Bonanza Megapays (Big Time Gaming) Slot Review

Bonanza Megapays: Slot Overview 

When Bonanza Megapays launched, it had a tall order to fill. The original Bonanza Megaways is widely regarded as a landmark release in online slot history—introducing the revolutionary Megaways mechanic and setting a new standard for innovation. So, how do you improve on such a classic? Big Time Gaming answered this challenge by infusing the game with the Megapays progressive jackpot system, transforming the high-intensity grinder into a jackpot hunter’s paradise. 

Retaining the gameplay blueprint that made Bonanza a hit, Bonanza Megapays adds four enticing progressive jackpots, ranging from Mini to the life-changing Mega, and elevates the already solid gameplay with extra layers of anticipation and reward. Released without altering much of what made the original iconic, this version still manages to feel fresh and relevant thanks to its new jackpot-driven focus.

Design and Graphics 

At first glance, Bonanza Megapays is almost indistinguishable from its predecessor. The setting returns to the lush mountainside with a mine shaft, wooden shack, and gushing waterfall. If anything, the visuals have been slightly enhanced—sharper textures, more vibrant colors, and smoother animations give the game a cleaner and more refined look. A notable addition is the Megapays meter at the top of the screen, clearly displaying the values of the Mini, Midi, Major, and Mega jackpots. This subtle UI tweak not only updates the visual identity of the game but ensures players always know what’s at stake. Despite the similarity to the original, the new interface element ties seamlessly into the overall theme and keeps the atmosphere familiar yet functional.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Bonanza Megapays retains the exact 6-reel Megaways structure. Each reel displays between 2 and 7 symbols, and with the 4-position cart reel spanning horizontally across the top of reels 2 to 5, the slot can offer up to 117,649 ways to win. 

The Reaction feature is present and central: when a winning combination occurs, the winning symbols are removed and replaced with new ones tumbling down. These chain reactions continue as long as new wins form, leading to exhilarating cascades that can turn modest spins into big payouts. 

The paytable remains unchanged—9 to A card ranks make up the lower values, while colored gemstones (red, green, blue) and a diamond (the most valuable symbol) form the high-paying group. A 6-symbol diamond win pays up to 50x the stake. Wild symbols appear as sticks of dynamite in the top cart reel, substituting for all regular symbols to help complete combinations.

Sound and Music 

The auditory design in Bonanza Megapays is as memorable as ever. Twangy banjo riffs, harmonic strums, and percussion instruments keep the mood upbeat and rustic. The soundtrack is one of BTG’s most recognizable, providing a constant feeling of momentum and progress—particularly when the reels are active or cascades continue. 

Sound effects remain faithful to the original. Every spin, win, and cascade is complemented by appropriate audio feedback, and the jackpot feature adds its own celebratory flair. In short, the music and effects in Bonanza Megapays successfully preserve the charm of the original while adapting to the new jackpot-enhanced experience.

Bonus Features 

Reactions & Free Spins 

The backbone of Bonanza Megapays’ gameplay is still the Reaction mechanic—every win removes symbols and triggers new ones, with no fixed number of cascades. It ensures that gameplay remains exciting and full of surprises. 

To unlock free spins, players need to spell G-O-L-D using 4 scatter symbols. This awards 12 free spins, with +5 spins for 3 scatters or +10 spins for 4 appearing during the feature. A progressive win multiplier is active during free spins, starting at x1 and increasing by +1 after every reaction. This simple-yet-powerful dynamic means bonus rounds can escalate rapidly, especially with early wins and chain reactions. 

Megapays Jackpot Feature 

The star of the show is the Megapays feature, triggered randomly on any base game spin. When activated, the game transitions to a 6×7 grid and selects one random symbol to become the Megapays symbol. 

Each time the chosen symbol lands during this round, it is collected and tallied at the bottom of the screen. Players continue spinning until no additional Megapays symbols appear. The more symbols collected, the higher the jackpot prize awarded: 

Each bet contributes a small percentage to the jackpot pool: 

Mini: 0.15% 

Midi: 0.13% 

Major: 0.12% 

Mega: 0.11% 

This means that the total RTP allocated to the jackpot system is 9.44%, explaining the slight reduction in base game RTP from 96% to 96.40%. 

The jackpot system is both inclusive and thrilling, capable of being triggered at any bet level, which enhances long-term player engagement.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Bonanza Megapays widens its appeal with a flexible betting range of €0.20 to €30 per spin, making it suitable for casual players and high rollers alike. Importantly, larger bets improve the odds of triggering the Megapays jackpot, but do not affect the size of the prizes, which are static once hit. 

Key Game Stats: 

Reels: 6 + 4-position top cart 

Rows: 2 to 7 

Ways to Win: Up to 117,649 

RTP: 96.40% 

Volatility: High 

Max Win: 17,926x (excluding jackpot potential) 

Min/Max Bet: €0.20 / €30 

Progressive Jackpot Potential: Up to 3,000,000x (Mega) 

Although the base game’s theoretical max win is 17,926x, the Megapays system can unlock multi-million-euro potential, with the Mega jackpot being seeded at €300,000 and growing rapidly.

Conclusion 

Bonanza Megapays successfully builds on a legendary slot without compromising its essence. While the gameplay, design, and mechanics remain faithful to the original, the introduction of the Megapays progressive jackpot system adds a thrilling new goal that aligns perfectly with the game’s mining theme—digging for life-changing treasure. 

With random jackpot triggers, cascading reactions, free spins with unlimited multipliers, and high volatility, this version of Bonanza remains a grinder’s dream while opening the door to massive progressive wins. The only trade-off is a slightly lower RTP due to the jackpot system, but even that is well within acceptable standards for a modern progressive slot. 

Whether you’re revisiting the gold mine or venturing into it for the first time, Bonanza Megapays delivers an engaging and high-stakes experience that honors its roots while striking gold with modern enhancements.