If you’re reading this post, it’s more than likely that you’re already a fan of slot games. It’s also just as likely that you’re on the lookout for a fresh way to play these games. The Megaways mechanic could be the answer for a slot lover who wants to explore a new twist on the classic. SkyCity Online Casino is a proud host of the best Megaways games in New Zealand.
What are ‘Megaways’ Slot Games?
Megaways is essentially a mechanism that can be added to any slot game. It’s a feature designed to boost excitement, anticipation and ultimately, the chance to increase wins. This is made possible through increased paylines on every single spin.
Slot games are the most popular feature of any casino, both online and land-based. The humble Slot has come a long way and is always evolving. The very first slot machines (those one-armed machines that often inhabited bars and land-based casinos) came with three reels. Today, on most modern, digitised slots players will get to spin five reels. Three-reel games have fallen out of favour since most players prefer the increased paylines that come with more reels. Megaways is a step further, boosting paylines to the limit for an enhanced player experience.
Megaways slot machines have six reels and the number of symbols shown on the reels goes from 2 to 8 and changes on every spin. They always payout from left to right no matter where on the reels the winning combination lands. More symbols on a reel equal more ways to win. Symbols like Wilds, Scatters and Mystery Symbols add an extra layer of excitement, often increasing the value of each win or triggering bonus features.
Because the number of symbols shown on the reels varies from spin to spin, the number of paylines is also unstable and different for each spin. At most Megaways pokies can have 117649 paylines, which can see you delightedly watching big wins pile up. That being said, you won’t land wins to the tune of a million dollars. In fact, most Megaways games are capped at a maximum prize of $250.000.
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How does the Megaways mechanic work?
The Megaways mechanism adds a random reel modifier to any regular Slot game. This can change how many symbols will appear on a reel on any given spin. The proprietary mechanism was developed by Australian slot developer Big Time Gaming, who realised that any game can be modified to offer players 100,000s of ways to win.
Finding this tough to picture? Look at it this way. On a regular slot game, each reel comes with a fixed amount of symbols on each reel. This never changes, regardless of how many times you spin. That’s why we call them fixed payline slots. However, on a Megaways slot, each reel will carry a different number of symbols on each spin, changing the number of paylines every time. This is easy to keep track of, because the number of ways to win on any given spin is always indicated on the grid – usually on the top.
How to play Megaways games in New Zealand?
In terms of functionality, nothing changes from your standard slot game. You simply spin the reels and cross your fingers that they stop to form lots of matching symbols. Sometimes you’ll be asked whether you want to gamble your winnings or collect them – but this will be very clearly explained.
Depending on which online casino you choose to spend your time with, you should also be able to try out each game in free play mode. This is a great option because it allows you to decide if the game is right for you before you commit any real cash. A really good online casino will also be totally optimised for mobile gameplay, allowing you to catch some Megaways action on the go. Both of these features are available at SkyCity Online Casino.
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What kind of special features are to be expected?
There’s a simple set of rules that all Megaways games follow. Understanding these should go some way toward clearing up exactly how this kind of games work:
- Wins occur when you match symbols on adjacent reels.
- Winning combinations are always counted from left to right.
- Every spin carries a different amount of symbols on each reel (this can range from 2 to 7 symbols).
- The more symbols on each reel, the more ways to win (paylines) you unlock.
- The maximum amount of paylines can be calculated by multiplying the number of potential symbols in every reel. For example, a six-reel game with up to 7 symbols on each reel offers 117,649 paylines (7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649).
- You never know how many paylines you’re playing with, as this will change on every new spin.
When playing a Megaways game, you’ll notice that the slot displays the potential ways to win on each spin. These numbers are usually shown in a box at the top. Not all Megaways games have the same amount of potential ways to win. Some offer 117,649 ways to win, some offer even more, while others can have less. Check out the individual game’s description to understand how many potential ways to win that particular slot has to offer.
Which are the top Megaways games to play in New Zealand?
Megaways games are popular all over the world, but with so many to choose from it’s hard to know where to start. Players from New Zealand have a definite preference, and we’ve made a list of the most popular Megaways games in New Zealand:
- Black Gold Megaways
- Super Wild Megaways
- Great Rhino Megaways
- Reel King Megaways
- Monopoly Megaways
- Piggy Riches Megaways
- Starz Megaways
- Dragon’s Fire Megaways
- Dragon’s Luck Megaways
There are many other slot games that have adopted a Megaways version, most of which are available at SkyCity Online Casino. Enter ‘Megaways’ in the search bar to see the full range.
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How much can you win?
Most Megaways titles have a maximum win of 10,000 to 50,000 times the wager with an absolute cap of $250,000.
Despite the high number of (potential) paylines, Megaways slots aren’t expensive to play. In fact, the cost per spin falls in line with the bet amount spent on most regular slot games. Players can usually hit the reels starting as low as $0.10 per spin and climbing up to $100 a turn.
This betting range is surprising when you consider that most Megaways slot games come with high variance or volatility. Generally speaking, games with lower bet allowances come with smaller prize potential, catering primarily for recreational players. A higher volatility means that there’s a good chance you’ll experience several non-winning spins before hitting a big win. That’s why the lower bet sizes are fantastic news for any player. Megaways games allow you to play each spin at a very low cost, giving you the power to withstand a round of dry spins while you wait out the special features. Of course, there’s no guarantee that these will come around in time, so decide on your budget before playing and make sure you stick to it.
Which Megaways providers are available in New Zealand?
If you’ve been reading this article from the very top, then you already know that Megaways is a wonderful Australian invention from the provider Big Time Gaming (BTG). But instead of guarding their invention jealousy, they decided to license it out to other online casino game providers. That means you can discover a colourful range of Megaways games from:
- Big Time Gaming
- Barcrest
- Scientific Games
- ELK Studios
- Fantasma Games
- Blueprint Gaming
- Storm Gaming
- Red Tiger Gaming
- Kalamba Games
- Pragmatic Play
- Yggdrasil Gaming
- 7 Mobile Gaming
- SG Gaming
- Push Gaming
- Relax Gaming
- Nextgen Gaming
- Iron Dog Studios
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What’s the difference between Megaways slots and Progressive Jackpots?
The short answer is that the two have absolutely nothing in common.
If you’ve only heard of Megaways, but never spun the reels, it makes sense that you can get confused between them and Progressive Jackpot games. Just the name sounds like a big win. But the truth is that comparing Megaways Slots and Progressive Jackpots is like comparing apples and oranges.
A progressive jackpot is a feature in some slot games, where a percentage of each bet made by anyone (at any online casino) playing the game gets added to a pot. Depending on the game, the prize could reach over a million dollars, and will only pay once every few years. Progressive jackpots can be found in all types of online slot games, regardless of the number of paylines, theme, or number of reels.
On the other hand, Megaways has nothing to do with a jackpot and refers to the engine that powers specific games. The games have six reels, between 2 and 7 symbols per reel, and up to 117,649 ways to win.
If you want to learn more about Jackpots, progressive or otherwise, then you should probably take a look at another article we wrote, answering all your Jackpot questions.
Final verdict on Megaways games in New Zealand
Megaways games are in a league of their own. The shifting paylines add excitement to every spin, with each one taking on different potential from the one before. Because the Megaways mechanism is a kind of skin that can be applied to any regular slot, it allows players to try out their favourite games with a fresh spin. These games are a lot of fun, offering the industry maximum when it comes to paylines. More ways to win means more ways to unlock each game’s prizes. If you’re ready to try out some top Megaways games, then look no further than SkyCity Online Casino.
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