Rainbow Riches Megaways Fortune Favours merges two of modern slot gaming’s most successful concepts: the legendary Rainbow Riches franchise and Big Time Gaming’s revolutionary Megaways mechanic. This combination creates a unique hybrid offering up to 10,000 ways to win alongside Fortune Favours’ distinctive features, wrapped in the familiar Irish leprechaun theme beloved by UK players.
This comprehensive review examines Rainbow Riches Megaways Fortune Favours across all dimensions, exploring its innovative mechanics, bonus features, mathematical profile, and strategic considerations for players navigating this complex yet potentially rewarding slot experience.
Game Overview and Core Concept
Rainbow Riches Megaways Fortune Favours represents Barcrest’s collaboration with Big Time Gaming, licensing the Megaways engine to create a distinctive entry in the expansive Rainbow Riches catalogue.
Visual Presentation
The game maintains Rainbow Riches’ signature Irish aesthetic with green hills, rainbows, and leprechaun imagery whilst accommodating the Megaways engine’s variable reel structure. The cartoonish, friendly visual style remains consistent with franchise tradition rather than attempting photorealistic graphics.
Symbols include familiar Rainbow Riches icons—leprechauns, pots of gold, rainbows, wishing wells, and Celtic-styled playing card values. The presentation balances nostalgic recognition with enough visual polish to feel contemporary rather than dated.
The Megaways mechanic’s constantly changing reel configurations create dynamic visual interest, with symbol counts varying each spin producing continuously fresh screen arrangements.
Audio Design
Irish folk melodies provide atmospheric background music, maintaining franchise consistency whilst incorporating modern production values. Sound effects during wins and Megaways combinations employ satisfying audio cues enhancing excitement without becoming overwhelming.
The audio balance works effectively, celebrating wins appropriately whilst avoiding the irritating repetition that plagues some slots’ soundtracks during extended sessions.
Technical Specifications
Understanding Megaways Fortune Favours’ mathematical profile and mechanical structure proves essential for setting realistic gameplay expectations.
Developer: Barcrest (SG Gaming) / Big Time Gaming
Reels: 6
Rows: 2-7 (variable per reel)
Ways to Win: Up to 10,000 (Megaways)
RTP: 95.05% – 96.05%
Volatility: High
Maximum Win: 10,000x stake
Bet Range: £0.10 – £10 per spin
Special Features: Cascading reels, free spins, modifiers
The 95.05-96.05% RTP range reflects casino configuration options, with most reputable UK operators offering the 96.05% version. This 1% variance significantly impacts long-term returns, making RTP verification essential before playing.
High volatility creates dramatic balance fluctuations with substantial losing streaks punctuated by occasional large wins. This variance profile demands robust bankroll management and psychological tolerance for extended dry periods.
The 10,000x maximum win, whilst substantial, sits below many contemporary Megaways slots offering 20,000x-50,000x potential. However, this ceiling remains far higher than the original Rainbow Riches’ modest 500x cap.
Understanding the Megaways Mechanic
For players unfamiliar with Megaways, understanding this revolutionary game engine proves crucial for appreciating how it transforms traditional slot gameplay.
Variable Reel Structure
Unlike standard slots with fixed symbol positions, Megaways employs variable reels where each column displays 2-7 symbols per spin chosen randomly. This variability means every spin presents a different configuration.
A spin might show:
- Reel 1: 3 symbols
- Reel 2: 7 symbols
- Reel 3: 2 symbols
- Reel 4: 6 symbols
- Reel 5: 4 symbols
- Reel 6: 7 symbols
This particular configuration creates 3 × 7 × 2 × 6 × 4 × 7 = 7,056 ways to win on that specific spin.
Ways to Win Calculation
“Ways to win” replaces traditional paylines. Instead of wins requiring symbols on specific payline patterns, Megaways pays for matching symbols on adjacent reels regardless of position.
If three identical symbols appear anywhere on reels 1, 2, and 3 consecutively from left to right, you win regardless of their vertical positions. This creates substantially more winning combinations than payline-based systems.
Maximum 10,000 ways occurs when all six reels display seven symbols simultaneously (7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 theoretical combinations, though Megaways Fortune Favours caps at 10,000).
