Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways is the tenth title in Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass family and the one that departs furthest from the original layout. Instead of five reels and ten lines, it uses six ever-changing reels with up to 147,456 ways to win, cascading wins, mystery symbols and two separate bonuses. The maximum win is listed at 20,000x, which matches Big Bass Bonanza 1000 and sits below only the 25,000x of Big Bass Splash 1000 in this review batch.
It is a big, busy game compared with the original, and the headline RTP is higher than most of the series. This review explains how the pieces fit together, what the provider confirms, and where the figures come from third parties.
Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways at a glance
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| Provider | Reel Kingdom, published by Pragmatic Play (Megaways engine licensed from Big Time Gaming) |
| Release | August 2023 |
| Layout | 6 reels, with up to 147,456 ways to win |
| RTP | 96.70% (stated on Pragmatic Play’s page). Third-party trackers report 95.69% and 94.62% versions too |
| Volatility | High, rated 5 out of 5 by several reviewers |
| Max win | 20,000x your total stake (third-party sources and OLBG) |
| UK stakes | From £0.20. UK caps are £2 for ages 18 to 24 and £5 for ages 25 and over |
| Bonuses | Free spins with unlimited retriggers, plus a hold and spin bonus |
| Hit frequency | Not officially published. AboutSlots and BigWinBoard list about 1 in 5 spins (20%) |
| Free spins frequency | Not officially published. AboutSlots lists about 1 in 319 spins |
How to play and stakes
You set one total stake and spin. There are no fixed paylines. A win needs matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, and the number of ways depends on how many symbols each reel shows. According to Pragmatic Play, winning symbols are removed so that new ones can cascade in and potentially create further wins. Mystery symbols can land and turn into a matching symbol to help form wins.
The minimum stake is £0.20, which is higher than the £0.10 of the standard Big Bass games. UK-licensed casinos cap slot stakes at £2 for 18 to 24 year olds and £5 for players aged 25 and over. Some trackers quote a global maximum of 250, which does not apply to UK players.
| UK stake per spin | Max win at 20,000x |
|---|---|
| £0.20 | £4,000 |
| £1 | £20,000 |
| £2 | £40,000 |
| £5 | £100,000 |
Reviewers mention two bonus buys in some markets. Availability depends on the casino and jurisdiction, and UK players should not assume they are offered.
RTP: which version?
Pragmatic Play lists 96.70% on its game page. AboutSlots, BigWinBoard and Fruityslots also report two lower settings, 95.69% and 94.62%, which fits the usual Pragmatic Play pattern. We could not confirm the lower versions on the provider’s page, so they are third-party reports. UK casinos can run different RTP settings from the headline figure, so check the information screen in your casino’s version before you play.
Volatility
OLBG’s Big Bass guide and several reviewers rate it high, with 5 out of 5 cited on some sites. The Megaways engine and cascades keep the hit frequency high, but most wins are small, and the large results come from the two bonuses. Expect plenty of low-value action with heavy swings once a feature starts.
Max win
The listed maximum is 20,000x your total stake, which several reviewers say is available in the base game, free spins and the hold and spin bonus. Pragmatic Play’s page does not state the figure, so it rests on third-party sources including OLBG. We found no named, reliable figure for the probability of reaching the cap, so we do not quote one.
Features and bonus rounds
Megaways and cascades
The six reels change shape from spin to spin, and Pragmatic Play says there are up to 147,456 paylines at maximum. Reviewers add that a second set of rows sits above reels two to five and unlocks at random, so only symbols on unlocked rows count in wins. Cascades remove winning symbols and drop new ones into place.
Free spins with unlimited retriggers
The provider says the iconic multiplier and retrigger free spins have been upgraded to award unlimited retriggers. That is a major change from the original, where the feature could only retrigger three times.
Hold and spin bonus
In the second bonus, Pragmatic Play says players get three spins to land more instant cash prizes, with each win resetting the spins. Reviewers say the cash values can reach up to 2,000x your stake, which we have not verified.
