Big Time Gaming is the Australian studio behind Megaways, the reel mechanic that reshaped how modern online slots generate wins. This Big Time Gaming review covers where the studio came from, how Megaways spread across the industry, which titles matter most, and what genuinely separates BTG from the dozens of studios now building on its mechanics. For the full math behind how Megaways calculates its ways-to-win, our complete Megaways explainer covers it in detail. This piece focuses on the studio itself.
What Is Big Time Gaming?
Big Time Gaming (BTG) was founded in 2011 in Sydney, Australia, by Nik Robinson, a games-industry veteran who had previously built and sold a media company to News Corp. The studio’s first release was a gem-themed slot called Diamonds, which launched in June 2013. For its first few years, BTG operated much like any other small developer: competent titles, modest attention, nothing that set it apart.
That changed once the studio started experimenting with a completely different way of structuring reels. Rather than sticking to fixed paylines, BTG began asking what would happen if the number of symbols on each reel changed on every single spin. That question became the foundation of everything the studio is known for today.
How Did Big Time Gaming Invent Megaways?
The mechanic first appeared in Dragon Born, a title BTG released in late 2015. Instead of a fixed grid, each reel could display anywhere from two to seven symbols, recalculating the number of possible winning combinations on every spin. It was a genuinely new idea, but Dragon Born itself didn’t make much noise.
The breakthrough came a year later with Bonanza (2016). Built on the same mechanic, Bonanza combined the variable-reel system with cascading wins and an unlimited-growth multiplier, and it caught on with players in a way Dragon Born never did. The maximum number of ways to win in a standard six-reel version, 117,649, became something of a signature number for the format. We’ve covered exactly how that figure is calculated in our pillar guide linked above, so we won’t repeat the math here.
How Does Big Time Gaming’s Licensing Model Work?
What makes Big Time Gaming unusual isn’t just that it invented Megaways. It’s what the studio did next. Rather than keeping the mechanic exclusive, BTG began licensing it to other developers around 2018, starting with Blueprint Gaming and later extending to Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, Relax Gaming, and BGaming (sources differ slightly on the exact sequencing, but the overall pattern is well documented).
Under this model, a licensee pays BTG a royalty-based fee to build its own games using the Megaways engine. The resulting slot is published under the licensee’s own brand. Pragmatic Play’s Wolf Gold Megaways, for example, is a Pragmatic Play game built on BTG’s mechanic, not a BTG title. This is why Megaways now spans well over 200 slots industry-wide, most of which BTG never touched directly.
What Licences Does Big Time Gaming Hold?
BTG has held a gaming licence from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission since December 2012, one of its earliest regulatory approvals. Since then, the studio has also obtained UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) authorisation and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) certification, alongside approvals in other regulated markets. This licensing footprint is what allows BTG content to appear at large, regulated operators across Europe and beyond, rather than being confined to grey-market platforms.
Why Did Evolution Acquire Big Time Gaming?
In April 2021, live-casino giant Evolution announced an agreement to acquire BTG for a total consideration of up to €450 million, payable in cash and Evolution shares, with the deal completing that June. The acquisition slotted BTG in alongside other Evolution-owned studios such as NetEnt, Red Tiger, and NoLimit City.
What’s changed since the acquisition is distribution: BTG content now moves more easily through Evolution’s existing operator network. What hasn’t changed is creative direction. BTG continues to release games under its own brand, and third-party studios still pay to license Megaways regardless of who owns BTG itself.
What Are the Best Big Time Gaming Slots?
Here’s where the reputation actually gets tested. These four titles are consistently cited across review sites as BTG’s most influential releases. It’s worth noting that exact RTP and max-win figures can vary slightly by casino and game version, so treat the numbers below as commonly reported rather than universal.