Cascading Reels
Megaways Fortune Favours employs cascading reels (also called reactions or avalanches). When you form a winning combination, those symbols disappear and new symbols cascade down filling empty positions.
If new cascades create additional winning combinations, those symbols also disappear and new ones cascade in. This continues until no new wins form, potentially creating multiple consecutive wins from a single initial spin.
Cascades transform gameplay fundamentally, as single spins can generate numerous wins through repeated symbol replacements. This mechanic creates the thrilling possibility of small initial wins escalating into substantial payouts through lucky cascade sequences.
Base Game Mechanics
Megaways Fortune Favours’ base game combines the Megaways engine with Rainbow Riches-themed features creating layered gameplay complexity.
Symbol Structure and Payouts
High-Value Symbols:
- Rainbow (premium symbol)
- Pot of Gold
- Wishing Well
- Four-Leaf Clover
- Leprechaun
Low-Value Symbols:
- A, K, Q, J, 10, 9 (Celtic-styled)
Special Symbols:
- Wild symbol (substitutes for all symbols except scatters)
- Scatter symbol (triggers free spins)
High-value symbols require minimum three-of-a-kind for payouts, whilst low-value symbols need at least three matches. Six-of-a-kind combinations deliver maximum base game payouts, with premiums offering substantially higher returns than card values.
Wild symbols appear on reels 2-6 only, substituting for all regular symbols to complete winning combinations. Wild positioning on middle reels creates optimal opportunities for completing multiple ways to win simultaneously.
Bonus Pot Feature
Random base game spins may trigger the Bonus Pot feature, revealing instant cash prizes or direct entry into bonus rounds. This unpredictable modifier creates excitement during standard gameplay, as any spin potentially triggers immediate rewards.
Bonus Pot awards typically range from 5x-100x stake for instant cash prizes, whilst bonus entries provide direct access to free spins without requiring scatter symbol combinations.
Magic Toadstool Modifier
Continuing Fortune Favours tradition, Magic Toadstool modifiers randomly enhance base game spins with various effects:
Colossal Symbols: Large symbol blocks land creating multiple matching symbols across adjacent positions.
Extra Wilds: Additional wild symbols populate reels, improving combination completion probability.
Mystery Symbols: Symbol positions transform revealing matching symbols, creating instant winning combinations.
Multipliers: Win multipliers up to 10x apply to combinations formed during that spin.
Magic Toadstool triggers frequently enough to impact gameplay substantially, occurring approximately every 30-50 spins. These unexpected enhancements prevent extended base game sessions feeling monotonous.
Free Spins Bonus
The free spins feature represents Megaways Fortune Favours’ primary bonus round, offering the most substantial win potential and where maximum payouts become achievable.
Triggering Free Spins
Landing four or more scatter symbols anywhere on reels triggers the free spins bonus. The number of scatters determines initial spin allocation:
- 4 scatters = 12 free spins
- 5 scatters = 15 free spins
- 6 scatters = 18 free spins
Additional scatters beyond six continue increasing free spin counts, with each extra scatter adding three additional spins.
Progressive Multipliers
Free spins employ unlimited progressive multipliers, the feature creating Megaways Fortune Favours’ most significant win potential. The multiplier starts at 1x and increases by +1 with every cascade reaction.
Multiplier Progression:
- Initial wins: 1x multiplier
- First cascade: 2x multiplier
- Second cascade: 3x multiplier
- Third cascade: 4x multiplier
- Continues infinitely…
Critically, multipliers never reset during free spins. Each cascade permanently increases the multiplier for all subsequent wins during that bonus round. Extended cascade sequences can push multipliers to 20x, 30x, or even higher under favourable conditions.
This unlimited multiplier progression creates enormous win potential, as later free spins benefit from accumulated multipliers turning modest wins into substantial payouts.
Retrigger Mechanism
Landing three or more scatters during free spins awards additional spins:
- 3 scatters = +8 additional spins
- 4 scatters = +12 additional spins
- 5+ scatters = +15 additional spins
Retriggering with high multipliers already active creates optimal conditions for massive wins, as additional spins play with enhanced multipliers turning every winning combination into significant payouts.
