Bonanza (also known as Bonanza Megaways) is the slot that transformed Big Time Gaming’s Megaways mechanic from an interesting concept into an industry phenomenon. Released in 2016, this mining-themed slot introduced millions of players to the revolutionary variable ways-to-win system and high-volatility excitement that has since become one of the most sought-after features in online slots.
This comprehensive review explores what makes Bonanza so impactful, its innovative Megaways mechanic, bonus features, extreme volatility, and why it remains the definitive Megaways experience years after countless imitators have flooded the market.
Game Overview
Developer: Big Time Gaming
Release Year: 2016
Theme: Gold Mining / Wild West
Reels: 6
Rows: Variable (2-7 per reel)
Paylines: Up to 117,649 Megaways
RTP: 96%
Volatility: Very High
Maximum Win: 50,000x bet (theoretical unlimited with reactions)
Minimum Bet: £0.20
Maximum Bet: £40
Theme and Design
Bonanza is set in a gold mine during the American Gold Rush era, with an aesthetic that’s both rustic and charming.
Visual Presentation
Background: The game takes place outside a wooden mine entrance carved into a rocky hillside. A wooden mining cart track runs beneath the reels, which are housed in a wooden frame evoking Wild West construction.
Setting Details: Mining equipment, lanterns, and authentic period details create an immersive gold rush atmosphere. The outdoor setting features a sunrise/sunset sky that changes colour subtly, adding depth to the visuals.
Symbols: A mix of thematic mining gems and traditional card symbols:
- Gems: Diamonds (red, blue, green, purple) represent high-value symbols with brilliant cut facets that catch light beautifully
- Letters: G, O, L, D styled as rough-hewn gold letters
- Card Symbols: 9, 10, J, Q, K, A designed to look like wooden mining signs
Visual Effects: Winning symbols explode with satisfying particle effects. The cascading reaction system sees new symbols tumbling down the mine cart track to fill spaces, maintaining the mining theme throughout gameplay.
Colour Palette: Earth tones, rich gem colours, and golden highlights create a cohesive Wild West mining aesthetic without feeling garish or overdone.
Sound Design
Background Music: Upbeat country-western guitar music creates a foot-tapping, energetic atmosphere. The music is cheerful rather than tense, despite the high-volatility gameplay.
Win Sounds: Each reaction cascade is accompanied by escalating musical notes that build excitement
Big Win Celebration: Extended musical sequences and more dramatic effects mark substantial wins
Free Spins Music: A more intense, faster-paced version of the base theme heightens excitement during the bonus round
Overall: The audio perfectly complements the gold rush theme, creating an enjoyable sensory experience that doesn’t become grating even during extended sessions.
The Megaways Mechanic
Understanding Megaways is essential to appreciating Bonanza.
How Megaways Works
Variable Reels: Each of the six reels displays 2-7 symbols per spin, determined randomly
Ways to Win Calculation: Total ways to win = Number of symbols on reel 1 × reel 2 × reel 3 × reel 4 × reel 5 × reel 6
Example:
- Reels show: 7-7-7-7-7-7 symbols = 7×7×7×7×7×7 = 117,649 Megaways
- Reels show: 2-3-4-2-5-2 symbols = 2×3×4×2×5×2 = 480 Megaways
- Average: Approximately 15,000-25,000 Megaways per spin
Top Row: An additional horizontal reel sits above the main reels (reels 2, 3, 4, and 5), adding extra symbols to those reels and increasing the total ways to win
Winning Combinations: Three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right win, regardless of their vertical position
Significance: With up to 117,649 ways to win, hit frequency is higher than traditional payline slots, but individual wins can be very small due to the distributed nature of ways-to-win payouts.
Reaction Feature (Cascading Wins)
Winning Symbol Removal: After a win is paid, winning symbols explode and disappear
New Symbols Fall: New symbols cascade down from above to fill the empty positions
Continuous Reactions: If new winning combinations form, the process repeats
Unlimited Reactions: There’s no cap on consecutive reactions within a single spin
Multiplier Progression: Each reaction increases the win multiplier in free spins (base game has no multiplier)
Strategic Importance: The reaction feature is crucial to Bonanza’s potential. A single spin can generate numerous consecutive wins through reactions, with each subsequent win benefiting from higher multipliers during free spins.
How to Play
Bonanza’s gameplay centres on the Megaways system and reaction mechanics.
