Game guide
Big Time Gaming slots and the Megaways mechanic
The Australian studio behind Megaways: its history, its own games, how the mechanic is licensed and what differs in GB versions.
Big Time Gaming slots are the games of the Australian studio that invented Megaways, the mechanic in which reel heights change on every spin to give up to 117,649 ways to win. Founded in 2011 and based in Surry Hills, Sydney, Big Time Gaming (BTG) first used Megaways in Bonanza in 2016, and has licensed it to hundreds of other developers since. It has been part of the Evolution group since 2021. This page covers the studio, its own games, how its licensing model shapes UK lobbies and what to check at a GB casino.
On this page
From a Sydney start-up to part of Evolution
Big Time Gaming describes itself as having burst onto the scene in 2011, and Evolution calls it one of the most influential innovators in the history of online video slots. The studio's office is in Holt Street, Surry Hills, New South Wales. Evolution agreed to acquire Big Time Gaming in 2021, and BTG now sits in the group alongside NetEnt, Red Tiger, Ezugi and Evolution's live casino.
The studio's reputation rests on a small number of games and one big idea. Evolution credits titles such as Bonanza, Extra Chilli, Lil Devil and Danger! High Voltage with establishing BTG's name for high-volatility gameplay, which is still the house style.
How Big Time Gaming appears on the GB register
The Gambling Commission (UKGC) register shows no entry under the Big Time Gaming name, trading name or domain. Its parent group holds a GB licence through Evolution Malta Holding Limited, account 41655, covering remote Gambling Software and Game Host (Casino). The register extract does not state which group entity supplies BTG games to British casinos, so this page does not either. Your own protection depends on the casino, which must hold a remote casino licence of its own; our guide on checking a casino's licence shows how to confirm it.
Why so many studios make Megaways games
Megaways is licensed rather than kept in-house. Evolution says the mechanic is licensed to hundreds of developers worldwide, and many of the Megaways titles you see in UK lobbies from other studios run under licence from BTG. That is why a fishing slot, an Egyptian slot and a buffalo slot from three different studios can all share the same reel behaviour. Our page on Megaways slots explains how the changing reel heights produce the number of ways on each spin.
BTG has since added two further mechanics under its own trademarks: Megaclusters and Megapays. Both appear on the studio's site alongside Megaways.
Big Time Gaming's own Megaways games
| Game | What sets it apart | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Bonanza Megaways | The first Megaways game (2016); reactions remove winning symbols and the free spins multiplier rises with every reaction, with no upper limit | Bonanza Megaways review |
| Extra Chilli Megaways | Free spins won through a gamble wheel, up to 24 spins, with an unlimited win multiplier | Extra Chilli review |
| White Rabbit Megaways | Extending reels in free spins add rows, taking the ways well beyond the usual ceiling | White Rabbit review |
| Danger! High Voltage, Lil Devil | Earlier high-volatility titles named by Evolution | - |
| White Rabbit 2, Extra Chilli More Chilli, Monopoly Money | Newer releases on the studio's site | - |
The spec cards on each review page give the GB RTP and maximum win. White Rabbit's extending reels are the clearest example of how BTG keeps reworking its own mechanic: the free spins can push the grid to 248,832 ways.
Monopoly Money and the UK
A recent BTG release, Monopoly Money, launched first as an exclusive with Gamesys in the UK and Spain, before its global release on 28 October 2026. An exclusive launch window like this can mean a new BTG title can be available at one operator group for a period before it reaches other GB casinos, so the game you read about may not yet be in your casino's lobby.
Feature Drop and other features missing from GB versions
Several BTG games describe a Feature Drop, which lets players pay to trigger the free spins. The GB specifications for Extra Chilli and White Rabbit both record that this kind of bonus buy is not available to UK players. Autoplay, turbo spins and slam-stop are also banned at GB casinos, and every spin must last at least 2.5 seconds. Videos made for other markets often show these features, so judge a game by the version you can actually play.
The stake limit applies in full: online slots at GB-licensed casinos have a maximum stake of £5 per spin, or £2 if you are 18-24. With games built around very high volatility and long free-spin sequences, a lower stake stretches a budget further; our guide to slot volatility explains why.
Finding Big Time Gaming slots at a GB casino
None of the operators reviewed on this site currently names Big Time Gaming in its published provider list, so there is no casino list on this page. BTG games may still be in a lobby without a studio label, so search for the game title itself. When you find it, open the information screen to check the RTP the casino runs. Demo versions, where offered, need a verified account, because GB-licensed sites check your age before demo play as well as real-money play.
18+ only. High-volatility games can swing a long way in both directions; set a deposit limit first and see our responsible gambling page for the tools every licensed casino offers.
Questions readers ask
Did Big Time Gaming invent Megaways?
Yes. BTG created the Megaways mechanic and first used it in Bonanza in 2016. It now licenses Megaways to hundreds of other developers.
Who owns Big Time Gaming?
Evolution, which agreed to acquire the studio in 2021. The register shows no entry under the Big Time Gaming name; the Evolution group holds a GB licence through Evolution Malta Holding Limited.
Can I use Feature Drop on Big Time Gaming slots in the UK?
No, according to the GB specifications for Extra Chilli and White Rabbit, which state that the bonus buy is not available to UK players.
Are all Megaways slots made by Big Time Gaming?
No. Many Megaways games come from other studios that license the mechanic from BTG. BTG's own titles include Bonanza, Extra Chilli and White Rabbit.