Extra Rows Feature
During free spins, an additional horizontal reel appears above the main reels displaying 4-7 symbols. These extra symbols count toward ways to win calculations, substantially increasing winning combinations potential.
The extra row effectively adds another dimension to winning possibilities, with symbols from this row participating in combinations alongside main reel symbols.
Big Bet Feature
Megaways Fortune Favours includes optional Big Bet mode offering enhanced features at premium cost, continuing this controversial feature from the original Fortune Favours.
Big Bet Options and Costs
Players can purchase Big Bet for £20, £30, £40, or £50 regardless of base game stakes. Each purchase provides 5 linked spins with progressively enhanced features:
£20 Big Bet:
- Guaranteed scatter on reel 1
- Increased bonus trigger probability
- 5 linked spins
£30 Big Bet:
- Guaranteed scatters on reels 1 and 6
- Further improved trigger probability
- Enhanced Magic Toadstool frequency
£40 Big Bet:
- All £30 features
- Guaranteed scatter on reel 3 additionally
- Maximum bonus trigger probability
£50 Big Bet:
- All previous features
- Scatters on multiple reels guaranteed
- Best possible bonus trigger odds
Big Bet Controversy
The Big Bet feature generates significant debate within the player community regarding its value proposition and ethical implications.
Proponents argue:
- Dramatically improved bonus frequency
- Accelerates gameplay for those seeking faster feature access
- Creates exciting high-stakes sequences
- Optional feature harming nobody who chooses not to use it
Critics contend:
- Predatory design encouraging excessive spending
- No RTP improvement despite premium cost
- Exploits player psychology around loss-chasing
- Creates two-tier gameplay system favouring wealthy players
Mathematically, Big Bet doesn’t improve RTP—it concentrates wagering into fewer, more expensive spins with enhanced bonus probability. Whether this represents acceptable game design or exploitative practice depends on individual perspectives regarding gambling ethics.
Volatility and Variance Management
Megaways Fortune Favours’ high volatility creates specific challenges requiring strategic approaches for sustainable gameplay.
Understanding High Volatility Impact
High volatility means substantial swings between winning and losing periods. Expect frequent sessions where 100+ spins pass without significant wins, depleting bankrolls substantially before bonus features trigger.
When wins arrive, they can prove substantial, particularly during free spins with progressive multipliers. However, these meaningful wins occur irregularly, separated by extended dry periods.
Psychological tolerance for losing streaks proves crucial. Players accustomed to low or medium volatility slots may find Megaways Fortune Favours’ variance frustrating and bankroll-depleting.
Bankroll Requirements
High volatility demands robust bankrolls relative to bet sizes. Aim for minimum 300-500x your base bet as session bankroll, providing sufficient reserves to weather variance whilst reaching bonus features.
For example:
- £0.10 bets suggest £30-50 session bankroll
- £0.50 bets require £150-250
- £1 bets need £300-500
Insufficient bankrolls risk depleting funds before bonus triggers, missing the features where Megaways Fortune Favours’ win potential concentrates.
Session Management
Structure sessions around achievable goals rather than chasing specific win targets. High volatility means predetermined win goals often prove unrealistic, with variance determining outcomes more than player decisions.
Set firm loss limits before playing, accepting that some sessions will reach these limits without triggering significant features. Chasing losses in high-volatility games accelerates bankroll depletion without improving mathematical outcomes.
Strategy and Betting Considerations
Whilst Megaways Fortune Favours remains chance-based, strategic decisions around betting and feature usage significantly impact experiences.
Optimal Bet Sizing
Choose bets allowing 300-500 base game spins within your session bankroll. This allocation provides reasonable probability of triggering multiple bonus features whilst surviving volatility.
Avoid the temptation to increase bets chasing losses. High volatility creates streaky results where doubling stakes during cold periods depletes funds faster without improving win probability.
Remember maximum wins scale proportionally. £0.10 bets offer £1,000 maximum, whilst £1 bets create £10,000 potential. However, reaching maximum wins requires exceptional fortune regardless of stake level.
