Play the Christmas Carol Megaways demo for free
Try the Christmas Carol Megaways demo below before you read the review. It is a free slot you can play for free with no real money at stake, so it is a safe way to try before you play for real. 18+ only.
Christmas Carol Megaways is a festive Pragmatic Play slot that uses the Megaways engine for a Dickens-inspired Christmas story. It has six reels, tumbling wins and up to 200,704 ways to win, and its free spins carry a multiplier that rises with every tumble, with a maximum win of 20,000x. You can play the Christmas Carol Megaways demo for free at the top of this page.
This review covers the RTP figures reported, the volatility rating, the 20,000x maximum win in pounds, the ways to win figure, the multiplier that grows in free spins, and the release date that sources give two ways. It sits with our Pragmatic Play slots hub, and it is a Megaways cousin of our Buffalo King Megaways and 5 Lions Megaways reviews.
Christmas Carol Megaways at a glance
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Provider | Pragmatic Play (Megaways licensed from Big Time Gaming) |
| Released | 26 November 2020 (one source, another says 15 November 2020) |
| Layout | 6 reels, up to 8 rows, up to 200,704 ways, with tumbles |
| RTP | 96.58% (96.50%, 96.48%, 96.47% and 95.59% also reported) |
| Volatility | High (5 out of 5, one source says very high) |
| Maximum win | 20,000x the stake |
| Stakes | From 20p, with the top stake reported as 100 or £5 |
| Free spins multiplier | Base multiplier rises by 1 with each tumble |
| Bonus buy | Reported by two sources, with no cost given |
| Hit frequency | Not published in the sources we checked |
Overview
The slot is a remake of a holiday story with a fairly simple structure. The stingy character is the centrepiece, and the Megaways engine changes the number of ways on every spin. One reviewer says Pragmatic Play picked a good story to remake for holiday audiences, and another calls it one of the studio’s most enduring holiday releases.
The main attraction is the cap. Compared with the 5,000x cap of 5 Lions Megaways, 20,000x is high, and one review calls it exceptional for a Megaways slot. The multiplier that grows with each tumble is what makes that cap reachable in theory.
How to play and stakes
The game is played on six reels where the number of symbols changes on each spin. Sources say up to seven symbols on the first and sixth reels and up to eight on the others, which gives up to 200,704 ways to win. One structured listing shows 117,649, which does not match the rest. Wins pay from left to right and winning symbols tumble away so new ones can drop in.
Stakes start at 20p and run to 100 according to most sources. Two sources give a top stake of £5 or $5, which is likely to reflect UK or US limits. Check the game information screen at your casino for the limit that applies.
RTP and the versions you may meet
RTP is the least settled figure. Most sources list 96.58% as the top version, several give 96.50%, and two give 96.48%. One source says the RTP varies with the ante bet, from a minimum of 96.47% to a maximum of 96.58%. Another gives 95.59%, which does not match the rest.
Operators can choose which version to run, so the percentage you see here is a reference point and not a promise about the version at your casino. The RTP describes the long-run return across a very large number of spins and tells you little about a short session.
Volatility
Most sources say high. One gives 5 out of 5 on the studio’s scale and another describes it as very high. We treat it as a high-swing slot, and one review says it can take a little longer before wins land, but the patient can win big.
If you prefer frequent small returns, this is probably not the slot for you.
Max win and what it is worth in pounds
Every source we checked gives the maximum win as 20,000x the stake. One casino listing converts the cap into 2,000,000 euros at a stake of 100, which is the same multiple at its top stake. One source says the cap is reached with the highest increasing multiplier.
In pounds, 20,000x is £20,000 on a £1 stake, £100,000 on a £5 stake and £2,000,000 on a £100 stake, if your casino allows a stake that high. That is simple multiplication, not a figure from the studio.
Tumbles and the growing multiplier
Every winning spin tumbles, with new symbols replacing the winners. In the free spins, you choose a bonus round with a base multiplier, and that multiplier rises by 1 with each consecutive tumble. One source says the increase has no limit, which is why the cap is described as unlimited in theory.
