Big Time Gaming Review – Best Slots & Megaways

Full review

Big Time Gaming review: what you need to know

Big Time Gaming is an Australian online slot developer best known for creating Megaways, one of the most influential mechanics in modern casino gaming. Founded in 2011 by Nik Robinson, the studio has developed several recognisable titles, including Bonanza Megaways, Extra Chilli, White Rabbit and Danger High Voltage.

The company’s influence extends beyond its own games. By licensing Megaways to other developers, Big Time Gaming helped introduce dynamic reel systems to a much wider selection of online slots.

Now part of Evolution, Big Time Gaming continues to develop games featuring innovative reel structures, multipliers, free spins and other bonus mechanics.

History of Big Time Gaming

Big Time Gaming was established in Australia in 2011.

Its founder, Nik Robinson, had previous experience in gambling technology and online gaming.

The studio began releasing online slots in 2013, but its major breakthrough came with the introduction of Megaways.

Dragon Born introduced the mechanic in 2015. However, Bonanza, released in 2016, brought Megaways to a much larger audience.

Bonanza became one of the most recognisable online slots of its generation and helped establish Big Time Gaming’s reputation for innovation.

The company subsequently licensed Megaways to other game developers, allowing the mechanic to appear in titles from numerous studios.

In 2021, Evolution acquired Big Time Gaming for a consideration of up to €450 million.

The acquisition brought the studio into the same gaming group as NetEnt and Red Tiger.

Despite this change in ownership, Big Time Gaming continues to operate as a distinct game development brand.

Best Big Time Gaming Slots

Big Time Gaming has produced several influential games, particularly within the Megaways category.

Bonanza Megaways

Bonanza is the studio’s most iconic release.

The game uses a mining theme and a dynamic reel system that can produce up to 117,649 ways to win.

Instead of fixed paylines, the number of symbols on each reel changes between spins.

Winning symbols disappear through a cascading mechanic, creating opportunities for additional combinations.

During the free spins feature, consecutive wins can increase a multiplier.

Bonanza remains an important example of how variable reel structures changed online slot design.

Extra Chilli Megaways

Extra Chilli combines the Megaways system with a colourful chilli-themed setting.

The game is particularly known for its free spins feature and the ability to exchange certain winning outcomes for opportunities to improve the bonus.

This introduces an additional decision element that distinguishes it from more conventional Megaways releases.

However, the outcomes remain subject to the game’s random mathematical model.

White Rabbit Megaways

White Rabbit is a fantasy-themed slot inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

It combines Megaways gameplay with expanding reels and bonus features.

The game is also notable for being an early prominent example of a slot offering direct bonus purchases.

Its published RTP can reach 97.2% in the referenced configuration, although players should check the version available at their chosen casino.

Danger High Voltage

Danger High Voltage demonstrates that Big Time Gaming’s portfolio extends beyond Megaways.

The game uses a music-inspired theme and includes two different free spins features.

These bonuses provide different multiplier mechanics and gameplay conditions.

It remains one of the studio’s most recognisable non-Megaways releases.

Lil’ Devil

Lil’ Devil is another popular Big Time Gaming title.

It features a distinctive visual style and bonus mechanics built around Wild symbols, multipliers and special reel interactions.

The game has developed a following among players interested in complex, high-volatility slot mechanics.

White Rabbit 2 and Newer Releases

Big Time Gaming has continued developing established franchises alongside new titles.

White Rabbit 2, released in November 2025, revisits the original fantasy setting with updated features.

The studio’s 2026 releases include Monopoly Rush Hour, Monopoly Megapots, Fruit Merge Megapots, Monster Quest and Extra Chilli More Chilli.

These titles illustrate the company’s continued experimentation with both established mechanics and newer game formats.

What Is Megaways?

Megaways is Big Time Gaming’s most influential innovation.

Traditional slots often use a fixed number of symbols on each reel.

Megaways changes this by allowing the number of visible symbols to vary between spins.

In many classic Megaways games, each reel can display between two and seven symbols.

The total number of possible winning combinations is calculated by multiplying the symbol counts across the reels.

For example, a six-reel game displaying seven symbols on every reel can offer:

7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways to win.

However, not every Megaways slot has the same maximum number of winning ways.

The exact configuration depends on the individual game.

Cascading Wins

Megaways games frequently include cascading mechanics.

When a winning combination occurs, the winning symbols disappear.

New symbols then enter the reels, potentially creating additional wins during the same round.

Some games also include increasing multipliers that reward consecutive cascades.

This combination of variable reel structures and cascading wins is central to the popularity of Megaways.

Megaways Licensing

Big Time Gaming licenses the Megaways mechanic to other developers.

This means that a game featuring Megaways is not necessarily developed by Big Time Gaming.

Other studios have incorporated the mechanic into their own titles.

For Slotinia, it is important to attribute each game to its actual developer rather than automatically listing every Megaways release under Big Time Gaming.

Other Big Time Gaming Mechanics

Although Megaways is its best-known invention, Big Time Gaming has developed several additional systems.

Megaclusters

Megaclusters is a mechanic introduced through Star Clusters.

It builds on Cluster Pays gameplay, where adjacent matching symbols form winning combinations.

Winning clusters can split into smaller symbols, increasing the number of positions available on the grid.

