Bonanza family, mapped out
Bonanza: Variants and Related Editions Explained
One mining-themed Megaways slot, several related editions — here is how they actually differ.
- Reels
- 6 reels, 2–7 rows
- Paylines
- up to 117, 649 ways
- Best possible win
- 26000x
- RTP value
- 96.00%
- Volatility level
- high
Is there more than one version of Bonanza?
There is a single core game, commonly listed as Bonanza Megaways, plus two closely related Big Time Gaming titles that reuse its theme: Bonanza Falls and Bonanza Megapays. Neither is a re-skin with identical math; each changes the payout structure or adds a jackpot layer.
- Bonanza Megaways: the original, ways-to-win Megaways engine
- Bonanza Falls: same theme, different bonus structure
- Bonanza Megapays: adds a progressive jackpot on top of a Bonanza-style setup
How the Bonanza editions compare
Bonanza itself has not been reissued as a cluster-pay or fixed-grid version. Every documented edition — the original, Falls, and Megapays — keeps the same core skeleton: six reels, variable reel heights, cascading reactions, and GOLD-lettered scatters that trigger free spins. What changes between them is the payout math and, in Megapays' case, the addition of a progressive jackpot mechanic layered on top.
Bonanza Falls keeps the familiar mining symbol set — the 9 through A low-value cards alongside gemstone premiums — but reworks the payout table and its own bonus round, so wins that look similar on the surface can behave differently over a session. Bonanza Megapays swaps some of the base structure for a jackpot-driven format, which shifts the game's rhythm toward jackpot chases rather than the multiplier-driven free spins that define the original.
Some operators list Bonanza under slightly different names — 'Bonanza Megaways' or 'Bonanza (BTG)' — mainly to separate it from unrelated 'Bonanza'-branded slots by other studios, such as Big Bass Bonanza Megaways or Fruityways Bonanza Megaways. These are different games entirely, built on different engines, and share nothing beyond a similar name and, in some cases, a fruit-machine or gold-rush theme.
No Canada-specific build of Bonanza with altered mechanics has turned up in available sources. Canadian-facing casinos that offer BTG content appear to run the same global configuration used elsewhere, distributed through the usual aggregators rather than a regional variant.
Within BTG's wider catalogue, Bonanza sits alongside titles like Extra Chilli and White Rabbit that share the same Megaways-and-cascades foundation but layer on different features — a gamble option in one case, expanding reels in another. Compared with those, Bonanza is generally the more stripped-back entry: a straightforward GOLD-scatter trigger and an unlimited free spins multiplier, without extra modifiers competing for attention.
About Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming is the studio credited with introducing the Megaways engine, first paired with Bonanza in 2016. The mechanic — variable reel heights producing up to 117,649 ways to win — has since been licensed to dozens of other studios, but BTG's own titles, including the Bonanza family, remain a reference point for how the format was originally designed to play.
Terms used across the Bonanza family
- Megaways
- A licensed engine that varies the number of symbols shown per reel each spin, changing the total number of ways to win from spin to spin.
- Cascade / reaction
- After a win, the winning symbols are removed and new ones drop into their place, allowing multiple wins from a single spin.
- GOLD scatter trigger
- Landing scatter symbols spelling G, O, L, D activates the free spins round; the exact letters needed can vary slightly by edition.
- Progressive jackpot (Megapays)
- A jackpot pool that grows across linked games and can be won randomly or through a bonus event, layered onto the Bonanza format in the Megapays edition.
- Feature buy
- An option to purchase direct entry into the bonus round for a set cost; not present in the original Bonanza.
RTP across the family
96.00%
Reported figures for the original Bonanza cluster around 96%, though a small number of listings show slightly higher values, likely reflecting a different configuration or rounding rather than a separate edition. Falls and Megapays are built on different math models entirely, so their return figures should not be assumed to match the original.
Bonanza core 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 |
Questions about the Bonanza editions
Does Bonanza Falls use the same free spins multiplier as the original?
No. Falls keeps the mining theme and cascading structure but runs its own bonus round, so the unlimited increasing multiplier from the original Bonanza free spins is not carried over unchanged.
Is Bonanza Megapays the same game with a jackpot added, or a different build?
It reuses the Bonanza theme and symbol set but is built around a progressive jackpot mechanic, which changes the payout structure rather than simply bolting a jackpot onto the original math.
Are 'Bonanza'-titled slots from other studios related to this one?
No. Titles such as Big Bass Bonanza Megaways or Fruityways Bonanza Megaways come from different providers and run on unrelated engines; only the name and general gold-rush theme overlap.
Does the Canadian version of Bonanza differ from the global release?
No region-specific Canadian build has been documented; casinos serving Canadian players appear to offer the same global Megaways configuration through standard content aggregators.
Which edition to look at
The original Bonanza Megaways remains the reference version: a straightforward mining-themed Megaways slot with a demanding GOLD-scatter trigger and an uncapped free spins multiplier. Falls and Megapays are worth knowing about as separate titles with their own math, not as simple reskins of the same game.
Good for Players who want to understand how Bonanza relates to its BTG siblings before choosing which one to try.
Not for Players expecting all 'Bonanza' games, including those from other studios, to share the same mechanics or payout profile.
Try Bonanza in demo mode first
Play at partner casinoBefore playing any Bonanza edition for real money, testing the free demo helps you see the reaction mechanic and free spins multiplier in action. Play is restricted to 19+ (18+ in AB, MB, QC).