Big Time Gaming Review: Slots, RTP and Volatility
The studio that invented Megaways. Its licensing business is now bigger than its own catalogue — and that is the problem.
The studio that invented Megaways. Its licensing business is now bigger than its own catalogue — and that is the problem.
In short
Big Time Gaming is a 2011-founded studio based in Sydney, Australia (Evolution group), running 40+ slots plus Megaways licensing at a typical 96.0% – 96.5% RTP. Our rating: 4.0/5. Signature title: Bonanza.
Key facts
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia (Evolution group) |
| Licences | MGA, UKGC, and major regulated markets |
| Catalogue | 40+ slots plus Megaways licensing |
| Typical RTP | 96.0% – 96.5% |
| Volatility | High to very high |
| Highest max win | 50,000x (Bonanza Megapays era titles) |
What Big Time Gaming does well
Bonanza (2016) introduced Megaways: reels of variable height producing up to 117,649 ways to win, with cascades and an unlimited multiplier in free spins. It is the single most licensed mechanic in slots history, running in games from more than a hundred studios.
BTG's own follow-ups — Extra Chilli, White Rabbit, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Megaways — are still among the best-tuned implementations, because the maths were designed with the mechanic rather than fitted to it.
Big Time Gaming signature slots compared
| Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max win | Key mechanic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonanza | 96% | High | 12,000x | The original Megaways, cascades |
| Extra Chilli | 96.82% | Very high | 20,000x | Feature Drop, gamble ladder |
| White Rabbit | 97.72% | High | 13,000x | Expanding reels, Feature Drop |
| Danger High Voltage | 95.67% | High | 15,000x | Two free-spins modes |
RTP, volatility and what to check before you spin
- Extra Chilli at 96.82% and White Rabbit at 97.72% are among the highest RTPs on any high-variance slot.
- Feature Drop (BTG's original bonus buy) is priced dynamically via a gamble ladder rather than a flat multiple of stake.
- Third-party Megaways games vary enormously in quality and RTP — the mechanic is licensed, the maths are not.
- Original BTG output has slowed markedly since Evolution acquired the studio in 2021.
Every studio can license Megaways. Almost none of them tune the maths the way the studio that invented it does.
How to do this
How to check the real RTP of a Big Time Gaming slot
- Open the game and tap the menu or 'i' icon to reach the paytable info panel.
- Scroll to the game rules footer — the live RTP for that casino's configuration is printed there, not on the lobby tile.
- Compare it with the studio default in the table above. If it is more than half a point lower, play the same Big Time Gaming title somewhere else.
- Note the volatility rating and set a loss limit before your first spin.
Who Big Time Gaming suits
Players who like cascading, high-ways formats and want the reference implementations rather than a licensed copy. White Rabbit in particular is one of the best value high-variance slots available.
Our take
Historically important, still technically excellent, but a studio living substantially on a nine-year-old invention. The score reflects output, not quality.
Verdict
Big Time Gaming changed the industry once and has been collecting the royalties since. The core catalogue holds up remarkably well — White Rabbit's 97.72% RTP is exceptional — but new original releases are rare.
How we tested this studio
We opened the in-game information screens on live builds of this studio's headline titles and recorded the RTP actually deployed, then compared it with the range Big Time Gaming publishes and with the studio's own paytables. We also checked the licence entries and certification standards linked below. Where the deployed RTP differs from the advertised default, the review says so.
Last checked: August 2026
How we scored this
Rating: 4 / 5
| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Game maths | 35% | 4.2 / 5 |
| Fairness and verification | 20% | 3.9 / 5 |
| Player value | 20% | 3.7 / 5 |
| Transparency | 15% | 4.1 / 5 |
| Experience | 10% | 4.3 / 5 |
Sources and references
- Megaways licensing and game catalogue — Big Time Gaming
- Licence register — Malta Gaming Authority
Frequently asked questions
Who invented Megaways?
Big Time Gaming, in Bonanza (2016). The mechanic is now licensed to more than a hundred studios worldwide.
What is the highest RTP Big Time Gaming slot?
White Rabbit at 97.72%, which is unusually high for a high-variance Megaways-style game.
How many ways to win does Megaways have?
Up to 117,649 in the standard six-reel implementation, though some licensed variants use different reel counts.
Is Big Time Gaming owned by Evolution?
Yes, Evolution AB completed its acquisition of Big Time Gaming in 2021.
Are all Megaways slots the same?
No. The mechanic is licensed but each studio writes its own maths, so RTP, volatility and max win differ sharply between Megaways titles.