In Star Clusters, the playing area can expand during free spins, creating additional opportunities for winning clusters.

Megaclusters demonstrates the studio’s willingness to experiment beyond conventional reel-based slots.

Bonus Buy

Big Time Gaming was an early pioneer of direct bonus purchases.

Selected games allow players to pay a multiple of their ordinary stake to enter a bonus feature.

White Rabbit helped popularise this approach.

However, Bonus Buy availability depends on the game and jurisdiction.

A purchased bonus does not guarantee a profitable result.

Free Spins and Multipliers

Free spins are a recurring feature throughout the company’s portfolio.

In Bonanza, consecutive cascading wins during free spins can increase the multiplier.

Other titles introduce alternative multiplier structures, expanding reels or special Wild mechanics.

The exact rules vary between games.

Megapays and Megapots

Big Time Gaming has also introduced newer mechanics and game formats, including Megapays and Megapots.

These expand its portfolio beyond the original Megaways formula.

The availability and operation of these features depend on the individual title.

Big Time Gaming RTP and Volatility

Big Time Gaming does not have a universal RTP or volatility level.

Each slot has its own mathematical model, and some titles are available with alternative RTP configurations.

According to AboutSlots, the average RTP across its 84 reviewed Big Time Gaming games is approximately 95.3%.

However, this represents the reviewed selection rather than a guaranteed average across every release.

Individual games can offer different values.

For example, AboutSlots lists White Rabbit Megaways at 97.2% RTP and Danger High Voltage 2 at approximately 96.8%.

Players should verify the RTP displayed within the game at their chosen casino.

Big Time Gaming is particularly associated with high-volatility gameplay.

This means that substantial payouts may be possible, but larger outcomes can occur infrequently.

The company’s emphasis on complex bonus mechanics and high maximum payouts contributes to this reputation.

However, volatility should always be assessed at the individual game level.

Maximum Win Potential

Several Big Time Gaming slots offer substantial advertised maximum payouts.

According to AboutSlots, Fireworks Megaways has a maximum win of 150,335× the stake.

Other high-potential releases include:

• Max Megaways 2 – 147,620×
• Max Megaways – 139,200×
• White Rabbit 2 – 133,100×
• Wild Portals Megaways – 116,030×

These figures illustrate the studio’s focus on high-potential gameplay.

However, maximum wins represent theoretical payout limits.

They do not indicate how frequently a game produces profitable results.

The probability of reaching a maximum payout can be extremely low.

Players should distinguish between RTP, volatility and maximum win, as each describes a different aspect of a slot’s mathematical design.

Mobile Gaming Experience

Big Time Gaming develops games for supported smartphones, tablets and desktop computers.

Its titles use modern web technologies, allowing them to run through compatible browsers.

Megaways games can be particularly demanding from a visual perspective because the number of symbols on each reel changes between spins.

Clear animations and interfaces are therefore important.

The studio’s games generally adapt their layouts to smaller screens while preserving the underlying mechanics.

However, performance may vary depending on the device, browser and casino platform.

The mathematical rules remain unchanged when the same game configuration is used.

Big Time Gaming and Evolution

Big Time Gaming became part of Evolution in June 2021.

Evolution is an international casino technology group with several established gaming brands.

Its portfolio includes NetEnt, Red Tiger, Big Time Gaming and Nolimit City.

The acquisition strengthened Evolution’s position in online slots and added the Megaways licensing business to its portfolio.

Big Time Gaming continues to operate as a recognisable developer within the group.

Its games remain associated with the Big Time Gaming brand, while the wider corporate structure provides access to Evolution’s distribution network.

For players, it is important to distinguish the developer from the casino operator.

A game supplier creates and distributes casino content, while the casino operator is responsible for offering gambling services under the applicable local regulations.

Slotinia’s Verdict on Big Time Gaming

Big Time Gaming is one of the most influential developers in modern online slot history.

Its greatest contribution is Megaways, a mechanic that transformed how many developers approach reel structures and winning combinations.

Bonanza demonstrated the potential of dynamic reels and cascading wins.

Extra Chilli introduced additional decisions around bonus features, while White Rabbit helped popularise direct bonus purchases.

The studio has also shown that its creativity extends beyond Megaways.

Danger High Voltage, Lil’ Devil and Star Clusters demonstrate different approaches to bonus design and mathematical mechanics.

Megaclusters and newer systems such as Megapays further illustrate the company’s willingness to experiment.

However, many of Big Time Gaming’s most recognisable releases feature high volatility.

Large maximum payouts may be appealing, but they should not be confused with likely outcomes.

The portfolio also includes complex features that may take time to understand.

Overall, Big Time Gaming stands out through its influence on slot design, recognisable franchises and innovative mechanics.

Its strongest qualities are the creation of Megaways, the success of Bonanza and Extra Chilli, and its continued development of new gameplay systems.

Responsible Gambling

Big Time Gaming develops games of chance involving financial risk.

RTP, volatility, multipliers, Bonus Buy features and maximum advertised payouts do not guarantee any particular outcome.

High-volatility games can produce extended periods of limited returns, while purchased bonuses may return less than their cost.

Players should verify the rules and RTP of each game, establish a budget before playing and avoid chasing losses.

Gambling should always be treated as entertainment rather than a source of income.