Bonanza Slot Review 2026 – What You Need to Know

Bonanza Megaways runs on six reels, but here’s the twist – each reel shows anywhere from two to seven symbols per spin. This creates a constantly shifting number of ways to win. Instead of traditional paylines, you need three or more matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the left.

The mining theme comes through with gemstone symbols as your high-value icons, while playing cards from 9 to Ace fill out the lower values. There’s a mining cart that rolls above reels two through five, dropping extra symbols into play during regular spins. The graphics do their job across different screen sizes, though the 3D effects won’t win any awards compared to newer releases.

What makes this slot tick is the Megaways system itself. You get between 64 and 117,649 ways to win based on how many symbols land on each reel. One spin might give you minimal winning paths, while the next could open up thousands. This constant variation keeps you guessing about what’s coming next.

Though Big Time Gaming may not have intended to capture the Canadian gold rush specifically, this game still carries plenty of Wild West and Gold Mine personality. It’s a fast-paced game with a mountain backdrop that captures the unforgiving Wild West theme. The 3D graphics, cascading reels, and Megaways mechanic make it a must-play for any ambitious player.

The game takes place in an old mountain mine filled with gems and gold. The reels are surrounded by rocky cliffs and a distant waterfall, creating a sense of exploration and adventure. As expected, the reels feature precious mining gems like diamonds and emeralds.

Audiovisual information:

• Theme: Wild West
• Layout:6x 2-7
• Software: Big Time Gaming

Bonanza uses a Megaways engine, which is visible in the top-right corner of the grid. Like other Megaways slots, it uses six reels, each able to accommodate 2-7 symbols. This means the number of winning ways continues to change with every spin. You can unlock the 117,649 winning ways if you land seven mining symbols on each reel.

To create a winning combination, at least three matching symbols need to land on adjacent reels. The low-paying symbols are the 9-A card letters, which can reward you with 0.1 to 1.75x your bet when at least three land on other reels. The gemstones, on the other hand, are the high-value symbols and can significantly boost your winnings.

RTP and volatility

RTP (return to player) and volatility are critical because they determine how often you can win a payout. That said, the RTP of the Bonanza is 96%, which is on par with the industry standard. This can increase to 96.11% when using the Bonus Buy option.

Its volatility is very high. This means you shouldn’t expect to strike luck in the mining field with every spin. Remember, all these are just theoretical numbers. So, anything can happen during gameplay.

The cascading reels (called “Reactions” here) let winning symbols explode and new ones drop in, potentially creating multiple wins from one spin. But don’t let this fool you into seeing patterns where none exist – each cascade is its own independent event.

During regular play, you’ll see plenty of small wins from those card symbols. Problem is, once the cascades finish, these wins often don’t even cover your original bet. The mining cart drops symbols randomly, but it doesn’t really change how often you hit meaningful wins.

As advertised, the slot volatility can be high, so I advise managing your budget by starting with lower stakes, and gambling responsibly. It took me a couple of spins before hitting my first win. The mining cart dropped a wild dynamite, which exploded on the reels to help me complete winning combos.

Getting four scatter symbols triggers free spins, but with the variable reel heights in Megaways, this happens less often than in standard slots with similar scatter requirements. When you do trigger it, the unlimited multiplier becomes your ticket to big wins – or plain old disappointment. Some bonus rounds fizzle out with barely any multiplier growth, while others can explode into massive payouts. As with all slot games, though, it all comes down to luck and chance.

I was lucky to land four gold symbols to enter the lucrative Free Spins mode. Here, the action moved inside the dark mines, where the multipliers keep increasing by 1x every time you win. Note that the multipliers can increase infinitely during the free spin rounds. Even better, you can get 12 respins when you land five GOLD scatters during a spin.

The engineers at Big Time Gaming did their homework to provide an action-packed game with plenty of exciting features. The free spin mode can be especially rewarding as the multiplier increases with every reaction. However, play responsibly and with a budget because this slot can be highly volatile.

Bonanza Megaways works for players who:

• Accept that high volatility means long losing streaks are part of the deal
• Chase big win potential rather than steady small returns
• Have enough bankroll to survive 100+ spins without seeing the bonus
• Enjoy complex mechanics and changing reel configurations
• Can stick to predetermined loss limits despite those exciting cascading wins

Skip this slot if you:

• Want regular, predictable winning patterns
• Have a limited bankroll but expect long playing sessions
• Find fast-paced games hard to follow
• Think cascading wins mean the machine is “heating up”
• Get frustrated by near-miss scatter combinations

The game’s speed and visual feedback can make time fly by without you noticing – external timers can help you manage your gaming sessions.

Several design choices in this online slot deserve special attention:

Those cascading reels create multiple outcomes from one paid spin, which can hide the real cost-per-result ratio. Five cascades from a single spin might feel like five separate wins, even when you’ve actually lost money overall.

The unlimited free spins multiplier can deliver huge wins, creating a powerful memory that has the potential to overshadows your losing sessions. Players often overvalue that one great bonus round when deciding whether to keep playing, forgetting that each session stands alone mathematically.

Buying the bonus feature lets you skip the base game entirely but concentrates all your risk into potentially expensive single spins. Keep purchasing features without adequate returns, and your losses accelerate dramatically.

Smart safeguards include:

• Set firm loss limits before starting, accounting for the high volatility
• Use timers to combat the time distortion from rapid gameplay
• Track your spins and bonus frequency to keep expectations realistic
• Only buy the bonus if losing that amount won’t hurt
• Remember cascading wins don’t predict what happens next

If you enjoyed Bonanza’s twisty tunnels and explosive Megaways, dig into more mining-inspired adventures. From heart-pounding reels deep underground to gold-studded bonus rounds, our online slot reviews expert team suggests the following titles:

• Extra Chilli Megaways
• 9 Pots of Gold
• Gold Rush
• Double Diamond