Basic Gameplay
1. Set Your Bet: Choose your total stake from £0.20 to £40 per spin
2. Spin: Click the spin button to begin
3. Ways Calculation: The game randomly determines how many symbols appear on each reel (2-7), calculating total Megaways
4. Win Evaluation: The game checks all possible ways to win with symbols on adjacent reels
5. Reactions: Winning symbols explode, new ones fall, and the process repeats until no wins form
6. Payout: Total wins from all reactions are paid
Betting Options
Bet Range: £0.20 to £40
No Payline Selection: Megaways are calculated automatically based on reel configuration
Feature Buy: Some versions allow purchasing direct access to free spins for 100x bet (not available in UK due to regulations)
Paytable
Bonanza uses a dynamic paytable showing wins relative to your bet:
High-Value Symbols (three or more required):
Symbol6 of a Kind5 of a Kind4 of a Kind3 of a KindRed Diamond50x7.5x2x0.6xBlue Diamond7.5x2x1x0.4xGreen Diamond2x1x0.5x0.25xPurple Diamond1.5x0.8x0.4x0.2x
Medium-Value Symbols (three or more required):
Symbol6 of a Kind5 of a Kind4 of a Kind3 of a KindG1x0.6x0.3x0.15xO1x0.6x0.3x0.15xL1x0.6x0.3x0.15xD1x0.6x0.3x0.15x
Low-Value Symbols (three or more required):
Symbol6 of a Kind5 of a Kind4 of a Kind3 of a KindA, K0.8x0.4x0.25x0.1xQ, J0.5x0.3x0.2x0.1x10, 90.4x0.25x0.15x0.05x
Wild Symbol: The red stick of dynamite substitutes for all symbols except the scatter (gold bar G-O-L-D letters).
Special Features
Bonanza’s features are deceptively simple but create extreme volatility and massive win potential.
Free Spins Feature
Landing four scatter symbols spelling G-O-L-D anywhere on the reels (including the top row) triggers free spins:
Initial Award: 12 free spins
Unlimited Win Multiplier:
During free spins, each reaction increases the win multiplier by 1x:
- First win: 1x multiplier
- After first reaction: 2x multiplier
- After second reaction: 3x multiplier
- Continues indefinitely: 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x… unlimited
No Maximum: There’s no cap on the multiplier, meaning extended reaction sequences can result in extraordinary multipliers (20x, 50x, 100x have all been documented)
Multiplier Persistence: The multiplier continues throughout all free spins; it doesn’t reset between spins
Re-Trigger: Landing four more G-O-L-D letters during free spins awards 5 additional free spins. Re-triggers can occur multiple times.
Maximum Potential: The combination of unlimited win multiplier, reaction cascades, and re-triggers creates theoretically unlimited win potential (practically capped around 50,000x by the game’s design limits)
Wild Dynamite
The dynamite wild symbol appears randomly on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 (including the top horizontal reel). It substitutes for all symbols except scatters, helping create winning combinations.
Strategic Importance: Wilds during free spins are particularly valuable as they can trigger or extend reaction sequences, building the unlimited multiplier.
RTP and Volatility
Bonanza’s mathematics create its signature extreme variance profile.
Return to Player (RTP)
RTP: 96%
This is average for the industry, meaning:
- For every £100 wagered over millions of spins, the game returns approximately £96
- The house edge is 4%
- Individual sessions will vary dramatically from this theoretical figure
Note: The 96% RTP applies to normal play. If playing in jurisdictions where feature buy is available, the RTP differs.
Volatility
Volatility: Very High (sometimes rated as “Insane”)
Bonanza exemplifies extreme volatility:
Infrequent Wins: Expect long stretches (100-300+ spins) without significant wins
Massive Potential: When wins occur, particularly during free spins with high multipliers, they can be enormous (100x, 500x, 1,000x, even 10,000x+ possible)
Dramatic Bankroll Swings: Your balance can plummet quickly during cold streaks, then recover or profit dramatically with one good bonus round
Extended Droughts: Going 400-500 spins without triggering free spins is not uncommon
Feature Variability: Free spins can pay anywhere from 10x to 10,000x+ your bet, with massive variance
Extreme Risk: Your entire session bankroll can be consumed without hitting significant wins
Ideal For: Players with large bankrolls, high risk tolerance, patience, and discipline who chase substantial wins
Not Ideal For: Risk-averse players, those with limited bankrolls, or anyone preferring consistent action
Maximum Win Potential
Theoretical Maximum: Unlimited (practically capped around 50,000x bet)
The unlimited multiplier during free spins means there’s technically no maximum win. However, practical limits exist due to game design and casino maximum payouts.
