Bonanza

First Impressions

Picture this: a ramshackle wooden cabin creaks by a tumbling water wheel, high up in green, flower-dappled hills somewhere in gold rush country. That’s the world you land in with Bonanza slot—a mining-themed, Wild West adventure full of chunky jewels, spinning rocks, and dynamite action. The soundtrack is all banjo twang and upbeat foot-stomp, cranked to match the game’s pace. Bonanza doesn’t go for cartoon silliness or super modern gloss; instead, it’s all about warm colours, chunky stone symbols, and that old-school mining feel that’s easy to sink into after a long day. Big Time Gaming, the brains behind this hit, first shook things up with Bonanza back in 2016—introducing Megaways before everyone else raced to copy the formula.

How Bonanza Actually Plays

Forget the classic grid you’re used to. Bonanza slot runs on six main reels, each showing two to seven symbols per spin, with a horizontal cart reel bumping along the top to add extra symbols (and a healthy dose of reel chaos). That means every spin gives a new reel setup, and the number of ways you can win—up to a whopping 117,649—jumps all over the place. Instead of fixed paylines, you just need matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the left. It’s wild at first, but surprisingly easy to get into after a few rounds.

Betting starts low enough for casual players (usually around €0.20) and climbs up high enough to attract the high-stakes crowd (sometimes as much as €20 or more per spin, depending on casino settings). The RTP clocks in at a very fair 96%, lining up with most big-name slots out there. As for the volatility, it sits at medium-high territory. Expect some dry patches, then a shower of wins—sometimes big, sometimes more of a trickle. You feel the swings, especially when the multipliers come out to play and suddenly your screen lights up by surprise. Autoplay and turbo spin modes both exist if you like to let things roll without clicking every time.

Bonus Features Worth Digging For

Bonanza doesn’t screw around with tiny features or endless gimmicks. The entire setup is built for those who want big swings and the occasional avalanche of wins. The wild symbol is a stick of dynamite, blasting away to sub in for anything except the scatter (no expanding or sticky tricks—straight-up wilds here). For the real fun, land the four G, O, L, and D scatter symbols (spelling out GOLD right on the reels), and you’re catapulted into the free spins bonus round with 12 spins. Every extra scatter over the initial four lines up more free spins.

Here’s where Bonanza’s reputation was made: every time you hit a win during free spins, the multiplier ratchets up by 1—no limits, no ceiling. The more wins cascade, the bigger those multipliers get… as high as the game can take you. Add to that a retrigger mechanic—land three scatters, get 5 more free spins; four, and you snag another 10. For those who like progressive momentum in bonus rounds, Bonanza hands out the goods and never stops increasing the juice until your spins run out.

Symbols, Looks, and Payouts

If you’re new to the Megaways system, Bonanza’s grid might look busy, but the symbols are pretty straightforward. The standout big-payers are hunks of gemstone: purple diamonds top the chart, delivering 50x your stake for a six-symbol hit (don’t expect this every day—it’s like finding a nugget in the creek). Red, blue, and green gems trail after, giving modest but solid returns. Then you’ve got the classic 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A symbols lining the reels as the lower pays—think of these as the bedrock for more frequent, smaller connections.

The wild sticks with the dynamite theme, easy to spot and shows up only on the extended cart reel up top. Scatters spell out GOLD—once you see all four, you’ll know it, trust me. Animation-wise, everything feels bouncy and vibrant, with sparkling effects when you smash a big cascade together. The sound clicks and clacks match every jewel drop, and when those multipliers pop off during the bonus, the game doesn’t hold back on the excitement. Winning isn’t just about the base game—it’s those huge chains during bonuses where Bonanza really hits its stride.

How to Set Up and Play

Getting started on Bonanza is pretty simple, even if it doesn’t look that way. Find your stake amount with the arrows, hit spin, and you’re off—no need to worry about paylines or adjusting win lines. If you want to see how much symbols are worth, or what triggers the bonus, just tap the menu icon and check the paytable. The game spins fast, especially in turbo mode, and the first thing you’ll notice: every spin can look totally different.

Wins drop in with any three (sometimes two for specific symbols) matching icons on consecutive reels, left to right. After every win, those symbols explode away and fresh ones tumble down, sometimes leading to chains of payouts in a single spin—classic cascading action. If you’re not sure what’s happening, check the demo: Bonanza free play versions are everywhere and an easy way to practice before risking real cash.

If You Like Bonanza...

Mining fans and Megaways junkies will find plenty more games where Bonanza came from. If you want a similar mechanic with a slight twist, Diamond Mine Megaways or White Rabbit (both from Big Time Gaming) crank up the action—try White Rabbit if you’re in the mood for expanding reels during bonus rounds. Buffalo Rising Megaways, from another developer, keeps the up-to-117,649 ways feel but puts a wild western animal spin on things. For a more traditional look, check out Where’s the Gold, or if cascading wins are your jam, NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest is the crowd favorite.

Plenty of casinos offer Bonanza demo and Bonanza free play, so try before you commit. It’s the best way to get a feel for the volatility and those cascading reels.

Bottom Line

For anyone craving a genuinely different slot—with unpredictable grid layouts and the raw adrenaline of unpredictable wins—Bonanza is still the benchmark. Even years after launch, it’s the game slot fans recommend when someone asks for real Megaways excitement. The combination of its mining theme, explosive visuals, and ever-increasing multipliers hits the sweet spot between nostalgia and innovation. Bonanza isn’t just another slot with a fancy name—it’s the game that started the Megaways revolution, and playing it gives you a taste of why.