Big Bass Bonanza Megaways takes the original fisherman slot and rebuilds it on a six-reel Megaways layout. It launched in November 2021, built by Reel Kingdom and published by Pragmatic Play, and offers up to 46,656 ways to win with cascading wins. The collect-and-retrigger free spins are kept, with a larger spin count and money symbols worth up to 4,000x.
The maximum win is 4,000x, nearly double the original, but it remains modest for a Megaways game. This review checks what Pragmatic Play states, flags the hit frequency figures that conflict, and explains what the UK RTP situation looks like.
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways at a glance
| Detail | What we found |
|---|---|
| Provider | Reel Kingdom, published by Pragmatic Play (Megaways engine licensed from Big Time Gaming) |
| Release | November 2021 |
| Layout | 6 reels, up to 46,656 ways to win, with an extra horizontal reel above the main grid |
| RTP | 96.70% (stated on Pragmatic Play’s page). Third-party trackers report 95.66% and 94.62% versions too |
| Volatility | High, rated 5 out of 5 by several reviewers |
| Max win | 4,000x your total stake (third-party sources; not stated on the Pragmatic Play page) |
| Money symbol values | Up to 4,000x your total stake |
| UK stakes | From £0.20. UK caps are £2 for ages 18 to 24 and £5 for ages 25 and over |
| Free spins | 3, 4, 5 or 6 scatters award 10, 15, 20 or 25 free spins |
| Hit frequency | Not officially published. Figures from third parties conflict, see below |
How to play and stakes
Set your total stake and spin. There are no fixed paylines. Wins form from matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the left, and the number of ways changes with the symbols showing on each reel, up to 46,656. Reviewers describe five main reels plus a horizontal row of four symbols above them, and the game reaches its top number of ways when everything is active.
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 sites quote a global maximum of 100, which does not apply in the UK.
| UK stake per spin | Max win at 4,000x |
|---|---|
| £0.20 | £800 |
| £1 | £4,000 |
| £2 | £8,000 |
| £5 | £20,000 |
One tracker lists no bonus buy for this game, while another mentions buy options, so availability is unclear. UK players should not assume one is offered.
RTP: which version?
Pragmatic Play lists 96.70% on its game page. BigWinBoard and several other trackers report two lower settings, 95.66% and 94.62%, which is the usual Pragmatic Play pattern. A UK review site describes a “verified UK RTP” of 95.67%, which does not match the 95.66% reported elsewhere, and we could not confirm either figure from the provider. The takeaway is that UK casinos can run different RTP settings from the headline, so check the information screen in your casino’s version before you play.
Volatility
Several reviewers say Pragmatic Play rates the game 5 out of 5 for volatility, although the rating is not on the public page. One tracker calls it medium, which is out of line with the rest. The Megaways structure produces frequent small wins, while the large results come from the free spins. Expect a swingy game that pays out unevenly.
Max win
The widely reported maximum win is 4,000x your total stake. Hideous Slots notes that a spin or feature ends and 4,000x is paid if the total would go above that level. Pragmatic Play’s page does not state the cap, but it does say money symbols can reach 4,000x, so a single top symbol would hit the ceiling by itself. We found no reliable probability for reaching it, so we do not quote one. Several reviewers describe 4,000x as low for a Megaways game.
Features and bonus rounds
Megaways and cascades
The reels change shape each spin. Reviewers describe cascading wins, where winning symbols are removed and new ones drop in.
Free spins
Three, four, five or six scatters award 10, 15, 20 or 25 free spins, according to Pragmatic Play. That is a wider range than the original, which stops at five scatters and 20 spins.
Fisherman collection
During free spins the fisherman symbol collects the values of all money symbols when they land together. Money symbol values can reach 4,000x.
Retrigger ladder
Every fourth fisherman awards 10 more free spins and a multiplier of 2x, then 3x and finally 10x.
Symbols and paytable
Pragmatic Play does not publish a paytable on its public page. The symbols follow the fishing equipment and card-rank pattern of the original, and with Megaways the payouts depend on the ways formed 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, and BigWinBoard lists it as not available. One UK review site gives an approximate 14.58% without showing how it was measured. SlotPal’s existing guide to hit rates in Big Bass and Eye of Horus lists about 20 to 25% for this game and a free spins frequency of roughly 1 in 300 to 350, but the guide describes those numbers as best estimates derived from the game’s structure, not measurements.
These figures disagree with each other, and none has a named measured source behind it. The honest answer is that there is no verified hit frequency or bonus frequency for Big Bass Bonanza Megaways. Treat any single number you see with caution, including ours.
Is Big Bass Bonanza 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.
The Megaways layout keeps the base game busier than the original, and the larger free spins range gives you a little more to chase. But the combination of a modest 4,000x cap and high volatility means the upside does not match other Megaways games, which is the most common criticism in reviews. Players who want a simple Big Bass game may find the extra reel structure adds complexity without much return.
Verdict: a reasonable variation for series fans who want cascades and a higher spin count. It is not the strongest Megaways slot or the strongest Big Bass slot, and if you want a bigger ceiling, the Hold & Spinner Megaways and 1000 versions offer more.
How we checked the figures
- RTP (96.70%), free spins counts, money symbol values up to 4,000x and the retrigger rules: Pragmatic Play’s game page.
- Max win (4,000x), release date, volatility rating and stake range: BigWinBoard, Hideous Slots and other third-party reviewers.
- Alternative RTP settings: BigWinBoard and others (third-party). A “verified UK RTP” claim from one site could not be confirmed.
- Hit frequency: no verified source. Conflicting figures noted above.
- UK stake caps: UK Gambling Commission rules for online slots.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Megaways layout and cascades make the base game more active
- Up to 25 free spins
- Money symbols up to 4,000x
- Headline RTP of 96.70%
- Familiar collect and retrigger logic
Cons
- 4,000x max win is low for a Megaways slot
- Higher £0.20 minimum stake
- No verified hit frequency or bonus frequency
- Lower RTP settings exist at some casinos
- More complex than the original
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTP of Big Bass Bonanza Megaways?
Pragmatic Play lists 96.70%. Third-party trackers also report 95.66% and 94.62% versions, so check the information screen at your casino.
What is the maximum win?
4,000x your total stake. At a UK £5 stake that is £20,000.
How many ways to win are there?
Up to 46,656, and the number changes with the symbols showing on each spin.
How many free spins can I win?
Three, four, five or six scatters award 10, 15, 20 or 25 free spins, according to Pragmatic Play.
How do the multipliers work?
Every fourth fisherman collected awards 10 more free spins and a multiplier of 2x, then 3x and finally 10x.
How big can money symbols get?
Up to 4,000x your total stake, according to Pragmatic Play.
What is the hit frequency?
There is no officially published or reliably measured figure, and third-party numbers conflict.
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 is usually £0.20.
How does it differ from the original Big Bass Bonanza?
It uses Megaways reels and cascades, offers up to 25 free spins and has a 4,000x max win against 2,100x. It also has a slightly lower headline RTP of 96.70% against 96.71%.
Is there a bonus buy for UK players?
Sources disagree about whether a buy option exists, and UK players should not assume one is offered.
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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