Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming is the Australian slot studio that created Megaways, the mechanic that changes how many symbols each reel shows on every spin, for up to 117,649 ways to win.
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About Big Time Gaming
Big Time Gaming (BTG) started in 2011 and is based in Sydney, Australia. Its founder, Nik Robinson, had set up New Tech Media in 1996, a business later sold to News Corp and merged with Orbis to form OpenBet, as BTG's own history tells it.
BTG credits Huw McIntosh with its technical direction and Ian Schmidt with its creative side. Bonanza, released in 2016, made the studio's name.
Since 30 June 2021 BTG has belonged to Evolution, the group behind NetEnt, Red Tiger and Nolimit City.
On 2 November 2026 its games page listed 92 titles, 48 of them tagged Megaways. Branded slots include Monopoly, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Wheel of Fortune games.
Top Big Time Gaming Casinos
The casinos we have reviewed that offer Big Time Gaming games, with the highest trust scores first.
18+ · Play responsibly
18+ · Play responsibly
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18+ · Play responsibly
18+ · Play responsibly
18+ · Play responsibly
18+ · Play responsibly
Latest Big Time Gaming Bonuses Available
From welcome offers to free spins and reload promotions, these deals come from casinos that carry Big Time Gaming games. Compare the terms and choose the promotion that fits your playing style.
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Big Time Gaming at a Glance
From BTG's and Evolution's own pages, read on 2 November 2026.
Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
Founded | 2011, by Nik Robinson |
Based | Sydney, Australia |
Owner | Evolution, since 30 June 2021 |
Known for | Inventing Megaways, up to 117,649 ways |
Best-known games | Bonanza, Extra Chilli, Danger High Voltage |
Other mechanics | Megaclusters, Megapays, Megapots, Megadozer, Megaquads |
Casinos we review that carry it | 22 |
Who Invented Megaways, and How Does It Work?
Big Time Gaming, a Sydney slot studio founded in 2011, invented Megaways. On a Megaways slot each reel shows a different number of symbols on every spin, so the number of ways to win changes from one spin to the next.
Evolution describes reels that fit two to seven symbols each. Six reels showing seven symbols give 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways, the maximum BTG and Evolution quote for the mechanic.
BTG calls the system patented and licenses it to other studios. Evolution says hundreds of developers now hold a licence.
Was Bonanza or Dragon Born the First Megaways Game?
BTG's own pages name both. Its Dragon Born page calls that game "a world's first in math design" featuring Megaways, while a March 2026 post on its news page calls Bonanza, from 2016, the original Megaways game.
Who Owns Big Time Gaming?
Evolution owns Big Time Gaming. It agreed on 12 April 2021 to buy all of BTG's shares for up to €450 million and completed the purchase on 30 June 2021.
The price was €220 million up front plus up to €230 million in earn-outs tied to BTG's earnings for 2022/23 and 2023/24, as Evolution's announcement set out. BTG's revenue for 2020 was €33 million.
Which Games on This Site Use Megaways?
Two so far: Great Rhino Megaways and Dragon Pots Megaways. Pragmatic Play made both and uses the Megaways mechanic under licence from BTG, so they are listed under Pragmatic Play rather than here.
Pragmatic Play announced the licence deal on 16 April 2020, for a sequel to its 2018 slot Great Rhino (Pragmatic Play's announcement). Great Rhino Megaways followed on 30 April 2020 as its first Megaways slot.
A licensee can shape the grid its own way. Great Rhino Megaways holds up to 7 symbols on reels 1 and 6 and up to 8 on reels 2 to 5, which gives 7 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 7 = 200,704 ways.
What Are Big Time Gaming Slots Like to Play?
Expect high volatility: long runs of small or no wins, broken by rare large ones. Evolution says Bonanza, Extra Chilli, Lil Devil and Danger High Voltage built the studio's name for that style, and BTG rates its 2026 releases Monopoly Money and Extra Chilli More Chilli as very high volatility.
Not every game uses Megaways: Danger High Voltage has 4,096 ways. Extra Chilli More Chilli, launched in September 2026, has an RTP of up to 96.45% and a 30,000x max win.
BTG's figures do not always agree. Its Monopoly Money launch post gives an RTP of up to 96.58%, while the game's own page lists 96.39% to 96.45%. Check the RTP in the game's info screen at your casino before you play.
Pros and Cons
Top Pros
- Invented Megaways, now licensed to other studios
- Clear ownership: part of Evolution since June 2021
- Carried by 22 of the casinos we review
Major Cons
- Its best-known games are high volatility, with long dry spells
- RTP figures differ between its own pages for some games
Our Verdict on Big Time Gaming
BTG's biggest mark on slots is Megaways, which now runs in games from other studios, Great Rhino Megaways among them.
Its own games suit players who accept high volatility and long dry spells for the chance of a large win. Every slot carries a built-in house edge, and no ways count changes that, so set a budget before you play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Evolution agreed to buy Big Time Gaming in April 2021 and completed the deal on 30 June 2021. BTG keeps its own name, and its 2026 releases still name founder Nik Robinson as chief executive.
No. Pragmatic Play is a separate studio. It licenses the Megaways mechanic from BTG and first used it in Great Rhino Megaways, released on 30 April 2020.
It changes on every spin, because each reel shows a different number of symbols. BTG quotes up to 117,649 ways for the mechanic, and licensees can build bigger grids: Great Rhino Megaways reaches 200,704.
22 of the casinos we review carry BTG games. The casino list near the top of this page shows them with their welcome offers and links to each review.