About Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming is the one provider that cannot reasonably be accused of borrowing the Bonanza trend. The Australian-founded studio created the original Bonanza, launched it in 2016 and used the game to demonstrate the commercial potential of its Megaways mechanic. Much of the modern Bonanza category exists because other developers responded to that success.
BTG was established in 2011 and became part of Evolution following its acquisition in 2021. The studio continues to operate as a distinct content brand and licences Megaways to other developers. Its influence is therefore much larger than the number of games carrying the Big Time Gaming logo.
Bonanza’s Place in Slot History
Bonanza Megaways combines six variable-height reels with a horizontal tracker reel. Its maximum reel configuration produces 117,649 ways to win. Winning symbols disappear through the reaction system and are replaced, allowing one paid spin to generate consecutive combinations.
Four or more scatter letters spelling G-O-L-D trigger Free Spins. During the bonus, the win multiplier increases after every successful reaction and does not reset until the feature ends. This simple rule remains the heart of the game: the real potential comes from maintaining a long chain while the multiplier keeps climbing.
Bonanza can also be frustrating. The base game often moves through uneventful spins, and collecting three G-O-L-D letters without the fourth creates no feature. That tension is deliberate. I respect the mathematics and historical importance of the game, but I would never describe it as consistently generous or relaxing.
BTG’s Bonanza Family
| Game | Major addition | How it changes the original |
|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | Megaways and reactions | Established the variable-reel, G-O-L-D and rising-multiplier formula |
| Bonanza Megapays | Four progressive jackpots | Adds a separate network-jackpot feature to the original structure |
| Bonanza Falls | Megadozer and Win Exchange | Feeds modifiers into Free Spins from a coin-dozer display |
| Christmas Bonanza | Seasonal presentation | Retains much of the recognisable Bonanza rhythm in a festive setting |
| Bonanza Tapcards | Tapcards instant format | Moves the brand away from conventional spinning reels |
Megaways Is More Than a Large Number
Megaways changes the number of symbols appearing on each reel for every spin. The number of win ways is calculated by multiplying the active positions across the reels, so a 117,649-way result requires the full configuration. It is not the permanent number of paylines available on every spin.
The mechanic became influential because it changes the shape of the grid while remaining easy to understand. More positions can produce more combinations, but they also introduce more symbol spaces that must be populated. A large ways counter does not by itself mean a spin has a high probability of returning a profit.
BTG’s real achievement was combining variable reels with reactions and a persistent Free Spins multiplier. Many licensed Megaways games copied the changing reel heights but failed to recreate the tension of a multiplier rising through an extended cascade.
Bonanza Megapays
Bonanza Megapays remasters the core game and connects it to four progressive jackpots. The jackpot sequence is handled as a separate feature after the initial slot result when triggered. A proportion of qualifying wagers contributes to the progressive pools.
This version should not be compared with the original using only the headline jackpot. Some theoretical return may be assigned to rare jackpot events rather than regular reel wins. Players should check the game rules to see how the quoted RTP is divided and whether the casino is connected to the appropriate network pool.
Bonanza Falls and Megadozer
Bonanza Falls is a more ambitious sequel. It retains up to 117,649 Megaways and bidirectional cascading reactions, but its Free Spins use the Megadozer mechanic. Gold Bonus Coins wait on a dozer-style shelf and can fall onto the reels to reveal modifiers.
These coins may add wild multipliers up to 5x, apply individual symbol multipliers up to 10x, award additional free spins or increase the overall Free Spins win multiplier. This gives the feature several parallel growth paths instead of relying solely on the original game’s reaction multiplier.
Win Exchange may allow a sufficiently large win to be exchanged for Free Spins, while Bonus Buy provides another route in eligible markets. I like Megadozer as a visual progression device because players can see rewards approaching the edge. However, the apparent physical position of a coin should not be read as evidence that it must fall on the next spin.
Extra Chilli Is Part of the Legacy
Extra Chilli does not carry Bonanza in its title, yet it belongs in any account of BTG’s contribution. It was developed as a follow-up to Bonanza and helped popularise multiple bonus choices and direct feature purchase alongside Megaways reactions.
The game shows that BTG did not need to attach “Bonanza” to every related release. Its mechanics and mathematical style were strong enough to establish separate brands, which is one reason I regard BTG differently from studios that use the word mainly for search recognition.
Does BTG Still Earn the Bonanza Name?
Absolutely. Big Time Gaming created both the original game and the core mechanic most closely associated with the classic meaning of a Bonanza slot. It also turned Megaways into a licensable system used throughout the industry.
Not every sequel is equally essential. Christmas Bonanza is closer to a seasonal variation, while Megapays attaches a jackpot layer that will appeal to a different audience. Bonanza Falls is the most substantial mechanical evolution because Megadozer changes how Free Spins develop without discarding the original reel structure.
For historical context, I would start with Bonanza Megaways. For a busier modern feature, I prefer Bonanza Falls. Megapays only makes sense for players who specifically value progressive jackpots and understand that the largest advertised prize is an exceptionally rare outcome.
BTG’s Australian origins do not mean its online casino games are automatically available for legal real-money play in Australia. Check the operator, local restrictions and exact game configuration independently. Megaways counts, previous reactions and near-complete G-O-L-D sequences cannot predict a future random result.