Bonanza Megaways
| Detail | Typically Reported |
| RTP | Around 96% |
| Max win | Commonly cited in the 12,000x to 26,000x range depending on version |
| Volatility | High |
| Notable feature | Unlimited multiplier during free spins |
White Rabbit Megaways
| Detail | Typically Reported |
| RTP | Around 97.2% to 97.7% |
| Max win | Reported figures vary widely by source, generally 10,000x and up |
| Volatility | High |
| Notable feature | Expanding reels that can push ways to win beyond 200,000 |
Extra Chilli Megaways
| Detail | Typically Reported |
| RTP | Around 96.2% to 96.8% |
| Max win | Commonly cited around 20,000x |
| Volatility | High |
| Notable feature | Gamble Free Spins feature to boost spin count before the bonus round |
Danger High Voltage
| Detail | Typically Reported |
| RTP | Around 96.2% |
| Max win | Commonly cited around 15,000x and up |
| Volatility | High |
| Notable feature | Rock-themed bonus round with sticky wilds |
Does Big Time Gaming Have a Limited Game Catalogue?
Big Time Gaming has a smaller, more selective catalogue than many major providers that release dozens of titles each year. Rather than focusing on volume, BTG is known for mechanic-led games built around Megaways, high volatility, cascades, multipliers, and feature-heavy bonus rounds.
- Selective release approach: BTG releases fewer titles than high-output providers, concentrating on distinctive mechanics and larger feature sets rather than a very broad game library.
- Focus on original mechanics: The catalogue includes Megaways, MegaClusters, MegaQuads, and MegaPays-related concepts instead of relying only on traditional fixed-payline slot formats.
- Recognisable flagship games: Titles such as Bonanza Megaways, White Rabbit, Extra Chilli Megaways, Danger High Voltage, and Star Clusters MegaClusters are associated with specific gameplay features rather than interchangeable themes.
- Less variety for classic-slot players: Players looking for many simple fruit slots, lower-volatility games, branded releases, or numerous similar themes may find a larger choice with broader providers.
- Feature-led payout structure: BTG games often use cascades, expanding reels, free spins, cluster reactions, and multipliers, with much of the maximum-win potential linked to bonus features.
- High-volatility focus: Many BTG titles are designed for players who understand that feature-heavy games can produce long periods without significant payouts before a larger result occurs.
- Check game details individually: A smaller catalogue does not mean every BTG title plays the same way. Check the in-game information panel for the available RTP setting, volatility, minimum stake, maximum win, and bonus rules before playing.
What Mechanics Has Big Time Gaming Created Beyond Megaways?
Megaways gets the attention, but BTG has kept building. Megaclusters replace the reel structure entirely with a cluster-pay grid. Megaquads allow multiple slot grids to merge into a single spin for an even larger combination pool. MegaPays and Megapots layer progressive jackpot networks onto existing titles, shared in some cases with partner studio Relax Gaming. Some third-party sites reference other in-development BTG mechanics by name, but since these aren’t consistently confirmed across official sources, we’re leaving them out rather than reporting unverified details.
How Does Big Time Gaming Compare to Studios That License Megaways?
Because so many studios now build Megaways titles, it’s worth knowing what separates a BTG original from a licensed version. BTG’s own titles tend to push volatility and feature design further, since its revenue increasingly comes from licensing rather than casual retention on any single game. Licensed Megaways titles from studios like Pragmatic Play or Red Tiger often adapt the mechanic to a house style built for a wider range of players, which can mean more moderate volatility or different bonus structures.
Neither approach is objectively better. A licensed title can outperform a BTG original on RTP or player enjoyment. But if you want the mechanic in its most unfiltered form, BTG’s own catalogue is the more direct reference point.
What Is Big Time Gaming’s RTP and Volatility Profile?
It’s a common assumption that BTG runs a single, unchangeable RTP across every casino, but that’s not quite accurate. Like most major studios, BTG titles are often released in more than one RTP configuration, and it’s the operator (within regulatory rules) that determines which one goes live on a given site. UKGC-regulated operators, for instance, must declare the active RTP setting and make it accessible within the game itself, even though they aren’t required to display it on the lobby thumbnail.
