Deal with Death from Hacksaw Gaming pits you against a robotic skeletal croupier in a noir-drenched casino where slot mechanics meet poker strategy. Released January 22, 2026, this hybrid transforms your 5×4 grid into poker hands whenever Joker symbols land—with Royal Flush payouts reaching 2,000x and multipliers stacking up to 10x. It’s Hacksaw’s boldest departure from cluster-pay formulas, trading their usual multiplier-stacking chaos for calculated card combinations where row positioning actually matters.
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KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE
- Provider: Hacksaw Gaming (Released January 22, 2026)
- Grid: 5×4 with 14 paylines (Classic Mode) / Poker hand evaluation (Poker Mode)
- RTP: 96.25% default — watch for 94.30%, 92.25%, and 86.22% variants
- Max Win: 20,000x bet
- Volatility: High
- Bet Range: €0.10 – €50
- Key Feature: Dual-mode gameplay with Joker-triggered Poker Mode converting rows into poker hands worth up to 2,000x
Theme and Visuals
Hacksaw Gaming has ditched the gore and grime for something far more unsettling with Deal with Death—stylish restraint. The scene is dominated by a metallic skeletal croupier, all chrome bones and tailored suit, casually flicking casino chips between robotic digits. He floats against an abyss of dark smoky nothingness, a dealer who’s clearly seen every hand and fears none. The aesthetic reads as sci-fi noir rather than horror, more Blade Runner casino than haunted mansion. It’s genuinely distinctive from Hacksaw’s usual catalog.
The symbols maintain the sophisticated atmosphere. Pay symbols are card suits—clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades—rendered in both muted grey (low-value) and vivid color (high-value). The Joker symbols arrive as the mechanical dealer himself, split into four variations with distinct color accents indicating their special properties. When Poker Mode activates, symbols flip to reveal actual playing cards (10 through Ace), and each row transforms into a five-card poker hand. The visual transition from slot to poker table is seamless, emphasizing that you’re not playing a slot that references poker—you’re playing a hybrid that genuinely evaluates card combinations.
How to Play Deal with Death
Deal with Death operates in two distinct modes—Classic Mode and Poker Mode—with Joker symbols serving as the bridge between them. Understanding when and how you shift between modes is essential:
- Set your bet using the stake controls—minimum €0.10, maximum €50 per spin.
- Classic Mode operates normally—land matching symbols across 14 paylines, paying left to right. Only the highest-paying combination per line counts. This is standard slot gameplay.
- Watch for Joker symbols—when any Joker lands anywhere on the grid, Classic Mode immediately ends and Poker Mode begins.
- Poker Mode transforms the grid—all symbols flip to become playing cards (10 through Ace in four suits). Each of the four rows is now evaluated as a five-card poker hand.
- Jokers become Wild cards—the landed Joker transforms into whatever card strengthens its row’s hand most effectively. The game automatically optimizes card selection.
- Poker hands pay according to the Power Hand paytable—from Two Pair (5x) up to Royal Flush (2,000x). All four rows pay simultaneously if they form valid hands.
- Collect scatter symbols during Classic Mode to trigger bonus rounds—3 scatters for Deal With It, 4 for Dealbreaker, 5 for Fool’s Gold.
Pro Tip: Base game Classic Mode pays are intentionally weak (max 20x for 5-of-a-kind). You’re essentially treading water until Jokers appear. Don’t expect Classic Mode to sustain your bankroll—the real mathematics live in Poker Mode activations.