We did not find a verified number of free spins or a trigger count, so we have left them out. Check the in-game rules for the options available.
Bonus buy and ante bet
Two sources say a bonus buy is available, so you can enter the free spins without waiting for the scatters. One source says the ante bet doubles your chance to win by raising the stake. No cost was given in the sources we checked, so we do not state one. Availability and cost can vary by casino and region, so check the game information screen.
Symbols and paytable
The game uses characters from the Christmas story, with one source mentioning colossal symbols in its feature list. We have not given paytable values, because the sources we checked do not publish them in a form we could verify. The paytable inside the game is the reliable source for symbol payouts at your stake.
Hit frequency and win rate
No hit frequency, free spins frequency or max win probability is published in the sources we checked, and two catalogues list the max win probability as unknown or not available. We do not give any figures.
The demo above is the best way to feel how often the bonus arrives, although a short session will not tell you the long-run rate.
Is Christmas Carol Megaways enjoyable? Our verdict
Christmas Carol Megaways is a good fit for players who want a festive Megaways slot with a high ceiling. The RTP is above average at the top setting, the growing multiplier gives the free spins a real build and the 20,000x cap is generous for the engine. The volatility is high, the free spins can take a while to arrive and the RTP depends on the version, so try the demo first.
For another Megaways slot, try our 5 Lions Megaways review, or for a bigger-cap relative, our Buffalo King Megaways review. Gambling should be fun and 18+ only. Set limits before you play.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A 20,000x max win, high for a Megaways slot.
- A multiplier that rises with every tumble in free spins.
- A bonus buy and an ante bet for flexibility.
Cons
- High volatility with free spins that can take a while.
- The RTP depends on the version and sources disagree.
- Sources disagree on the release date and ways to win.
Christmas Carol Megaways FAQ
What is the RTP of Christmas Carol Megaways?
The top version is 96.58% in most sources. Others give 96.50%, 96.48% or 95.59%. Operators can choose which version to run, so check the game information at your casino.
How volatile is Christmas Carol Megaways?
High, and one source gives 5 out of 5. Another says very high.
What is the maximum win on Christmas Carol Megaways?
20,000x the stake. That is £20,000 at a £1 stake and £100,000 at a £5 stake.
How many ways to win does Christmas Carol Megaways have?
Up to 200,704 according to most sources, and 117,649 in one structured listing.
What are the stakes on Christmas Carol Megaways?
From 20p to 100 according to most sources. Two give a top stake of £5 or $5, so check your casino.
How does the free spins multiplier work?
You choose a bonus round with a base multiplier, and it rises by 1 with each consecutive tumble.
Is there a bonus buy on Christmas Carol Megaways?
Yes according to two sources. No cost was given in the sources we checked.
What does the ante bet do?
One source says it doubles your chance to win by raising the stake, and another says the RTP varies with it.
How often does Christmas Carol Megaways pay?
No hit frequency is published in the sources we checked.
When was Christmas Carol Megaways released?
26 November 2020 according to one source and 15 November 2020 according to another.
Can I play the Christmas Carol Megaways demo for free?
Yes. The Christmas Carol Megaways demo at the top of this page is free to play and uses no real money. It is for over-18s only. A short demo session tells you little about the long-run return that the RTP describes.
Is there a free play version of Christmas Carol Megaways for UK players?
The free demo above is the free play version, so you can try before you play for real. Check the game information at your casino for the RTP version and stake limits that apply to you.
How we checked the figures
- RTP, volatility, max win, ways, stakes and features: GG.co.uk, Casinos.com, GamesHub, Reflections on Culture, AboutSlots, Vegas Slots Online, FluffySpins, Slots Temple, SlotsJudge and Clash of Slots game pages, compared for conflicts and read on 5 October 2026.
- Release dates: Reflections on Culture and Clash of Slots, which disagree. RTP range with the ante bet: AboutSlots only.
- Where sources disagree we say so. The Pragmatic Play game page was not used for any figure, so none is confirmed with the studio.
- Maximum win in pounds is 20,000 multiplied by the stake.