The Dog House Megaways is Pragmatic Play's 2020 rebuild of its dog-themed slot on six reels with 2 to 7 symbols each, giving between 64 and 117,649 ways to win. The provider's page lists a default RTP of 96.55%; Lottomart, a UK operator, lists 92.01%. Volatility is high - rated 5/5 by the provider - and the maximum payout is 12,305x the stake.
Two things set it apart from most Megaways games. There are no cascades: a win is paid and the next spin begins. And when the bonus triggers, you choose between two different free spins rounds. The rest of this review explains both, along with the points where the published descriptions do not agree with one another.
Fact sheet
| Feature | What is published |
|---|---|
| Provider | Pragmatic Play |
| Released | 2020 |
| Reels | 6 reels, up to 7 rows, no extra horizontal reel |
| Ways to win | 64 to 117,649 |
| Default RTP | 96.55% (can vary by configuration) |
| RTP at Lottomart (UK operator) | 92.01% |
| Volatility | High, 5/5 on the provider's scale |
| Maximum payout | 12,305x the stake |
| Bet range at Lottomart (UK operator) | £0.20 / £5.00 |
| Bonus | Choice of Sticky Wilds or Raining Wilds free spins |
Megaways reels, minus the cascades
Each of the six reels shows a different number of symbols on every spin, anywhere between 2 and 7, and the number of ways changes with them; the current count is displayed just above the reels. You choose only the stake, because all possible ways to win are active automatically. A win is 3 to 6 matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, with no fixed lines.
What is missing matters as much. There is no bonus reel and no cascade or reaction feature of any kind, not even in the bonus. Players used to Megaways games where one win sets off a chain should expect a slower, plainer base game here. The symbols are the familiar ones: 10 to A tiles, bones, collars, dachshunds, pugs, Shih Tzus and Rottweilers, with the Rottweiler paying most at 15x the stake for six of a kind.
The kennel wild and its multiplier
The wild is a dog kennel that appears only on reels 2, 3, 4 and 5 and substitutes for all paying symbols. According to the provider, wilds come attached with a multiplier of 2x or 3x. How several wilds in one win combine is described differently by two sources: Lottomart says their multipliers multiply each other, Bigwinboard says they are added to each other. The provider's page does not settle it, so the in-game rules screen is the place to check.
Sticky Wilds or Raining Wilds: the choice you are given
Three or more scatters - a bejewelled paw print on a golden ring - trigger the bonus, and you choose between two modes before the feature begins. Sticky Wilds gives fewer spins with wilds that stay; Raining Wilds gives more spins with wilds that come and go.
| Scatters | Sticky Wilds | Raining Wilds |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7 free spins | 15 free spins |
| 4 | 12 free spins | 18 free spins |
| 5 | 15 free spins | 25 free spins |
| 6 | 20 free spins | 30 free spins |
In Sticky Wilds, up to 7 sticky wilds can land on each reel; they remain on the reels until the end of the round and change size as the number of ways changes. In Raining Wilds, up to 6 wilds can land in random positions on every spin, and none of them stays. Neither mode is the better one in any provable sense: the choice changes how the round feels, not the randomness behind it, and multipliers do not affect the likelihood of symbols landing.
The Dog House Megaways RTP: 96.55% and 92.01%
The default figure on Pragmatic Play's page is 96.55%. Lottomart's game details show 92.01%. 7bet, another UK operator, lists 96.55% with the note that it can vary by configuration. All three statements are consistent with one fact: operators select the version they run, and the name of the game does not tell you which. RTP is a theoretical average across a very large number of spins and does not predict individual sessions - but a lower version does cost more to play over time, so look at the information screen first.
What 5/5 volatility and a 12,305x cap mean
The provider rates volatility 5/5, the top of its scale. In practice most of the potential sits in the free spins, and sessions without them can be long and expensive. The 12,305x maximum is almost double what the first Dog House game allowed; it is a limit built into the design and is not expected to occur frequently. Outcomes are random on every spin, and nothing in the way you bet alters them.
Bonus buy in the UK
The game includes an option to buy the bonus for 100 times the stake, which lands a random number of 3 to 6 scatters on the next spin. Whether it is offered depends on the jurisdiction. At 7bet, a UK operator, Buy Bonus is listed as not available.
Opens the official demo on an external site. No deposit, no sign-up with us. www.pragmaticplay.com
Where the sources disagree
Beyond the wild multipliers, the descriptions differ on retriggers: Lottomart says the Sticky Wilds round can be re-triggered, while Bigwinboard says neither feature can be retriggered. We report both rather than pick one. Differences of this kind may reflect different versions or simple error, and the game's own rules screen - available in the demo - is the reference.
The Dog House family
Lottomart describes this game as the middle part of a trilogy that includes The Dog House and The Dog House Multihold; 7bet also names The Dog House - Muttley Crew. The original is a payline game and this one is not, so figures do not transfer between them. Make sure the title on the loading screen is the one you meant to open.
What we like
- Default RTP published on the provider's own page
- A real choice between two differently built bonus rounds
- Free official demo, and play on desktop, tablet and mobile
- Ways counter above the reels shows what each spin offers
What to keep in mind
- A UK operator lists 92.01% RTP, far below the default
- No cascades or other base game features
- Volatility at the top of the provider's scale
- Published descriptions conflict on retriggers and wild multipliers
Is it for you?
It is for players who accept a plain base game in exchange for a bonus they can shape, and who can afford to treat the stake as spent. It is not for anyone who needs frequent wins to enjoy a session. Use the demo to try both bonus modes, fix a budget before real play, and stop when it is used up.
Verdict
The Dog House Megaways rates well by our methodology: the default return is published, the demo is free, and the rules of both bonus rounds can be laid out in a small table. The deductions are for a return that falls to 92.01% at one UK operator and for descriptions that conflict on details a player would want settled. A clearly built, very volatile game that rewards reading the rules screen before the first spin.
Variance simulator
Simplified model based on the published RTP and volatility, not the game's real math. For learning only — results are random and prove nothing about future sessions.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTP of The Dog House Megaways?
96.55% by default, according to the provider's page. Lottomart, a UK operator, lists 92.01%. The figure can vary by configuration, so check the game's information screen.
Who made The Dog House Megaways?
Pragmatic Play. It was released in 2020, following the original game from May 2019.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. Pragmatic Play hosts a demo on the game's page behind an age confirmation.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. It can be played on desktops, tablets and mobile platforms, including mobile browsers on iOS and Android devices.
What is the maximum win?
12,305x the stake. It is the upper limit built into the game design and is not expected to occur frequently.
Which bonus round should I choose?
There is no provably better option. Sticky Wilds gives 7 to 20 spins with wilds that stay; Raining Wilds gives 15 to 30 spins with up to 6 new wilds on every spin. Results are random in both.