Symbols and Paytable
Deal with Death’s paytable splits between two distinct systems—Classic Mode symbol pays and Poker Mode hand values. The Classic paytable is deliberately underwhelming, pushing all meaningful payouts into Poker Mode:
Classic Mode Paytable
| Symbol | 3 OAK | 4 OAK | 5 OAK |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Value Spade | 1x | 5x | 20x |
| High-Value Heart | 0.8x | 4x | 15x |
| High-Value Diamond | 0.6x | 3x | 12x |
| High-Value Club | 0.5x | 2.5x | 10x |
| Grey Suits (Low-Value) | 0.2x | 1x | 2-3x |
Poker Mode Hand Values
This is where the real mathematics live. During Poker Mode, each row is evaluated as a poker hand with payouts based on hand strength:
| Poker Hand | Base Payout | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | 2,000x | 10, J, Q, K, A in same suit |
| Straight Flush | 500x | 5 consecutive cards in same suit |
| Four of a Kind | 100x | 4 cards of same rank |
| Full House | 75x | 3 of one rank + 2 of another |
| Flush | 50x | 5 cards of same suit |
| Straight | 25x | 5 consecutive cards (any suit) |
| Three of a Kind | 15x | 3 cards of same rank |
| Two Pair | 5x | 2 pairs of matching ranks |
The poker hand system uses an unlimited virtual deck, meaning multiple identical cards can appear. This makes hands like Four of a Kind more achievable than real poker while keeping Royal Flush appropriately rare. Each row pays independently—landing strong hands across all four rows in a single Poker Mode activation can stack payouts dramatically.
Slot Features
Dual-Mode Gameplay
Deal with Death’s core innovation is genuine dual-mode operation. Classic Mode provides standard slot functionality with 14 paylines paying left to right. The moment any Joker lands, the entire grid transforms into Poker Mode where row-based poker hand evaluation replaces payline mechanics. This isn’t a simple bonus trigger—it’s a complete system switch that changes how you think about symbol positioning.
The beauty of this hybrid design is that symbol arrangement matters differently between modes. In Classic Mode, you want matching symbols across paylines. In Poker Mode, you want cards that form strong poker hands within each row. The same grid of symbols can be worthless in one mode and jackpot-worthy in the other. This creates genuine gameplay depth beyond “spin and hope.”
Joker Symbol System
Four distinct Joker types exist, each triggering Poker Mode but with unique secondary effects:
JOKER TYPES COMPARISON
Regular Joker
- Triggers Poker Mode
- Transforms into optimal card for its row
- No multiplier or special effect
- Most common Joker type
Hand Multiplier Joker
- Triggers Poker Mode
- Applies 2x-10x multiplier to its row only
- Full House (75x) + 10x multiplier = 750x
- Row-specific boost
Global Multiplier Joker
- Triggers Poker Mode
- Applies 2x-10x multiplier to ALL rows
- Every winning hand benefits
- Most valuable single Joker
Triple Trouble Joker
- Triggers Poker Mode
- Collects all cards after initial payout
- Reshuffles and creates 3 best possible hands
- Highest ceiling potential
The Triple Trouble Joker deserves special attention. After initial poker hand payouts, it collects every card from the grid, shuffles them, and redistributes them to form the three strongest possible hands from the available cards. This can dramatically upgrade mediocre initial hands into premium payouts—imagine scattered cards that initially formed nothing suddenly rearranging into Full House + Straight + Flush combinations.
Pro Tip: Multiple Jokers can land simultaneously. A Hand Multiplier Joker plus a Global Multiplier Joker means one row gets both multipliers applied. The mathematics compound quickly—Royal Flush (2,000x) with 5x Hand Multiplier and 5x Global Multiplier reaches 50,000x theoretical before hitting the 20,000x cap.
Slot Bonus Features
Bonus Features Gallery
How to Max Win on Deal with Death
Base Game Max Win
Base game Classic Mode alone cannot reach max win territory. With only 14 paylines and a maximum 5-of-a-kind payout of 20x, you’re mathematically capped at modest returns without Poker Mode. However, base game Poker Mode activations with Global Multiplier Jokers can deliver significant wins—four Royal Flushes (8,000x total) with a 10x Global Multiplier reaches the 20,000x cap instantly. Theoretically achievable but extraordinarily rare.
