In a Megaways game each of six reels shows between two and seven symbols per spin, and the ways to win are the product of the visible heights: six reels of seven symbols give 7 to the power 6, the famous 117,649. The count changes every spin, which is the mechanic's whole sensation: some spins are dense with possibility, others sparse.
None of that arithmetic moves the game's return: RTP is set by symbol weights and paytable exactly as on a fixed-line slot, and big-ways spins are balanced by smaller average wins per way. What the format reliably delivers is higher volatility and a faster, more variable rhythm, usually alongside cascading wins on the titles that carry it.
Why it matters
117,649 ways is marketing for a volatility profile, not a return promise. Reading it that way lets you choose Megaways titles for their rhythm without mistaking the number for value.
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