Big Time Gaming's Megaways original
Bonanza Megaways Slot
Six reels, cascading reactions, and an unlimited multiplier built for gold-rush chasing.
- Reels
- 6 reels, 2–7 rows
- Paylines
- up to 117, 649 ways
- Best possible win
- 26000x
- RTP value
- 96.00%
- Volatility level
- high
Is Bonanza worth playing right now
Bonanza is a high-volatility Megaways slot from Big Time Gaming with up to 117,649 ways to win, cascading reactions, and a free spins round where the win multiplier climbs without a cap. It's playable on desktop and mobile at most casinos serving Canadian players, either in demo mode or for real money.
- Free spins trigger on 4+ GOLD scatters, with retriggers possible from the cart reel
- No bonus buy option — the free spins round can only be earned through play
- Bet range typically runs from 0.20 to 20.00 per spin, though some casinos adjust limits
Bonanza specifications
| Provider | Big Time Gaming |
|---|---|
| Reels | 6 |
| Paylines | 117 |
| Volatility | high |
| RTP | 96.00% |
| Max win | 26000x |
| Bet range | 0.20 – 20.00 |
| Released | October 5, 2017 |
How Bonanza plays
Bonanza runs on Big Time Gaming's Megaways engine: six reels, each showing between two and seven symbols per spin, which means the number of ways to win changes on every drop and can climb as high as 117,649. Above the four central reels sits an extra horizontal row of mine carts, adding another line of symbols that count toward wins and can carry the wild dynamite stick.
Every win triggers a reaction — the winning symbols vanish and new ones fall into place, potentially chaining several wins from a single spin without any extra bet. It's the same mechanic that gives the game its rhythm: watching one small win open the door to another as the reels resettle.
Free spins are earned by landing four scatter symbols that spell out G-O-L-D anywhere on the grid, including in the carts. The round starts at 12 spins and grows through retriggers, but the real draw is the multiplier: it starts at 1x and rises by one point after every reaction, with no ceiling and no reset between spins.
There's no bonus buy in Bonanza. The free spins have to be earned through natural play, which on a high-volatility title means dry stretches are part of the deal — and so is the payoff when the multiplier gets going.
The theme sticks to a mining and gemstone motif: card ranks from 9 to A on the low end, four coloured gems on the premium end, topped by a purple diamond that pays the most for a full line of six.
Strengths and drawbacks
Pros
- Unlimited free spins multiplier that keeps growing without resetting
- Up to 117,649 ways to win with cascading reactions on every hit
- Retriggers in the free spins round can extend a session considerably
Cons
- No bonus buy, so the free spins round can only be reached through regular play
- Four-scatter trigger requirement makes the bonus land less often, testing patience on a high-volatility game
- Symbol set is limited to card ranks and gems, plain next to more themed modern releases
Return to player
96.00%
Bonanza's return to player sits at 96.00% in its standard configuration, which is the figure repeated across independent reviews and paytable summaries.
Core mechanics
- Megaways reels with variable height, up to 117,649 ways to win per spin
- Cascading reactions that can chain multiple wins from one paid spin
- Extra cart reel above reels 2-5 carrying additional symbols and the wild
- Free spins triggered by 4+ GOLD scatters, with cart-reel retriggers extending the round
- Unlimited win multiplier in free spins, rising by 1 after every reaction
About Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming is the studio behind the Megaways mechanic, first licensing it out before building titles like Bonanza under its own name. The studio is known for a small, focused catalogue rather than high release volume, with Bonanza standing as one of its most widely distributed and imitated designs across the industry.
How to start playing Bonanza
- 1Choose a licensed online casino that carries Big Time Gaming titles for Canadian players
- 2Open Bonanza from the slot lobby, in demo or real-money mode
- 3Set your stake within the game's available bet range
- 4Watch the reels resolve and let cascading reactions play out on each win
- 5Keep an eye out for GOLD scatters that trigger the free spins round
- 6Track the free spins multiplier as it climbs and decide when to bank a session
Common questions about Bonanza
Why do scatters need to spell G-O-L-D instead of just landing three of the same symbol
Bonanza uses four distinct letter scatters (G, O, L, D) rather than one repeated icon, so all four have to appear together to trigger the round, which is part of why the bonus feels harder to reach than in many other Megaways titles.
Does the cart reel above the main grid actually matter for wins
Yes — the extra horizontal reel over reels 2 to 5 adds symbols that count toward ways to win and is also where the wild dynamite symbol exclusively appears, so it's not just decoration.
Can the free spins multiplier reset partway through the round
No, the multiplier carries over between individual free spins within the same round and only increases after each reaction, which is what allows late-round wins to scale up sharply.
What happens if I land extra scatters during free spins
Landing scatters in the cart reel during the round retriggers extra spins — three scatters add five spins and four add ten, extending the multiplier's runway.
Is there a way to buy the free spins round directly
No, Bonanza does not include a bonus buy feature, so the round has to be triggered through regular spins rather than purchased outright.
Why do some sessions go a long time without a bonus round
The four-scatter trigger combined with high volatility means dry stretches between bonus rounds are expected, not a malfunction — it's the trade-off for the multiplier's uncapped upside.
How does the diamond symbol compare to the other gems in practice
The purple diamond pays the most of any symbol, up to 50x stake for six of a kind, and becomes disproportionately valuable once the free spins multiplier has climbed.
Final take
Bonanza remains a benchmark Megaways title: the cascading reactions and uncapped free spins multiplier still deliver a distinct rhythm, even years after release. It asks for patience between bonus rounds, but the payoff structure is built to reward exactly that wait.
Good for Players who enjoy high-volatility Megaways slots and don't mind waiting through dry spells for a bonus round with real upside.
Not for Players who prefer frequent, steady small wins or dislike variance in bonus frequency.
Try Bonanza today
Play at partner casinoLoad Bonanza in demo mode to see the cascades and multiplier in action, or play for real money at a partner casino serving Canadian players. Must be 19+ (18+ in AB, MB, QC).