Deal With It (3 Scatters / 100x Buy)
The entry-level bonus provides increased Joker frequency but unchanged poker hand values. Max win requires premium hand alignments across all four rows combined with high-value multiplier Jokers. Possible but not the primary path—you’re relying on raw probability rather than compounding mechanics.
Dealbreaker (4 Scatters / 200x Buy)
The progressive paytable mechanic makes Dealbreaker the most reliable max-win path among purchasable features. Early spins that land repeating hands compound their values throughout the bonus. A Full House that starts at 75x can reach 300x+ if hit four times, and with multiplier Jokers stacking on top, individual hands can exceed 3,000x before the grid even evaluates other rows.
Fool’s Gold (Where Max Wins Actually Happen)
Fool’s Gold is the max-win factory. Guaranteed Joker presence on every spin means Poker Mode fires continuously, and the inherited progressive paytable compounds hand values with every win. Add Triple Trouble Jokers reshuffling cards into optimal configurations and Global Multipliers affecting all four rows simultaneously—the mathematics spiral upward rapidly. This is where 20,000x realistically lives.
Typical Max Win Script
- Trigger Fool’s Gold via 5 natural scatters (cannot be purchased)
- Early spins land multiple matching hands—Full Houses, Straights—progressing their paytable values
- Retriggers extend the bonus (2 scatters = +2 spins, 3 scatters = +4 spins)
- Progressive values stack—Full House now pays 300x+, Straight Flush pays 1,500x+
- Triple Trouble Joker lands, reshuffles cards into optimal hand configurations
- Global Multiplier Joker (10x) applies to all four rows simultaneously
- Multiple premium hands across all rows with compounded values and global multiplier cap you at 20,000x
RTP and Volatility
Deal with Death ships with a 96.25% default RTP—acceptable for a Hacksaw Gaming release and in line with industry standards. The mathematics are weighted toward high volatility, meaning session variance will be substantial. Expect extended periods of minimal returns punctuated by significant Poker Mode wins when Jokers align with favorable cards.
⚠️ RTP VARIANT WARNING
Deal with Death releases with four RTP tiers: 96.25% (default), 94.30%, 92.25%, and 86.22%. The bottom variant represents significant house edge inflation—at 86.22%, you’re surrendering nearly 14 cents of every euro wagered. Casinos can deploy any variant without prominent disclosure. Always verify RTP before playing via game info screens or casino terms. If a casino offers only the 86.22% version, consider playing elsewhere. For more on how RTP affects your expected returns, see our basics guide.
The high volatility profile makes Deal with Death a feature-dependent slot. Classic Mode base pays are intentionally weak—you’re essentially subsidizing Poker Mode potential with every non-Joker spin. Players who prefer consistent small wins and sustainable sessions should look elsewhere. This slot rewards patience and bankroll depth with occasional explosive Poker Mode sequences that can recover extended losing streaks in single activations.
For those wanting to understand how volatility affects long-term play, use our variance survival calculator to model expected session outcomes at various bet levels.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Genuinely innovative hybrid mechanic—not a reskin or formula clone
- Poker hand evaluation adds strategic depth beyond pure luck
- Progressive paytable in Dealbreaker creates compounding win potential
- Stylish noir aesthetic stands apart from typical slot visuals
- 20,000x max win with 96.25% RTP matches Hacksaw’s current standards
- Four distinct Joker types create varied Poker Mode outcomes
❌ Cons
- Base game Classic Mode is practically worthless—pure dead air
- 86.22% RTP variant is borderline predatory—verify before playing
- Dual-mode complexity may confuse casual players unfamiliar with poker
- Fool’s Gold cannot be purchased—best feature locked behind rare trigger
- Long dry spells between meaningful Poker Mode activations
Conclusion
Deal with Death represents genuine innovation from a studio that’s earned criticism for volume over originality. The poker-hybrid mechanic isn’t a gimmick—it’s a thoughtfully designed dual-mode system where row positioning, card probability, and multiplier stacking create mathematical depth that typical slots lack. The progressive paytable in Dealbreaker and guaranteed Joker presence in Fool’s Gold provide distinct paths to the 20,000x cap, each with their own strategic profiles. Credit where due: Hacksaw built something actually different.
