The Dog House Megaways

The Dog House Megaways is a 6-reel slot from Pragmatic Play that uses the Megaways engine to replace fixed paylines with up to 117,649 ways to win. Released in 2020 as a sequel to the original The Dog House, it keeps the sticky multiplier wild mechanic from the first game and adds the reel expansion of Megaways on top. RTP is 96.55%, volatility is high, and the max win is 12,305x stake.

This review covers the numbers, the mechanics, how the bonus plays out, and how the Megaways version compares to the original.

The Dog House Megaways at a Glance

• Developer: Pragmatic Play
• Release date: 2020
• Reels: 6
• Ways to win: Up to 117,649
• RTP: 96.55%
• Volatility: High
• Max win: 12,305x your stake
• Bet range: £0.20 - £100 per spin
• Bonus feature: Free spins with sticky multiplier wilds
• Mobile: Yes, HTML5

RTP and Volatility

The Dog House Megaways runs at 96.55% RTP - marginally above the original Dog House's 96.51% and above the 96% threshold that separates decent-value slots from the rest. Some casino deployments use a reduced RTP variant, so checking the game info panel before playing is sensible.

High volatility applies here, and given that Megaways games add a horizontal expansion element, the variance can feel more pronounced than in a standard grid game. The Megaways reel can show between two and seven symbols per reel on any given spin. When all reels expand to seven rows, you get the full 117,649 ways; at minimum expansion you have far fewer ways active. That variability in ways is built into the RTP calculation, but practically it means some spins have far less coverage than others.

The max win of 12,305x is nearly double the 6,750x ceiling of the original. That ceiling is realistic but not easy - it requires an optimal free spins run with wilds stacking and multipliers compounding at their maximum values.

Theme and Design

The Megaways version keeps the same cartoon suburb setting - kennel-shaped frame, colourful dog breed symbols, and the same paw scatter - but the visual layout is taller to accommodate the expanded reel rows. Dog breed symbols form the high-value tier: Doberman, Poodle, Dalmatian, and Bulldog, with playing card royals filling the lower-pay positions. The Doberman tops the paytable.

Animations and sound design are consistent with the original - clean rather than spectacular. The appeal is mechanical, not visual.

Symbols and Paytable

Because the Megaways format pays for matching symbols anywhere on adjacent reels from left to right, the per-symbol values are smaller than on a fixed-payline version - you have up to 117,649 ways to win instead of 20, so the maths shifts accordingly.

High-value symbols (six of a kind payouts as a multiple of your stake):

• Doberman: high-pay top symbol
• Poodle: second tier
• Dalmatian: third tier
• Bulldog: fourth tier

Playing card symbols (10, J, Q, K, A) form the lower-pay tier. The Kennel Wild substitutes for all standard symbols. The Paw Scatter on reels 1, 3, and 5 triggers the free spins bonus when three land simultaneously.

There is also a horizontal reel above the main grid - a feature from the Megaways engine that appears on some Pragmatic Play Megaways titles - which can contribute additional winning combinations during certain spins.

Bonus Features

Wild Multipliers (Base Game)

In the base game, Kennel Wilds land with a multiplier of either 2x or 3x. When multiple wilds fall on the same winning way, their multipliers combine - two 3x wilds on the same combination give 9x on that win. This can produce meaningful base game wins but does not happen frequently enough to offset the high volatility between bonuses.

Free Spins with Sticky Multiplier Wilds

Three Paw Scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5 trigger the free spins. You receive between 8 and 20 free spins, with the count spun on an in-game wheel before the feature starts. More scatters at trigger can award additional spins.

During free spins, every Kennel Wild that lands becomes sticky - it stays locked in position for the duration of the feature. Each sticky wild retains its 2x or 3x multiplier. As wilds accumulate across the reels, their multipliers continue to compound on any combination running through them. The more wilds that lock in, the higher the potential multiplier on a winning combination.

This is the same core mechanic as the original Dog House free spins, applied to a Megaways grid. The difference is that with 117,649 ways active at full expansion, there are more routes for winning combinations to run through stacked wilds. That additional coverage is what drives the higher 12,305x ceiling compared to the original's 6,750x.

Retriggers are possible if additional scatters land during the free spins, adding more spins to the remaining count.

Raining Wilds

After any spin in the base game where no winning combination is formed, a Raining Wilds feature can trigger - extra wilds drop onto the reels to create a second chance at a win. This applies in the base game and provides a buffer against completely blank spins, though it does not fundamentally alter the high-variance character of the game.

How to Play

Set your stake via the controls at the bottom of the screen. Bets run from £0.20 to £100 per spin. Wins pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from reel 1 and running left to right - no paylines to track, just adjacent matching symbols.

The primary target in the base game is triggering the free spins via three Paw Scatters on reels 1, 3, and 5. Base game wilds can produce good wins when they cluster, but the free spins are where the significant returns live.

During free spins, track the sticky wilds building across the reels. Early wild locks in a long bonus build the multiplier potential. Getting 15 or more spins at trigger with wilds landing early gives the best chance of a high multiplier by the time the main symbol action aligns.

Bonus buy is not available in the UK - UKGC regulations prohibit feature purchase mechanics, so the bonus triggers through natural play only.

Mobile Play

The Dog House Megaways runs in HTML5 and works on any modern mobile browser without requiring an app. The taller reel layout from the Megaways format sits comfortably on portrait smartphone screens - in some respects the expanded height fits phone screens better than a standard 3-row grid. Autoplay is available on mobile. Performance is stable on both iOS and Android.

The Dog House Megaways vs The Original

The key differences between this and The Dog House (2019):

• Ways to win: Up to 117,649 vs 20 fixed paylines
• Max win: 12,305x vs 6,750x
• Free spins trigger: 8-20 spins vs 9-27 spins
• RTP: 96.55% vs 96.51%
• Reels: 6 vs 5

The Megaways format adds complexity - the variable number of ways per spin makes it harder to read at a glance, and the maths behind the paytable is less transparent than a 20-line game. In exchange you get a higher potential win ceiling and more winning combinations when wilds align in free spins. If you prefer a cleaner, simpler version of the mechanic, the original is easier to follow. If you want the higher ceiling and the broader win coverage, the Megaways version is the choice.

For other popular Megaways slots, see our review of Buffalo King Megaways. For more Pragmatic Play titles, visit the Pragmatic Play developer page.

Verdict

The Dog House Megaways delivers what a Megaways sequel should: the same core mechanic - sticky multiplier wilds in free spins - applied to a larger, more coverage-rich format. The 12,305x max win is meaningfully higher than the original's 6,750x ceiling, and the Megaways reel expansion gives more routes for winning combinations to interact with stacked wilds.

High volatility means the base game is slow. That is not a flaw specific to this version - it is inherent to how the Dog House mechanic works. The free spins are the point. When wilds lock in early and the multipliers stack up across six reels and 117,649 ways, the potential is clear to see. The 96.55% RTP is solid. It is a well-executed upgrade on a strong original.

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Where to Play The Dog House Megaways

We're currently updating our casino list for The Dog House Megaways. In the meantime, browse our full casino reviews or check out current free spins offers.

The Dog House Megaways RTP and Variance

The Dog House Megaways has an RTP of 96.55%, which is above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. High volatility means wins come less often but tend to be significantly larger. Explore our high volatility slots guide.

At the minimum bet of £0.20 per spin, a £10 deposit gives you 50 spins with a statistical expected return of £9.66. Read our slot betting strategy guide for tips on managing your bankroll.