Big Time Gaming Ratings
Our review team has rated Big Time Gaming Casino Games on the categories below and Big Time Gaming scores a great 79.4% ratings overall.
Big Time Gaming (BTG) Review 2026
Sydney, Australia  | Founded 2011  | Acquired by Evolution 2021  | Inventors of Megaways™
Big Time Gaming is one of the most consequential slot developers in the history of online gambling. The Sydney-based studio, founded in 2011, invented the Megaways™ mechanic — a dynamic reel system that can generate up to 117,649 ways to win on a single spin — and in doing so fundamentally changed how the industry thinks about slot design. It also introduced the Bonus Buy feature to online slots and pioneered several other mechanics that have since become industry standards.
Acquired by Evolution in 2021 for €450 million, BTG now operates as part of the world’s largest live casino and gaming content group, with its games available at over 2,500 online casinos worldwide. This review covers the full picture: the history, the mechanics BTG invented, the game catalogue, RTP data, licensing, and an honest assessment of whether BTG slots are right for you.
Big Time Gaming at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Founder | Nik Robinson |
| Parent Company | Evolution (acquired 2021 for €450 million) |
| Game Library | 60+ slots including 36+ Megaways titles |
| Casino Partners | 2,500+ |
| Licences | UK Gambling Commission (account 38696), Alderney Gambling Control Commission |
| RTP Range | ~91.92%–97.72% (most titles 96%–97%) |
| RTP Variants | BTG does NOT offer lower RTP variants to operators — the published figure is always used |
| Volatility | Medium to high — BTG is known for high-volatility design |
| Signature Mechanics | Megawaysâ„¢, Bonus Buy, Megapaysâ„¢, Megaquadsâ„¢ |
| Megaways Licensed To | Blueprint, Red Tiger, Relax Gaming, iSoftBet, Scientific Games, Kalamba, Storm, Fantasma and many more |
| Game Format | HTML5 — desktop, iOS, and Android compatible |
Company History
Big Time Gaming was founded in 2011 by Nik Robinson in Sydney, Australia. The early team drew on experience from companies including NT Media and OpenBet, bringing a strong technical and mathematical background to slot development from the outset. The studio began releasing games in 2013, initially producing titles that appeared on the Microgaming platform, but it was the development of an entirely new reel mechanic that would change everything.
In 2015, BTG introduced the Megaways™ system for the first time in Dragon Born. The mechanic replaced fixed paylines with dynamically changing reel heights — on each spin, each reel could display a different number of symbols, generating a different number of ways to win. At maximum, with six symbols on each of six reels, the result was 117,649 ways to win simultaneously. Dragon Born proved the concept worked, but it was Bonanza in 2016 — a mining-themed slot with a distinctive cascading reel system — that turned Megaways into a phenomenon. Bonanza became one of the most streamed and most-played online slots ever made, and it remains a top-performing title in casino lobbies a decade after its release.
Licensing to Other Developers
In 2017, BTG began licensing the Megaways mechanic to other developers, creating a new commercial model in which competitors paid to use the system. Blueprint, Red Tiger, Relax Gaming, iSoftBet, Scientific Games, and many others joined the licensing programme, and dedicated Megaways sections appeared in major casino lobbies — Ladbrokes created one in 2019. Also in 2017, BTG released White Rabbit, the first online slot to feature a Bonus Buy option, giving players the ability to purchase direct access to the free spins round at a fixed cost rather than waiting for scatters to land organically.
In 2021, Evolution, the world’s largest live casino content provider acquired Big Time Gaming for €450 million, one of the largest deals in iGaming history. The acquisition gave BTG access to Evolution’s global distribution network and marketing infrastructure while maintaining the studio’s creative independence. Since the acquisition, BTG’s games have expanded to over 2,500 casino partners worldwide.
The Megawaysâ„¢ Mechanic Explained
How Megaways WorksStandard slot machines use a fixed number of paylines — 20, 25, or 50, for example — with a set number of symbols per reel. Megaways replaces this with a dynamic system where the number of symbols on each reel changes randomly with every spin. On a six-reel Megaways game, each reel can display between two and seven symbols per spin. When every reel shows seven symbols simultaneously, the result is 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 = 117,649 ways to win. When reels show fewer symbols, the ways to win drop accordingly — meaning every spin produces a different number of potential winning combinations.
