Wild West Gold Megaways: Pragmatic Play’s Western Thrill Ride at Betbits

Wild West Gold has long been a crowd-favorite slot from Pragmatic Play, cherished for its bold high-volatility gameplay and iconic Western theming. Now, the gunslinging action returns with Wild West Gold Megaways, turning up the heat by packing more reels and variable rows into an already explosive formula. Whether you’re drawn in by the swirling desert backdrop, the swirling potential of Megaways mechanics, or the rowdy prospect of sticky wild multipliers, there’s plenty for Western enthusiasts to enjoy. And if you want to play without delay, Betbits is standing by to accept quick deposits – including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Cake, Ripple, Tether USD, USDC, BNB, and Shiba – to get you spinning the reels faster than a tumbleweed rolls.

Game Setup & Theme

Upgraded Megaways Grid

Pragmatic Play’s signature Western vibe retains its gritty style, now stretched across a 6-reel Megaways format where each reel can contain 2 to 7 symbols. When reels are at maximum size, you’ll enjoy up to 117,649 ways to form winning combos. Notably, cascades aren’t in play here, meaning each spin can produce a one-shot result before moving on.

Adjusted Atmosphere & Sound

Wild West Gold Megaways keeps the same dusty frontier aesthetic of the original, but the soundtrack gets a fresh coat of “gritty West.” Rather than the lively saloon pianos from before, the game’s audio dips into more dramatic Western notes, matching the high-risk gun-slinging action at hand.

Paytable & Symbols

You’ll find many of the same iconic Western symbols from the previous version, including:

• Low Pays (10–A): Brass-studded royals awarding 0.25–0.3x the stake for 6-of-a-kind combos
• Premiums (Gun, Gold Bag, Four Outlaws): Each line can yield 0.4–1x for 6-of-a-kind
• Wild Symbol: A sheriff’s badge on reels 2–5, carrying random multipliers of x2, x3, or x5. If multiple wilds appear in the same winning combo, their multipliers multiply each other for a grand boost.

Wins occur when at least three matching symbols land in adjacent reels starting from the leftmost reel. Despite being a Megaways game, there’s no tumble or cascade mechanic, so you collect your line payouts outright before proceeding.

Special Features

Ante Bet

For an additional 25% cost on top of your current stake, you can enable the Ante Bet mode. This feature increases the frequency of scatter symbols, amplifying your chances of hitting free spins. Note, however, that the RTP might shift slightly to 96.41% in this mode compared to a standard max of 96.44%.

Free Spins with Sticky Wilds

Land 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols (gold star icons) to unlock:

• 7 free spins plus a payout worth 4x, 20x, 100x, or 500x the stake depending on how many scatters triggered the feature.

During free spins:

• Sticky Multiplier Wilds: Any wild you land sticks on the reel for the duration of the bonus. Its size may vary if the row configuration changes on subsequent spins, but it remains locked in place. As in the base game, each wild can have a multiplier of x2, x3, or x5, and these values combine for explosive results.
• Extra Spins: Each time you land 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 gold star symbols, you gain +2, +3, +4, +5, or +6 additional spins respectively. There’s no stated upper limit, so if your luck flows, you could significantly extend the bonus round.

Bonus Buy

If you don’t care to wait for a natural scatter drop, you can pay 100x your base stake to jump directly into free spins mode. Doing so adjusts the RTP marginally up to 96.45% and guarantees you’ll see 3–6 scatters on that spin.

Math Model & Potential

High Volatility

Pragmatic Play rates Wild West Gold Megaways as 5/5 volatility, indicating a highly unpredictable session with the potential for either huge hits or extended dry spells. While the base game can be somewhat uneven without cascades, the free spins can be absolutely thrilling due to sticky multiplier wilds.

Maximum Win: 5,000x

A crucial difference from the original is that the Megaways version tops out at 5,000x the stake (versus the 6,750x figure from the predecessor). It’s still considerable, but some hardcore players might find it underwhelming for a Megaways product, especially in a fiercely competitive Western-themed market. Nonetheless, 5,000x is a decent enough prize for many high volatility fans.

Why Play Wild West Gold Megaways?

1. Sticky Multiplier Wilds: The main selling point: epic combos can form, particularly in free spins when these wilds remain locked.
2. Unlimited Retriggers: Each scatter pay triggers extra free spins, so a single bonus can become quite long and potentially lucrative.
3. Bonus Buy Option: Non-UK players can skip the base game waiting and pay up front for immediate free spins.
4. Streamlined Gameplay: No cascades means each spin is straightforward, and wins can be tallied quickly.
5. Crypto Compatibility at Betbits: Rapid deposits via Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Cake, Ripple, Tether USD, USDC, BNB, or Shiba ensure a frictionless route into the heat of the frontier.

Final Verdict

While Wild West Gold Megaways might not push the Megaways concept to new frontiers, it still retains the entertaining, bigger-than-life tension that makes the original so beloved. The lack of cascading wins may disappoint those who expect standard Megaways conventions. Yet the sticky wild multipliers remain a real highlight – especially once you enter the free spins, ramping up excitement with each locked wild reel. True, the maximum potential has dipped slightly, but that doesn’t negate how intense the overall experience can be. For fans of Western-themed reels or anyone who enjoyed Wild West Gold originally, this follow-up is worth at least a round of spins.

If you’re ready to strap on your virtual spurs and hunt for big wins, Betbits provides a convenient platform. Not only can you deposit using multiple cryptocurrencies quickly, you can also enjoy the full range of high-volatility thrill that Wild West Gold Megaways has in store. Get ready to holler “yee-haw!” as the reels spin and those sticky wild multipliers align for a shot at gold-laden fortunes.