One of the slot machine types that is fast becoming popular among players is the one they call megaways slots. What are these slot machines and what do these do? Are these better than traditional slot machines or even 5-reel video slot machines with its up-to-50 ways to win?
Well, before we can determine whether or not megaways slots are worth spending time and money on, let us first understand what it is. What exactly are megaway slots and how can you tell if a machine is indeed considered a megaways slot? Read on to find out.
What is a Megaways Slot Machine?
As the name implies, a megaways slot machine is one that gives you more than just 50 or even 254 ways to win. Megaways slots are basically machines that allow you to win thousands of ways. Imagine having the chance to win due to 100,000 different combinations? That is what a megaways slot machine presents.
It gives users the chance to win prizes for lots of different combinations. This often comes with additional reels that appear on your screen the moment you land a specific symbol combination. For example, if you’re playing on a machine that has a 3-4-5-4-3 format, you can land a specific winning combination on it that launches additional reels to your board. The board can then balloon to become a 5 by 5 machine that presents you with more chances of winning.
Another type of megaways slot machine is the cascade machine. This is usually a slot machine that grows taller as you complete lines and winning combinations. The more of the same symbol you get on the board, the higher the cascade becomes and the more winning combinations you get. The rise of the number of spaces on the board only stops when you run out of similar symbols on the board to add to the cascade or you get to the upper limit of the board.
The Attraction of a Megaways Slot Machine
A megaways slot machine is flocked to by many people due to the fact that these are new and interesting. The stale, old machines that people used to love to play still get some attention but newer audiences look for something more exciting and worthwhile to play. This is where a megaways slot machine comes in.
These present users with a unique challenge that includes getting features to activate in order to gain bigger prizes with more combinations. This is something you don’t get with standard machines that have a standard number of reels.
Megaways are also exciting for old-time players due to the newness it brings to the table. It gives away prizes more frequently than standard slots, albeit with smaller payouts for specific combinations, but more frequently nonetheless. This gives you the constant feeling of winning which is a great feeling to have particularly if you’re playing for fun.
Some of the megaways machines people love not only give them prizes for their small winning combinations but also offer massive payoffs when certain jackpot combinations are achieved. Imagine winning 120,000 coins on a $1 bet! If that isn’t something to get excited about, I don’t know what is.
Not All Good News
As great and as fun as megaways can be, you cannot say it is without a downside. There are a few, actually, for you to read through before you decide whether such a machine is worth your time and money or not. What are these cons to megaways that might turn you off from playing? Here are some of them:
You cannot hit all the ways of winning – If a machine says you have up to 100,000 ways to win, you should be realistic enough to realize that hitting all 100,000 combinations is a near impossibility. To get to the maximum number of combinations, you need to get everything lined up perfectly while the maximum number of reels is on the board. This means you have to constantly get to the maximum expanded version of the machine and constantly get winning combinations that can trigger the max combo.
You get a feeling that you will constantly win – If there are more than 100,000 ways to win, then that means you have a whole lot more chances of winning, right? Well, not really. The huge number of combinations that you can hit actually creates that illusion. While it is exciting to hit combinations that pay small amounts every now and then, the RTP of these machines is actually no different than that of regular slots. More-often-than-not, the RTP of megaways machines are at 96%, give or take.
It doesn’t really give you the massive jackpot you are aiming for – If you are looking for a big win at the end of a spin, then megaways may not be the right type of slot machine for you. If you want a chance at winning millions, then a progressive jackpot slot machine is your best bet. Some machines do give out up to 200,000 coins but the amount you win is still dependent on the amount that you bet. For bigger prizes at the pull of a lever, a megaways is not the way to go.
The Bottom Line
So, to answer the question – Are megaways slot machines worth your time and your money? In a nutshell, yes. If you want a fun time playing and are looking for small but constant payouts to keep you playing, then this is a great machine for it. You can even try to aim for as many combinations as you can for a goal. What’s important with these machines is you are having fun, you are getting the exhilarating feeling of winning, and you get to experience a new kind of slot machine.
At the end of the day, it’s the feeling you get from the machine that you play which is more important. If you do win the jackpot or get to amass a massive amount of winnings from this type of machine, well, that is a great thing to achieve too.