. Base game hits without cascades feel underwhelming compared to the original’s mechanics, leaving players to grind through frequent small losses between features. The 17,926x base game cap represents a notable reduction from Bonanza Megaways’ 26,000x, positioning this squarely as a feature-dependent game rather than base game friendly.
Free spins can require 300-500+ spins to trigger—a pacing issue that creates extended base game sessions some players appreciate (ample playtime) whilst others find tedious. Those seeking rapid feature access should look elsewhere. Conversely, “grinding enthusiasts” appreciate the extended engagement and view delayed free spin triggers as facilitating longer sessions.
Rating: 7.5/10 – Bonanza Megapays appeals decisively to three player segments: progressive jackpot chasers drawn to the 3,000,000x potential, grinding enthusiasts seeking extended base game sessions, and fans of the original franchise reliving nostalgia through a refined mechanical framework. Those seeking consistent base game action, lower-volatility mechanics, or the original Bonanza Megaways’ standard gameplay should explore alternative releases. Big Time Gaming executed their vision competently, though the design inherently excludes players who prioritise traditional Megaways mechanics above progressive excitement.
Bonanza Megapays FAQs
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What is the RTP of Bonanza Megapays?
The RTP of Bonanza Megapays is 96.40%, with allocation breakdown: 9.44% to Megapays feature, 86.96% to regular game, and 0.60% distributed across the four jackpot tiers (Mini 0.15%, Midi 0.13%, Major 0.12%, Mega 0.11%). -
What is the maximum win on Bonanza Megapays?
Bonanza Megapays offers 17,926x stake maximum win in the base game. However, with the Megapays progressive jackpot feature, wins can reach up to 3,000,000x or more with a 10p stake. -
Does Bonanza Megapays have free spins?
Yes, Bonanza Megapays has free spins triggered by collecting four GOLD scatters, which awards 12 free spins. Five or six scatters award an additional 5 spins each. During free spins, a cascading multiplier starts at x1 and increases after every win with no maximum limit. -
Can I play Bonanza Megapays on mobile?
Yes, Bonanza Megapays is fully mobile compatible. The game uses HTML5 technology with a single build that operates on all Android and iOS devices including iPhones, iPads, and tablets. Mobile players have access to all the same features and gameplay as desktop users. -
Does Bonanza Megapays have a bonus buy feature?
Bonanza Megapays does not offer a bonus buy feature. Free spins are triggered naturally through the GOLD scatter symbol mechanic, ensuring all players access this feature through regular gameplay. -
What is the Megapays feature in Bonanza Megapays?
Megapays is Big Time Gaming’s patented progressive jackpot system with four tiers: Mini, Midi, Major, and Mega. The feature is triggered randomly on any spin and involves collecting Megapays symbols in a 6×7 grid. Players need 4 symbols for Mini jackpot up to 15+ for Mega jackpot. Each collected symbol awards another spin. -
How many reels and ways to win does Bonanza Megapays have?
Bonanza Megapays features 6 reels with a Megaways mechanic. Each reel can display between 2-7 symbols dynamically, creating up to 117,649 ways to win on each spin. The reel configuration changes on every spin due to the cascading wins mechanic. -
What is the volatility of Bonanza Megapays?
Bonanza Megapays has high volatility (5/5 rating), which means wins are less frequent but when they do occur, they tend to be larger. This is balanced by the 96.40% RTP and free spins with unlimited multipliers that can provide significant payouts.