Documented Wins: Players have recorded wins exceeding 10,000x, with the highest confirmed wins approaching 50,000x
Practical Examples:
- £1 bet: Potential wins of £10,000, £50,000, or more
- £5 bet: Potential wins of £50,000, £250,000, or more
- £10 bet: Potential wins of £100,000, £500,000, or more
Reality: Whilst massive wins are possible, the vast majority of free spins pay modest amounts (20-100x). Wins exceeding 1,000x are rare, and wins exceeding 10,000x are extremely rare.
Why Bonanza Became a Phenomenon
Bonanza didn’t just succeed; it sparked a revolution in slot design that continues today.
The Megaways Innovation
Revolutionary Mechanic: Megaways transformed how players think about slot mechanics
Always Unique: Every spin offers a different number of ways to win, preventing predictability
Higher Engagement: The variable nature and reaction cascades maintain interest
Industry Standard: Hundreds of slots now use licensed Megaways, validating Bonanza’s impact
Extreme Volatility Appeal
Thrill-Seeking Players: Bonanza attracted players who found standard slots too tame
Community Building: Shared experiences of massive wins and crushing losses created engaged communities
Streaming Success: Bonanza became a favourite among slot streamers due to its potential for dramatic moments
Big Win Culture: The possibility of life-changing wins from modest stakes captured imaginations
The Reaction Feature
Multiple Wins Per Spin: Consecutive reactions from a single spin increase perceived value
Multiplier Building: Watching multipliers climb during free spins creates intense anticipation
Snowball Effect: Small wins can cascade into substantial payouts through repeated reactions
Production Quality
Polished Execution: Big Time Gaming’s technical excellence ensured smooth gameplay
Theme Execution: The mining theme is coherent and well-executed without being cliché
Mobile Optimisation: Excellent performance across all devices
Reliability: Minimal bugs or technical issues despite complex mechanics
Criticisms and Limitations
Despite its success, Bonanza isn’t for everyone and has legitimate criticisms.
Extreme Volatility Frustration
Devastating Droughts: Going 500+ spins without meaningful wins destroys bankrolls and morale
Dead Spins: Frequent non-winning spins (no reactions, no payouts) are psychologically challenging
Feature Disappointment: After waiting hundreds of spins for free spins, receiving a 20x payout is crushing
Bankroll Requirements: Successfully playing Bonanza requires substantial funds (500-1,000x bet minimum)
Not For Casuals: The extreme variance makes Bonanza unsuitable for recreational players with limited budgets
Base Game Monotony
Waiting Game: The base game is essentially waiting for free spins
Limited Engagement: Without the multiplier, base game reactions rarely produce exciting wins
Repetitive: The gameplay loop of spin-wait-spin-wait-free spins can feel monotonous
Variable Small Wins
Fractional Payouts: Many wins pay 0.1x, 0.2x, 0.3x of your bet due to the ways-to-win calculation
Perceived Value: Winning 0.2x bet doesn’t feel like winning, even though it technically is
Death by a Thousand Cuts: Constant small losses gradually deplete bankrolls
Addictive Potential
Chase Mechanic: The extreme volatility and massive win potential can encourage problematic chasing behaviour
Just One More Spin: The possibility of triggering free spins on the next spin creates compelling psychological hooks
Variance Misunderstanding: Players may continue beyond their means, believing they’re “due” a big win
Who Should Play Bonanza?
Bonanza suits specific player profiles while potentially harming others.
Ideal Players
High-Volatility Enthusiasts: Players who specifically seek extreme variance
Large Bankrolls: Those with £500-£2,000+ session budgets
Patient Players: Ability to withstand 400-500 spin droughts mentally and financially
Risk-Tolerant: Comfortable with potentially losing entire session bankrolls
Big Win Chasers: Those specifically seeking potential for substantial (1,000x+) wins
Experienced Players: Understanding variance and emotional discipline required
Absolutely Not For
Beginners: New players will be confused and quickly bankrupted
Small Bankrolls: Limited funds will be consumed rapidly
Risk-Averse: Conservative players will find the swings intolerable
Frequent Win Seekers: Those preferring regular action will be frustrated
Problem Gambling Susceptibility: The chase mechanics can trigger harmful behaviour
Tips for Playing Bonanza
If you choose to play Bonanza, these guidelines are crucial:
Bankroll Management (Critical)
Minimum Bankroll: 500-1,000 times your bet size
Example: For £1 spins, bring £500-£1,000 session bankroll
Bet Sizing: Never bet more than 0.2% of your total gambling bankroll on a single spin
Hard Stop-Loss: Set absolute maximum loss (typically 50% of session bankroll) and stop regardless of urges
No Chasing: When you hit your loss limit, stop. Period. No exceptions.