Megaways games typically also use a cascade (or avalanche) mechanic: winning symbols disappear from the reels and are replaced by new symbols falling from above, allowing multiple consecutive wins from a single spin without an additional bet. Most Megaways games combine the cascade with a multiplier that increases with each successive win in the same spin, building potential payouts that can reach thousands of times the stake in a single feature trigger.
The unpredictability of the reel configuration on every spin — combined with the cascade, the multiplier, and the sheer scale of 117,649 potential win combinations — gives Megaways slots a level of variance and excitement that fixed-payline games cannot replicate. This is why the mechanic was adopted so rapidly across the industry and why it remains the most widely licensed slot mechanic ever created.
Other BTG Proprietary Mechanics
Bonus Buy (Feature Drop)
Introduced by Big Time Gaming in White Rabbit (2017), the Bonus Buy feature allows players to pay a fixed multiple of their stake — typically 100x — to enter the free spins bonus round immediately, bypassing the organic scatter trigger requirement. BTG was the first studio to implement this in an online slot, and it has since become a standard feature across the industry. Note that Bonus Buy is not available in all jurisdictions — it is restricted in the UK under UKGC regulations, for example.
Megapaysâ„¢
BTG’s proprietary progressive jackpot system, available in selected titles including White Rabbit Megaways and Star Clusters Megapays. Megapays jackpots are triggered by landing card rank symbols (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9) as Megapays symbols during gameplay. When triggered, an additional spin occurs with sticky Megapays symbols, building towards one of four jackpot prize levels. The system integrates a progressive prize network into the Megaways mechanic, adding an additional layer of win potential beyond the standard cascade and multiplier features.
Megaquadsâ„¢
A further proprietary reel mechanic from BTG that creates a quadrant-based grid structure, giving games a different visual and mechanical identity from standard Megaways titles. Megaquads appears in selected titles and demonstrates the studio’s commitment to continuing to develop new reel systems rather than solely expanding the Megaways franchise.
The BTG Game Catalogue
Big Time Gaming’s catalogue is smaller than those of the largest content studios — around 60+ titles — but the quality-to-quantity ratio is exceptionally high. Almost every release has introduced something new: a mechanic, a feature structure, or a theme treatment that has not been done before. The studio’s design philosophy prioritises volatility, multiplier potential, and replay value over accessible base game hit frequency.
Top BTG Slots
RTP 96% | The original Megaways slot and the game that made BTG famous. Mining theme, cascading reels, unlimited multiplier in free spins. Still one of the most played slots in the world.
RTP 97.72% | Highest RTP in the BTG catalogue. Alice in Wonderland theme, extending reels up to 248,832 ways to win, the first slot to feature Bonus Buy. Max win 10,000x.
RTP 96.82% | Spiritual sequel to Bonanza. Mexican market theme, higher volatility than the original, Bonus Buy available. Max win 20,000x.
RTP 96.43% | Uses The Cult’s “Lil Devil” song. 4,096 ways to win. Angel Wilds with up to 144x combined multipliers, two free spins modes. One of BTG’s most feature-rich titles.
RTP 96.25% | Electric theme using Gary Numan’s music. Cluster pays mechanic. Two distinct bonus modes (Low and High Voltage). Distinctive aesthetic and persistent Wild reels.
RTP 96.7% | Feline theme, 6 reels. Max win 56,620x. One of BTG’s stronger performers post-Bonanza in terms of player engagement.
RTP 96.25% | Licensed TV game show title. Max win 80,150x. One of the best branded slot releases from any studio — mechanics genuinely reflect the show format.
RTP 96.37% | 9 bonus features, max win 139,200x. Spawned two sequels: Max Megaways 2 (max win 147,620x) and Max Megaways 3 (max win 101,830x).
Released November 2025. Sequel to the original. Keeps Extending Reels, adds Hold and Spin with Megapots. Max win 133,100x.
