Big Time Gaming: One Patent That Changed Every Lobby
Few studios can claim a genuine before-and-after moment. Sydney-based Big Time Gaming has one: Megaways. One mechanic, invented for one game, that reshaped what slots look like across the entire industry.
The Megaways Moment
Bonanza (2016) replaced fixed paylines with reels that change height every spin, up to 117,649 ways to win. The variable-reel idea made every spin visually different and pushed volatility into new territory players turned out to love. BTG then did something rarer than inventing the mechanic: it licensed Megaways to competitors. Today, studios from Red Tiger to Relax Gaming ship Megaways versions of their own brands, and every one carries BTG's fingerprint, a supply-side masterstroke straight out of the operator playbook.
Beyond the Famous Engine
The catalogue keeps inventing. Extra Chilli added feature buying and gamble-your-spins mechanics. Megaclusters (Star Clusters) split symbols into grids within grids. The studio also leans into music licensing with official Danger High Voltage energy and band-branded titles. The shared DNA across all of it: high volatility, transparent math published openly, and bonus rounds with unlimited or escalating multipliers that justify the wait.
Inside the Evolution Group
Evolution acquired BTG in 2021, adding the invention shop to a portfolio that already held NetEnt and later Nolimit City. BTG kept its independence of style and its licensing business: the Megaways trademark remains an industry-wide revenue line, not just a game feature.
What to Check
Classic BTG means high variance: Bonanza and its descendants reward the long-bankroll discipline and punish impatience. RTP traditionally sits at a player-friendly 96%+ on original builds, with operator-selected versions appearing in recent years: the info screen settles it. Megaways games from licensee studios vary in quality: the engine is licensed, the math craft is not. Check the studio name, not just the suffix.
The Verdict
Strengths: genuine invention, generous original math, and a legacy mechanic that still defines the industry a decade on. Weaknesses: a modest release pace, and the Megaways brand is diluted by weaker licensed implementations. The original BTG titles remain the reference versions. Where to play them: our casino reviews flag the full-catalogue operators. 18+.
Big Time Gaming FAQ
Is every Megaways slot a BTG game?
No, that is the point of the licensing business: most Megaways titles are built by other studios using BTG's engine under licence. The engine sets the reel behaviour; the borrowing studio sets the math and features. Quality varies accordingly, check the studio name before assuming Bonanza-grade craft.
Is Bonanza still worth playing in 2026?
As the original Megaways experience, yes: the math has aged well and the unlimited-multiplier free spins remain the genre's reference design. Expect classic high variance and apply the long-bankroll discipline.
What does Evolution's ownership change for players?
Little in practice: BTG kept its style and its licensing operation. The visible effect is cross-pollination, Megaways versions of NetEnt and Red Tiger classics carry official group blessing rather than third-party licence deals. 18+.
One more historical note worth knowing: BTG founder Nik Robinson came from the first wave of online gaming pioneers, and the studio's willingness to license its best idea instead of guarding it remains a rare case of open strategy winning in a protective industry.