Big Bet Decision Framework
Determining whether Big Bet suits your play requires honest assessment of several factors:
Financial Considerations:
- Can you afford £20-50 per Big Bet sequence without financial strain?
- Does your session bankroll allow multiple Big Bet purchases if early sequences fail?
- Are you wagering money allocated specifically for entertainment rather than funds needed elsewhere?
Psychological Factors:
- Can you accept Big Bet sequences ending without bonus triggers?
- Will unsuccessful Big Bets tempt you into additional purchases beyond pre-set limits?
- Do you view Big Bet as entertainment enhancement or investment expecting returns?
Strategic Analysis:
- Does improved bonus frequency justify premium cost for your playing style?
- Would base game play at lower stakes provide more enjoyable extended sessions?
- Do you prioritise feature access over session duration?
Honest answers guide appropriate Big Bet decisions. Players answering “no” to financial questions or “yes” to psychological vulnerability questions should avoid Big Bet, focusing on base game play.
Autoplay Considerations
Megaways Fortune Favours supports autoplay for hands-free spinning, though high volatility warrants caution with this feature.
Set strict loss limits within autoplay settings, ensuring sessions stop upon reaching predetermined thresholds. High volatility means balances deplete rapidly during cold streaks, making loss limits essential.
Consider avoiding autoplay entirely on high-volatility games, as manual play provides better control over spending and immediate ability to stop during extended losing sequences.
Comparison to Standard Fortune Favours
Understanding how the Megaways version differs from standard Fortune Favours helps players choose appropriate variants.
Mechanical Differences
Standard Fortune Favours uses 10 fixed paylines across 5 reels, whilst Megaways employs up to 10,000 ways to win across 6 variable reels. This creates fundamentally different gameplay feels.
Megaways’ cascading reels mechanism doesn’t exist in standard Fortune Favours, creating distinct base game experiences where Megaways offers multiple consecutive wins from single spins.
Volatility Comparison
Megaways Fortune Favours exhibits higher volatility than the standard version’s medium-high variance. Expect more dramatic swings and longer dry periods in the Megaways iteration.
This increased volatility suits thrill-seekers comfortable with variance but may frustrate players preferring steadier gameplay.
Maximum Win Potential
Megaways Fortune Favours offers 10,000x maximum wins compared to standard Fortune Favours’ 50,000x ceiling. Surprisingly, the Megaways version actually has lower maximum potential despite its more elaborate mechanics.
This inversion proves unusual, as Megaways slots typically offer higher maximum wins than standard alternatives. The reduced ceiling may disappoint players expecting Megaways to automatically mean greater win potential.
Feature Complexity
Both versions employ similar Fortune Favours features including Magic Toadstool modifiers and Big Bet options. However, Megaways adds cascading mechanics and the extra rows feature during free spins, creating additional complexity layers.
Mobile Gaming Experience
Megaways Fortune Favours translates effectively to mobile devices, though with some considerations for smaller screens.
Performance and Compatibility
The game runs smoothly on modern smartphones and tablets, maintaining responsive controls and stable performance. Megaways’ variable reel structures and cascading mechanics function identically on mobile.
Older devices with limited processing power may experience occasional lag during intense cascade sequences with numerous symbols cascading simultaneously.
Interface Adaptation
Touch controls adapt naturally to smartphone interfaces, with bet adjustment, spin, and feature access buttons remaining easily accessible on smaller screens.
The variable Megaways reel structure displays clearly even on smartphone screens, though information density increases compared to desktop play. Some players may find reading smaller symbols challenging during extended mobile sessions.
Player Reception and Community Feedback
Megaways Fortune Favours generates diverse reactions across the player community, with opinions divided based on volatility tolerance and Megaways mechanic preferences.
Positive Reviews
Players praise the Megaways engine’s engaging cascading mechanics, with multiple consecutive wins from single spins creating exciting gameplay moments. The unlimited multiplier progression during free spins receives particular appreciation, as multipliers climbing to 20x-30x+ transform modest wins into substantial payouts.
Rainbow Riches fans enjoy seeing familiar themes integrated with modern mechanics, creating nostalgic recognition alongside contemporary features.