RTP 96.75% | Fruit theme with Megaways. Max win 36,000x. Named after the British confectionery, now called Starburst outside the UK.
RTP Across the BTG Catalogue
| Game | RTP | Max Win |
|---|---|---|
| White Rabbit Megaways | 97.72% | 10,000x |
| Feathered Frenzy | 97% | 10,000x |
| StarQuest | 96.9% | 120,000 coins |
| Opal Fruits | 96.75% | 36,000x |
| King of Cats | 96.7% | 56,620x |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | 96.82% | 20,000x |
| Lil Devil | 96.43% | 40,960x |
| Max Megaways 2 | 96.65% | 147,620x |
| Bonanza Megaways | 96% | ~20,000x+ |
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Megaways | 96.25% | 80,150x |
| Danger High Voltage | 96.25% | ~25,000x |
| Catalogue low (some titles) | ~91.92% | Varies |
Licensing and Regulation
Big Time Gaming holds two primary gaming licences that cover its global operations:
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC): Account number 38696. This licence is a legal requirement for supplying games to any UK-regulated online casino and is one of the most stringent regulatory standards in the world. The UKGC licence covers fairness requirements, responsible gambling mechanisms, and advertising compliance.
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC): Licence number 000-038696-R-320048-001. The AGCC is a respected offshore regulatory body, and this licence extends BTG’s supply authorisation into markets beyond the UKGC’s jurisdiction.
All BTG games use certified RNG technology and are independently tested for fairness by accredited laboratories. As part of the Evolution Group, BTG also benefits from Evolution’s own extensive regulatory infrastructure across dozens of jurisdictions worldwide.
The Megaways Licensing Ecosystem
One of the most commercially significant things about Big Time Gaming is not just that it invented Megaways — it is that it built a licensing model around the mechanic that turned a single innovation into an ongoing revenue stream while simultaneously expanding the reach of Megaways-branded slots across the industry.
Studios that have licensed Megaways from BTG and produced their own Megaways titles include:
When Ladbrokes created a dedicated Megaways section in 2019, it was a signal that the mechanic had achieved something rare in online gambling: brand recognition at the player level that transcended any individual studio. Players actively seek out Megaways games by name — an outcome that benefits BTG financially through every licensed title sold or played.
Mobile Compatibility
All BTG games are built in HTML5 and run fully in iOS and Android mobile browsers — no download required. The studio’s high-volatility, feature-heavy design style translates well to mobile, with the cascade animations, multiplier displays, and Megaways reel configurations all rendering cleanly on modern smartphone screens. Autoplay is available across the catalogue, and most titles include configurable stop conditions for responsible gambling.
Is BTG Right for You?
| BTG is a great fit if you… | BTG may not suit you if you… |
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Our Rating
Our Verdict
Big Time Gaming — The most influential slot developer of the past decade, and still one of the bestThere are very few companies in any industry that can claim to have fundamentally changed the way their sector works. Big Time Gaming is one of them. The Megaways mechanic did not just produce a popular slot — it created an entirely new category of game design, an industry-wide licensing programme, dedicated casino lobby sections, and a generation of players who now specifically seek out Megaways as a feature indicator. The Bonus Buy feature had a similar effect. These are genuine innovations that the industry adopted because they were genuinely better, not because BTG had the marketing budget to force them.
As a playing experience, BTG slots are not for everyone. The high volatility means long sessions can be expensive and dry spells are part of the design rather than an anomaly. The catalogue is smaller than the industry’s largest studios. And Bonus Buy — arguably the mechanic that best serves the BTG experience — is unavailable in some of the world’s major regulated markets.
But for players who want the ceiling to be as high as possible, who understand that volatility is the price of that ceiling, and who value the assurance that the RTP shown is always the RTP used, Big Time Gaming remains the standard against which all other high-volatility slot studios are measured. Backed by Evolution and present at over 2,500 casinos worldwide, BTG is not going anywhere — and neither is Megaways.
This page is for informational purposes only. RTP figures and game details are subject to change — always check the game information panel before playing. Bonus Buy is not available in all jurisdictions including the UK. 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. For support visit begambleaware.org.
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