Big Time Gaming (Megaways) Review

Big Time Gaming (BTG) is one of the most influential slot studios in the world — not because it releases the most games, but because it invented the mechanic that reshaped the entire industry. If you’ve played almost any modern high-volatility slot with a shifting number of ways to win, you’ve encountered Megaways, and BTG is the studio behind it. This review covers who BTG is, how Megaways actually works, why Bonanza remains a landmark title, and what Canadian players should know before spinning.

Who Is Big Time Gaming?

Founded in 2011 in Sydney, Australia, Big Time Gaming built its reputation on a simple philosophy: take bigger swings than the rest of the market. While many studios chase steady, low-variance titles designed for long sessions, BTG leaned hard into high-volatility math models — games with fewer but far larger payouts.

That approach paid off. In 2021, BTG was acquired by the Evolution Group, the same company behind Evolution live dealer tables and studios like Red Tiger and NetEnt. The acquisition folded BTG into one of the largest content ecosystems in online gambling, giving its titles broad distribution across regulated markets.

For Canadian players browsing our betting sites and casino hubs, that ownership matters: Evolution-group content is widely certified and appears across many regulated operators, including those live in Ontario’s iGaming market.

The Megaways Engine Explained

Megaways is BTG’s signature — and licensed — reel mechanic. Understanding it is the key to understanding almost every BTG title.

How It Works

On a traditional slot, each reel shows a fixed number of symbols, producing a fixed number of paylines. Megaways changes this every single spin. Each reel loads a variable number of symbols — typically between 2 and 7 — meaning the number of ways to win expands and contracts spin to spin.

• With 6 reels each capable of showing 7 symbols, the maximum expansion is 7⁶
• That produces a headline figure of 117,649 ways to win at full expansion
• Fewer symbols per reel means fewer ways; the game is constantly reshuffling the board

This variability is what gives Megaways titles their distinctive rhythm — and their volatility. A spin might load thin and pay nothing, or load fully and trigger a massive multi-way hit.

A Licensed Trademark

Crucially, Megaways is a trademarked mechanic that BTG licenses out to other studios. Developers including Blueprint Gaming, Red Tiger, iSoftBet, and Pragmatic Play have all released Megaways titles under license. That’s why the mechanic feels ubiquitous: it’s not just BTG’s own catalogue but dozens of partner studios building on the same engine. It’s arguably the single most widely adopted slot innovation of the past decade.

Bonanza: The Game That Started It All

If you learn one BTG title, make it Bonanza. Released in 2016, it was the first game to feature Megaways and became BTG’s breakout hit — the title that turned a clever math idea into an industry standard.

Theme and Core Features

Bonanza is built around a gold and gem mining theme, complete with a mine-cart aesthetic. Beyond the standard Megaways expansion, it layers in several mechanics that have since become genre staples:

• Cascading reactions — winning symbols are removed and new symbols drop in to replace them, potentially chaining multiple wins from a single spin
• A separate horizontal “carts” reel running across the top four reels, adding extra symbols and boosting the ways-to-win count
• Free spins with an unlimited, increasing win multiplier — this is the signature draw. During the bonus, each cascade bumps the multiplier higher with no cap, which is where Bonanza’s biggest payouts come from

RTP and Volatility

• RTP: Bonanza is commonly cited at around 96%. Note that many games ship with multiple RTP configurations, and operators can choose which version to deploy — so the exact figure can vary by site. Always check the game’s info screen on the platform you’re using. (We flag any figure we can’t confirm to a single decimal.)
• Volatility: high. This is the defining characteristic. Expect long stretches without meaningful wins punctuated by large payouts, driven almost entirely by the free-spins multiplier.
• Max win: frequently cited around 12,000x stake or higher, though the precise ceiling is best confirmed against the operator’s own disclosures.

High volatility cuts both ways. It’s the source of the appeal for players chasing big multipliers, but it also means bankroll swings are severe. Bonanza is not a “grind it out” slot — it’s built for the swing.

What Canadian Players Should Know

Single-game and online betting is legal across Canada following Bill C-218 (August 2021), but casino and slot availability is regulated provincially, and that directly affects whether you’ll find BTG titles.

• Ontario operates a competitive regulated market under AGCO and iGaming Ontario (live since April 2022). Only registered operators may legally offer real-money slots here, and many carry Evolution-group content. See our Ontario guide for the operator landscape.
• Other provinces are typically served by provincial lottery-run platforms (such as PlayNow in BC or Loto-Québec’s offering), which curate their own game libraries. BTG availability varies.
• The minimum age is 19+ in most provinces, and 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec.

Availability of a specific BTG title like Bonanza depends on both the operator and your province, so always verify the game is offered on your platform before assuming access.

Funding Your Play

Most Canadian casino platforms lean on Interac e-Transfer as the default deposit and withdrawal method, alongside cards and select e-wallets. For a breakdown of options, processing times, and what works in your province, see our payment methods guide.

The Bottom Line

Big Time Gaming earns its reputation as a genuine innovator. Megaways wasn’t just a gimmick — it became the template that dozens of studios now build on, and Bonanza remains the cleanest example of why the mechanic works. If you enjoy high-volatility slots with big multiplier potential and can accept the swings that come with them, BTG’s catalogue is essential. If you prefer steadier, lower-variance play, these titles will test your patience and your bankroll.

For more on how we assess studios and titles, see our review methodology, and browse current offers on our betting bonuses page before you play.