Mental Preparation
Expect Nothing: Assume every free spins trigger will pay 20-50x; be pleasantly surprised by more
Embrace Variance: 500-spin droughts are statistically normal, not evidence of rigging
Don’t Tilt: Maintain discipline during crushing droughts
Take Breaks: Step away after significant wins or losses
Strategic Approach
Start Fresh: Don’t play Bonanza when tilted from other games
Time Management: Set maximum session durations (60-90 minutes)
Record Keeping: Track spins until features to understand actual variance
Understand RTP: You’ll lose 4% on average over time; big wins are needed to overcome this
Avoid Common Traps
Never Increase Bets: Don’t raise stakes trying to recover losses or trigger features
Don’t Buy Features (where available): The 100x cost rarely provides value
Ignore Patterns: There are no patterns; each spin is independent
Resist “Just One More”: When you hit limits, stop
Bonanza vs Other Megaways Slots
How does Bonanza compare to its spiritual successors?
Bonanza vs Extra Chilli (Big Time Gaming)
Similarities: Same developer, similar mechanics, Megaways system
Differences:
- Extra Chilli has feature buy option (where legal)
- Slightly different mathematics
- Mexican food theme vs mining
Verdict: Very similar experiences; choose based on theme preference
Bonanza vs Gonzo’s Quest Megaways (Red Tiger/NetEnt)
Similarities: Both use Megaways and cascading reactions
Differences:
- Gonzo’s has character and story
- Different bonus structures
- Gonzo’s offers even higher maximum win (21,000x)
Verdict: Gonzo’s Megaways is more polished; Bonanza is the original
Bonanza vs Buffalo King Megaways (Pragmatic Play)
Similarities: Megaways mechanic, high volatility
Differences:
- Different developer (licensed Megaways from BTG)
- Different bonus structures
- Different theme and aesthetics
Verdict: Bonanza remains the purest Megaways experience
Conclusion
Bonanza is a landmark slot that revolutionised online gambling by introducing Megaways to a mass audience and proving that extreme volatility could attract passionate player communities.
Strengths:
- Revolutionary Megaways mechanic (up to 117,649 ways)
- Unlimited win multiplier during free spins
- Massive win potential (theoretically unlimited, practically 50,000x+)
- Reaction cascades create engaging gameplay
- Industry-defining innovation
- Polished production and smooth performance
- Mobile-optimised
- Simple to understand conceptually
Weaknesses:
- Extreme volatility requires massive bankrolls (500-1,000x bet)
- Extended droughts (400-500+ spins without features) are common
- Base game is monotonous
- Dead free spins are crushing after long waits
- Small fractional wins don’t feel rewarding
- High addiction potential due to chase mechanics
- Average RTP (96%) doesn’t compensate for extreme variance
- Not suitable for 95% of casual players
Overall Verdict: Bonanza is simultaneously one of the greatest and most dangerous slots ever created. Its innovations shaped the industry’s future and introduced millions to high-volatility excitement. However, its extreme variance makes it unsuitable for most players and potentially harmful to those with gambling problems or inadequate bankroll management.
For the right player – experienced, well-funded, emotionally disciplined, and specifically seeking extreme variance – Bonanza offers an unmatched adrenaline rush and genuine potential for substantial wins. For everyone else, it’s a fast track to disappointment and empty bankrolls.
Bonanza deserves respect as a revolutionary game that proved players wanted innovation and weren’t satisfied with safe, predictable slots. It spawned an entire genre of Megaways slots that now dominate online casinos. That’s a lasting legacy few games achieve.
However, respect doesn’t mean everyone should play it. Bonanza is like extreme sports – thrilling for enthusiasts, dangerous for the unprepared, and absolutely not recommended for beginners. Approach with caution, play within strict limits if you choose to play at all, and never underestimate how quickly it can consume a bankroll.
If you have the bankroll, temperament, and desire for extreme high-volatility gaming, Bonanza delivers an experience unlike any other. If you don’t meet all three criteria, choose a different slot. There’s no shame in recognising Bonanza isn’t for you – in fact, that recognition demonstrates the wisdom often lacking in players who chase its promises without adequate preparation.
Play Bonanza Megaways at UK-licensed casinos only. This game’s extreme volatility requires careful bankroll management and responsible gambling practices.
For support: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 (24/7)