Critical Feedback
High volatility frustrates players expecting Fortune Favours’ steadier medium-high variance. Extended losing streaks before bonus features trigger create disappointing sessions where bankrolls deplete rapidly.
The 10,000x maximum win receives criticism for falling below standard Fortune Favours’ 50,000x ceiling, creating unexpected disadvantage compared to the simpler version.
Big Bet features continue generating controversy, with critics viewing them as predatory mechanics encouraging excessive spending without commensurate value.
Some traditional Rainbow Riches fans find Megaways mechanics overcomplicated, preferring original simplicity over cascading reels and variable ways to win.
Responsible Gambling Guidance
Megaways Fortune Favours’ high volatility and Big Bet features warrant specific responsible gambling considerations.
Volatility Awareness
High volatility means extended losing streaks represent mathematical certainty rather than bad luck or faulty gameplay. Understand that 100-200 spin losing sequences occur regularly as normal variance.
Avoid the psychological trap of believing wins are “due” after extended losses. Each spin maintains identical probability regardless of previous outcomes, with no cosmic force ensuring compensation for losses.
Big Bet Dangers
Big Bet features particularly warrant caution due to rapid spending potential. A single unsuccessful £50 Big Bet sequence depletes £50 instantly, potentially encouraging additional purchases chasing recovery.
If using Big Bet, establish strict limits on total Big Bet spending per session regardless of outcomes. Never exceed these limits under any circumstances, even if convinced the next purchase will trigger bonuses.
Setting Protective Boundaries
Use casino responsible gambling tools including:
- Deposit Limits: Cap weekly/monthly deposits preventing excessive funding
- Loss Limits: Automatically stop play upon reaching predetermined loss thresholds
- Session Time Limits: Enforce breaks after specific durations
- Reality Checks: Display time/spending alerts during play
Take regular breaks, particularly after significant wins or losses. Emotional play following either outcome often leads to poor decisions contradicting rational limits.
Where to Play Megaways Fortune Favours
Megaways Fortune Favours appears at major UK-licensed casinos, though with less universal availability than the original Rainbow Riches.
Recommended UK Casino Sites
Ladbrokes Casino features the complete Rainbow Riches catalogue including Megaways Fortune Favours, with the Entain platform offering reliable access to Barcrest’s full library.
Coral Casino and Gala Casino as Ladbrokes sister sites provide identical availability.
William Hill Casino includes Megaways Fortune Favours within its extensive slot collection.
PartyCasino, 888 Casino, and other major operators typically carry the game, though availability varies by platform. Verify game presence and RTP configuration before registering.
RTP Verification
Always confirm your chosen casino operates the 96.05% RTP configuration rather than 95.05%. This 1% difference significantly impacts returns over time, potentially costing £10 per £1,000 wagered.
Most reputable casinos display RTP information in game rules or paytables. If RTP isn’t clearly stated, contact customer support before playing or choose alternative casinos providing transparent information.
Final Verdict
Rainbow Riches Megaways Fortune Favours successfully merges beloved Irish theming with revolutionary Megaways mechanics, creating a distinctive hybrid offering engaging gameplay through cascading reels and progressive multipliers.
However, high volatility creates substantial challenges. Players must tolerate extended losing streaks and maintain robust bankrolls weathering variance. The psychological demands of high-volatility gameplay suit experienced players comfortable with dramatic swings whilst potentially frustrating those expecting steadier experiences.
The 10,000x maximum win disappoints compared to standard Fortune Favours’ 50,000x ceiling, creating unexpected disadvantage despite more elaborate mechanics. Players prioritising maximum win potential should consider alternatives.
Big Bet features remain controversial, offering improved bonus frequency at premium cost without RTP enhancement. Financially disciplined players may find value whilst those vulnerable to loss-chasing should avoid entirely.
Play Megaways Fortune Favours at reputable UK casinos including Ladbrokes, Coral, and William Hill, verifying 96.05% RTP configuration. Approach with robust bankrolls, realistic volatility expectations, and firm spending limits, treating it as high-variance entertainment rather than profit opportunity.
Megaways Fortune Favours rewards patience and bankroll depth whilst punishing underfunded or volatility-intolerant players—know yourself honestly before spinning.