That said, Deal with Death demands specific player expectations. The base game is effectively dead time—14 paylines with 20x maximum payouts exist only to fund Poker Mode potential. If you need consistent feedback and sustainable sessions, this isn’t your slot. But if you appreciate conceptual ambition, enjoy poker hand recognition, and have the bankroll to weather extended dry spells for explosive Poker Mode sequences, Deal with Death delivers something you won’t find elsewhere in Hacksaw’s catalog. Or anyone else’s, frankly. Try it free in our slot demos section before committing real money—complexity this unusual deserves a proper test drive.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Target Audience: Players seeking strategic depth beyond typical slot mechanics, poker enthusiasts curious about hybrid gameplay
- Unique Mechanic: Dual-mode system with Joker-triggered Poker Mode converting rows into evaluated poker hands
- Win Engine: Progressive paytable in Dealbreaker and Fool’s Gold bonuses compound hand values to max-win territory
- Value Play: 60x Flippin’ FeatureSpins for consistent Poker Mode testing before larger bonus buys
- Watch Out: Four RTP variants including 86.22%—always verify before playing real money
- Bottom Line: Genuine Hacksaw innovation with worthless base game—feature-dependent design for patient, poker-literate players. Rating: 8/10
FAQs
Deal with Death has a default RTP of 96.25%, which is standard for Hacksaw Gaming releases. However, casinos can deploy lower variants of 94.30%, 92.25%, or 86.22%—always verify the RTP in the game info before playing real money.
When any Joker symbol lands on the grid, Classic Mode ends and Poker Mode begins. All symbols flip to become playing cards (10 through Ace in four suits), and each of the four rows is evaluated as a five-card poker hand. Hands pay according to a special paytable ranging from 5x (Two Pair) to 2,000x (Royal Flush).
Deal with Death offers a maximum win of 20,000x your bet. The primary path to max win is through the Fool’s Gold hidden epic bonus, which combines guaranteed Joker symbols every spin with progressive paytable mechanics that compound hand values throughout the feature.
Land 3 FS scatter symbols during Classic Mode to trigger Deal With It (10 free spins with increased Joker frequency). Land 4 scatters for Dealbreaker (progressive poker paytable). Land 5 scatters for Fool’s Gold (guaranteed Joker every spin plus progressive paytable). Alternatively, buy Deal With It for 100x or Dealbreaker for 200x bet—Fool’s Gold cannot be purchased.
Four Joker types exist: Regular Joker (becomes optimal card for its row), Hand Multiplier Joker (applies 2x-10x multiplier to its row), Global Multiplier Joker (applies 2x-10x multiplier to all winning hands), and Triple Trouble Joker (collects all cards and reshuffles them to create the three best possible hands).
In Dealbreaker bonus, every time a specific poker hand wins, that hand’s payout value permanently increases by its base amount for the rest of the bonus. For example, Full House starts at 75x—win it once and future Full Houses pay 150x, win again and they pay 225x. This progression compounds throughout the feature.
Not really. While both are Hacksaw Gaming titles, Deal with Death uses a completely different mechanic. Wanted Dead or a Wild focuses on cluster pays and multiplier stacking, while Deal with Death features a unique poker-hybrid system with dual-mode gameplay. The poker hand evaluation mechanic is unlike anything else in Hacksaw’s catalog.
No, Fool’s Gold cannot be purchased directly. This hidden epic bonus can only be triggered by naturally landing 5 FS scatter symbols during Classic Mode—a rare occurrence that justifies its premium mechanics (guaranteed Joker every spin plus progressive paytable).