Bonus buys
Third-party sites list buy options for both bonuses, but they are not something UK players should expect.
Symbols and paytable
Pragmatic Play describes matching rods, lures and fishing equipment symbols across the ways to win. A published paytable is not available on the public page, and with Megaways the payouts depend on the ways and symbols on each spin. Check the in-game paytable at your casino for exact values.
Win rate and hit frequency
Pragmatic Play does not publish a hit frequency. AboutSlots lists a hit frequency of 20% (one in five spins) and a free spins frequency of about 1 in 319 spins, and BigWinBoard also lists a hit frequency of 1 in 5. OLBG’s Big Bass guide, which SlotPal’s hit rates guide for Big Bass and Eye of Horus draws on, gives the same 1 in 5 and 1 in 319 for the free spins, so the figures agree across named sources.
Be careful with comparisons: a high hit frequency here reflects cascades and a wide spread of small wins, not a more generous game. The bonus is far rarer than in the standard Big Bass games, which OLBG lists at roughly 1 in 113.
Is Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways enjoyable?
SlotPal’s verdict is based on the game’s mechanics, the provider’s statements and independent data, not on a long personal play session.
For players who find the original too quiet, this is the busiest game in the family. Cascades and mystery symbols keep things moving, and unlimited retriggers make the free spins feel like an open-ended event instead of a fixed ladder. The cost is complexity and rarity. The free spins arrive roughly once every 319 spins by AboutSlots’ count, so patience matters.
Verdict: the best choice in this batch for players who want constant movement and a high ceiling, and who accept that the bonus rounds are rare. If you prefer a simple format, the original Big Bass Bonanza is easier to follow.
How we checked the figures
- RTP (96.70%), layout, cascades, mystery symbols, unlimited retriggers and hold and spin rules: Pragmatic Play’s game page.
- Max win, volatility and free spins frequency: OLBG and AboutSlots.
- Alternative RTP settings, hit frequency and cash value range: AboutSlots, BigWinBoard and Hideous Slots (third-party).
- UK stake caps: UK Gambling Commission rules for online slots.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Megaways reels and cascades keep the base game active
- Unlimited free spins retriggers
- Two bonus routes in one game
- Headline RTP of 96.70% is above the series average
- 20,000x maximum win
Cons
- Free spins are rare, about 1 in 319 spins per AboutSlots
- Higher minimum stake of £0.20
- More complex than the original
- Lower RTP settings exist at some casinos
- Many wins are small despite the high hit frequency
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTP of Big Bass Hold & Spinner Megaways?
Pragmatic Play lists 96.70%. Third-party trackers also report 95.69% and 94.62% versions, so check the information screen at your casino.
What is the maximum win?
20,000x your total stake, according to OLBG and other reviewers. At a UK £5 stake that is £100,000.
How many ways to win are there?
Up to 147,456 at maximum, according to Pragmatic Play. The number changes from spin to spin.
Are retriggers limited?
Pragmatic Play says the free spins now award unlimited retriggers, unlike the original game.
How does the hold and spin bonus work?
Pragmatic Play says players get three spins to land more instant cash prizes, and each win resets the spins.
How often do wins and the bonus occur?
AboutSlots lists about 1 in 5 spins for a win and 1 in 319 for the free spins. These are third-party estimates, not official figures.
What are the UK stake limits?
UK casinos cap slot stakes at £2 for ages 18 to 24 and £5 for ages 25 and over. The minimum on this game is usually £0.20.
Is it more volatile than the original?
Yes. It is rated high, and the free spins are much rarer than the roughly 1 in 113 listed for the original by OLBG.
Is there a bonus buy for UK players?
Reviewers mention two buy options in some markets, but UK players should not assume they are offered. Check the game menu.
Can I play a free demo?
Yes, the demo above uses play money. It runs on a global server and shows dollars, so details may differ from a UK pound version.
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