Practically, this means the RTP quoted in any review, including the figures above, is a commonly published reference point, not a guaranteed number at every casino. Always check the in-game paytable before playing for real money. Volatility, by contrast, is consistent across BTG’s catalogue: nearly every major title sits in the high-to-very-high range, meaning longer stretches without a win balanced against a higher ceiling when one lands.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Big Time Gaming?
| Pros | Cons |
| Created the Megaways mechanic: BTG developed Megaways, a dynamic reel system now licensed to many developers and used across a broad range of online slot titles. | More selective game library: BTG has a more focused catalogue than some high-output providers, so players looking for a very large volume of new releases may find broader choice elsewhere. |
| Recognisable flagship titles: Games such as Bonanza, Extra Chilli, White Rabbit, and Danger High Voltage have helped establish BTG as a distinctive slots studio. | Feature-led game design: Many BTG games place a substantial part of their entertainment value in bonus rounds, cascades, or multipliers, so players should understand the feature rules before playing. |
| Distinctive game mechanics: In addition to Megaways, BTG offers other branded mechanics and maintains licensing options for Megaways, MegaPays, and MegaClusters. | Different RTP versions may be available: The same game may be offered at different RTP settings depending on the casino or jurisdiction, so review the in-game information panel for the version available. |
| Strong industry distribution: BTG has operated within Evolution’s portfolio since 2021, supporting distribution through a wider operator network. | Availability differs by casino: A casino may carry only part of the BTG portfolio, and specific titles, game modes, or bonus features may not be available in every location. |
| Dynamic game formats: BTG titles often use changing reel layouts, cascading outcomes, cluster-style systems, or feature modifiers rather than relying solely on standard fixed paylines. | Game rules vary by title: Maximum win, minimum stake, feature triggers, and optional bonus purchases, where permitted, are game-specific and may be restricted by local rules. |
| Wide Megaways ecosystem: Players can find Megaways titles from BTG and licensed studios, with different themes and feature styles built around the same core reel concept. | Not every title suits every preference: Players who favour simple, traditional fixed-payline games may prefer a provider with a larger range of classic-style slots. |
If you’re drawn to BTG specifically because of the win potential in its stat sheets, it’s worth pacing your bankroll accordingly and setting a loss limit before you start, given how long variance can run in either direction on these titles.
How Big Time Gaming Creates More Ways to Win
Big Time Gaming is best known for replacing fixed paylines with game structures that can create a changing number of winning routes. Instead of offering the same payline count on every spin, many BTG titles alter the visible reel layout, symbol positions, or winning combinations as the game progresses.
- Changing reel layouts: In Megaways games, the number of symbols shown on individual reels can change from spin to spin. This means the number of available winning combinations is not fixed throughout the session.
- Adjacent-reel wins: Matching symbols often create payouts by landing on consecutive reels from left to right, rather than needing to land on a traditional numbered payline.
- High possible combination counts: Many six-reel Megaways titles can reach up to 117,649 possible ways to win when the maximum number of symbols appears on every reel. Some BTG games use different layouts and can offer higher totals.
- Cascading outcomes: After a winning combination, the game may remove the paying symbols and introduce replacements. This can create extra payouts during the same paid spin without placing another bet.
- Expanding game areas: Certain BTG games expand the number of symbol positions after winning outcomes or feature triggers, opening additional ways for symbols to connect.
- Alternative win structures: BTG also uses cluster-style and reaction-based mechanics in selected titles, where payouts depend on connected groups of symbols or game-specific transformations rather than standard paylines.
- Feature rounds can change the setup: Free spins and bonus features can add multipliers, extra reels, expanding symbols, or modified game rules, which may create a different number of potential winning combinations from the base game.
More ways to win does not mean that every spin will pay or that a game has better odds. RTP, volatility, paytable distribution, and bonus rules still depend on the individual title
Where Can You Play Big Time Gaming Slots?
Since BTG operates as a B2B software provider rather than an operator itself, you’ll find Big Time Gaming slots distributed through licensed online casinos rather than on a standalone BTG platform. Before playing, it’s worth checking three things: that the casino holds a recognised licence (UKGC, MGA, or similar), that its catalogue includes BTG’s flagship titles rather than only licensed Megaways clones, and that demo play is available so you can test a title’s volatility before betting real money.
The Studio Behind an Entire Slot Category
Big Time Gaming’s story is unusual in the slots industry: a small Australian studio invented a mechanic, then chose to share it rather than guard it, and in doing so became more influential than almost any single-catalogue developer could be. Whether you play BTG’s own high-volatility originals or one of the hundreds of licensed Megaways titles built on its engine, you’re playing on infrastructure this studio built from scratch.
Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only and is intended for players aged 18+ or above the legal gambling age in their location.
