This is a slot for players who accept long dry spells in return for rare, heavy hits. Hacksaw rates it 4 of 5 for volatility, pays on 15 lines across a 5×5 grid and caps wins at 12,500× the stake. DuelReels supply the multipliers, and Duel at Dawn is the round the studio itself points to for the maximum. Look for the 96.38% build, because the lowest one Hacksaw lists is 88.42%.
What Wanted Dead or a Wild Is
Wanted Dead or a Wild not on GamStop means Hacksaw's gunfight slot with its three bonus games open to buy and no UK spin cap hanging over you. It was the studio's first DuelReels game, and the duels on the reels still decide most of what it pays.
The UK Build Against The Offshore One
On a UK-licensed site the game runs with bonus buys removed and stakes held to £5 a spin, or £2 if you are under 25. Offshore operators can sell all three bonus games directly and set their own stake limits, and they also choose which of Hacksaw's four RTP builds sits behind the reels.
Hacksaw's page for the game, checked on 19 October 2026, shows four settings: 96.38%, 94.55%, 92.33% and 88.42%. On a high-volatility slot the gap bites twice, since a lower build costs more on average and your balance also has less in reserve for the losing runs before a bonus arrives. The active figure is printed in the game's rules: how to find it.
DuelReels explained with one spin
A VS symbol does nothing on its own until it forms part of a win. Once it does, it expands to fill its reel, two outlaws face off, and the winner's multiplier is applied to the whole reel, which now acts as a wild.
Where two or more of these wild reels sit on the same winning line, Hacksaw adds their multipliers together and then applies the total. Picture a line crossing one reel showing 3× and another showing 7×: the line pays 10× its base value, not 21×. Those figures are only there to show the rule, and the game draws its own values.
That additive rule keeps the base game in check. Big results need several DuelReels on one line with high values attached, which is exactly what the bonus rounds are built to make more likely.
Three bonus games, three routes towards 12,500×
Each bonus takes the wild-reel idea in its own direction. Offshore, all three can be bought instead of waiting for a trigger, which makes it worth knowing what each one is good at before you pay for it.
| Bonus | How it plays | What it favours |
|---|---|---|
| The Great Train Robbery | Every wild that lands turns sticky until the round ends and can join any number of wins | Slowly building a board of wilds |
| Duel at Dawn | VS symbols land far more often, and as many as five reels can become DuelReels together | The best chance at the maximum, in Hacksaw's own description |
| Dead Man's Hand | Phase one collects wilds and multipliers; in the Showdown the collected wilds are placed at random on each spin, with the stored multiplier applied to every win | Rounds where the collection phase goes well |
Which round suits you depends on what you want from a bonus. The Great Train Robbery tends to reward patience as sticky wilds accumulate, Dead Man's Hand rests on how much the first phase gathers, and Duel at Dawn swings hardest in both directions. None of the three changes the game's RTP, whether triggered or bought.
Buying the dearest round is a choice about variance. Duel at Dawn has the highest ceiling, which also means the widest spread of outcomes. A bought round that pays back only part of its price is an ordinary result, so settle on how many buys you will make before you open the menu.
Four RTP builds, priced at £1 a spin
The studio's published list lets you put a price on the version question. At £1 a spin across 1,000 spins, the expected cost of each build is:
| Build | House edge | Expected cost, £1,000 staked |
|---|---|---|
| 96.38% | 3.62% | £36.20 |
| 94.55% | 5.45% | £54.50 |
| 92.33% | 7.67% | £76.70 |
| 88.42% | 11.58% | £115.80 |
The swing between top and bottom comes to almost £80 per £1,000 wagered, before volatility adds its own noise. Offshore lobbies seldom display the figure, so the info screen is the one reliable place to read it. The RTP cost calculator handles other stakes.
Sizing a balance for 4 of 5 volatility
Without the UK cap, nothing stops a stake climbing well past what the balance can carry, and on this game that is how sessions most often end early. Bonuses arrive irregularly, and the spins in between tend to return little.
A steadier plan is to pick a stake small enough for your balance to absorb several hundred spins, and then leave it alone. Raising the bet after a losing run only makes the next dry patch dearer. The bankroll simulator shows how fast a high-volatility game can empty a balance that looked comfortable at the start.
If you joined GamStop because your gambling had got out of control, the safest move is to keep the exclusion and call GamCare, which is free, on 0808 8020 133.
Try the duels in demo mode first
Hacksaw runs a free demo on its own site, and many casinos carrying the game offer one too, Maxxed included. Use it to see how long the gaps between bonuses can last at 4 of 5 volatility before you decide on a real stake.
If you want something calmer from the same studio, Le Bandit is rated 3 of 5. If you want even more swing, Chaos Crew sits at 5 of 5. The full studio overview is on our Hacksaw Gaming page.
What A Lower RTP On Wanted Dead or a Wild Costs You
Wanted Dead or a Wild is advertised at 96.38%. Casinos can load a lower configuration of the same game. Set the stake and session length to match how you play and the difference comes out in pounds.
Worked example. Wanted Dead or a Wild at £1 a spin, 500 spins an hour for 10 hours is 5,000 spins and £5,000 staked.
| RTP version | Expected loss |
|---|---|
| 96.38% | −£181 |
| 94.55% | −£272 |
The lower version costs £91 more over the same play.
What A Session On Wanted Dead or a Wild Looks Like
Expect most sessions to finish below the starting balance, with a single strong bonus, usually Duel at Dawn or a long Showdown in Dead Man's Hand, accounting for nearly all of the upside on the occasions it comes.
Worked example. £200 played at £1 a spin for 1,000 spins is £1,000 of turnover, more than the bankroll, because winnings are staked again.
| Starting bankroll | £200 |
| Turnover if the money lasts | £1,000 |
| Expected cost of that turnover | −£36 |
Enable JavaScript to run ten thousand sessions and see the spread of outcomes rather than this single average.
Where To Play Wanted Dead or a Wild Not On GamStop
- Welcome packs with no wagering
- 15+ provably fair Originals
- Rakeback and weekly cashback via loyalty
- Sportsbook on the same balance
- Originals with seed verification
- Large sportsbook
- Daily races and weekly raffles
- Very wide coin support
- Originals and lottery games
- Sportsbook
How this list is ranked: licence and transparency, UK access, bonus terms, cashier, games and track record. The full method.
Wanted Dead or a Wild: Questions Players Ask
Can I buy bonuses on Wanted Dead or a Wild outside GamStop?
Which bonus in Wanted Dead or a Wild pays the most?
How are multipliers combined on a DuelReel win?
What RTP is Wanted Dead or a Wild at offshore casinos?
Play with money you can afford to lose. Casino games are built to return less than is staked over time. Set a budget and use your account's deposit limits. Free, confidential support is available from GamCare on 0808 8020 133. More on staying in control.