Wanted Dead or a Wild: A Straight-Up Guide for Australian Players

Wanted Dead or a Wild is a 5-reel, 5-row pokie with 15 fixed paylines. It was developed by Hacksaw Gaming and released in 2021. The theme is a gritty Wild West showdown, featuring outlaws and bounty hunters. Unlike the standard 5x3 layout, the 5x5 grid gives more symbols in view and allows for the game's signature DuelReels feature. In DuelReels, VS symbols can expand to cover entire reels as wilds, each carrying a multiplier from x2 to x100. This structure creates bigger win potential than a typical pokie, with a maximum win of 12,500x your stake. The game is known for its high volatility, meaning wins are less frequent but can be larger when they land.

To play Wanted Dead or a Wild, set your bet using the selector, which ranges from $0.20 to $100 per spin. The game uses a 5-reel, 5-row grid with 15 fixed paylines, meaning wins are read from left to right across these lines. The paytable and game info are accessible via the info or paytable button, usually located near the spin button. The spin button starts a round. If you wish to trigger a bonus feature directly, you can use the bonus buy options, which cost 80x, 200x, or 400x your stake for The Great Train Robbery, Duel at Dawn, and Dead Man's Hand respectively. These are optional and not required to play the base game.

High volatility means you can go through long dry spells before a significant win. With a bet range from $0.20 to $100, you need to manage your bankroll accordingly. For a $50 session, a sensible bet is around $0.50 to $1 per spin, giving you 50 to 100 spins. For a $200 session, you could bet up to $2 per spin, still giving you 100 spins. The bonus buy options cost 80x, 200x, and 400x your stake, so buying a bonus on a $1 bet would cost $80, $200, or $400 respectively. No betting system changes the RTP; each spin is independent. One sentence of advice: set a budget and stick to it.

The default RTP is 96.38%, but Hacksaw Gaming lists four versions: 96.38%, 94.55%, 92.33%, and 88.42%. If you play the 88.42% version, for every $100 wagered you can expect to lose $11.58 more than with the 96.38% version. The maximum win is 12,500 times your stake. For example, a $1 bet could return $12,500. Always check the RTP version in the game's info panel before you start playing.

The key features are:

• DuelReels: VS symbols expand into full wild reels with multipliers from x2 to x100. For instance, two wild reels with x10 and x20 multipliers could multiply a line win by 200.
• The Great Train Robbery: 10 free spins with sticky wilds. Bonus buy costs 80x your stake.
• Duel at Dawn: 10 free spins with more VS symbols. Bonus buy costs 200x your stake.
• Dead Man's Hand: A two-phase bonus that collects up to 20 wilds and a x31 multiplier. Bonus buy costs 400x your stake.

The hit frequency is 19.3%, meaning roughly one in five spins results in a win.

The demo version of Wanted Dead or a Wild uses play credits but operates with the same maths and RTP version as the real-money build at the casino you open it in. It's useful for understanding how the high volatility feels—expect dry spells and occasional larger wins. You can test how bet sizes from $0.20 to $100 affect your session length and see how often features like DuelReels trigger. When playing with real AUD, bets are actual money, so limits matter more. The demo helps you decide if the game's pace suits you before committing real funds.

You can play Wanted Dead or a Wild at Fastpay Casino, Huff n More Puff, in Australian dollars. A demo mode is available so you can try the game first. When you play for real money, check the RTP version offered there. Remember to gamble responsibly. If you need help, contact Gambling Help Online at 1800 858 858.

Stack 'Em — Both are Hacksaw Gaming titles with high volatility and a max win of 10,000x. Stack 'Em uses a 5x6 cluster grid with cascades and reel multipliers, while Wanted Dead or a Wild uses a 5x5 grid with 15 paylines and DuelReels. The feature sets differ significantly.

Release the Kraken — Both are high-volatility pokies with max wins around 10,000x. Release the Kraken uses a 5x4 grid with random modifiers and roaming wilds in free spins, while Wanted Dead or a Wild has a 5x5 grid with DuelReels and multiple bonus buys. RTPs are similar at 96.5% vs 96.38%.

Bonanza Megaways — Both are high-volatility with high max wins (26,000x vs 12,500x). Bonanza uses Megaways mechanics with cascading wins and an unlimited multiplier in free spins, while Wanted Dead or a Wild has a fixed 5x5 grid and DuelReels. RTPs are close at 96.0% vs 96.38%.