Return to player
96.25%
Min bet size
0.10
Game type
Video Slots
Variance
High
Reels
5
Progressive Jackpot
No
Popularity
Max bet size
50
Game provider
Hacksaw Gaming
Bonus Features
Yes
Paylines
14
Theme
Poker Game
Deal with Death online slot game
Deal with Death is Hacksaw Gaming’s highly volatile entry into the realm of existential card play, placing players in a high-stakes game against a chilling, metallic skeletal figure. The game breaks away from the studio’s usual conventions by placing poker mechanics at the core of its design, blending the familiar structure of a slot machine in Classic Mode with the strategic tension of card dealing in Poker Mode. The result is less overt horror and more calculated suspense, with the focus firmly on mathematical risk rather than shock value.
Deal with Death Theme, Design, Sound and Core Mechanics Explained
The slot is played on a 5x4 grid with 14 paylines. The setting is minimalist and dark, dominated by the skeletal croupier in a red suit representing Death itself, who deals cards and flicks a casino chip, creating the atmosphere of a high-stakes, otherworldly card game.
The score of the game is a soothing mix of reggae and blues with classic Motown music which perfectly complements the old-town gangster vibe of the game.
The core innovation is the slot’s dual-mode structure:
- Classic Mode: Functions like a traditional slot machine, evaluating wins across fixed paylines with wins starting from the leftmost reel. This mode is deliberately measured, setting the rhythm for the tension to come.
- Poker Mode: Activated by the landing of a Joker symbol. All pay symbols transform into poker cards, and each horizontal row is evaluated as a separate five-card Poker Hand. Wins are awarded based on a "Power Hand" paytable, ranging from 5x the bet (Two Pair) up to 2,000x the bet for a Royal Flush.
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Deal with Death Symbols: Card Suits and the Pivotal Joker
The pay symbols consist of eight regular icons: lower-value card suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts, spades) and four higher-value versions of these suits.
- Standard Payouts: Classic Mode payouts are modest, generally serving more as an "access ramp" to the game's real mechanics. Low-paying symbols award 2x to 3x the bet for 5 OAK, while high-paying symbols award 10x to 20x the stake for 5 OAK.
- *The symbol payout chart shown below is calculated based on a $1.00 bet.
- The Joker Symbol: This is where the excitement of the game really kicks in. In Classic Mode, the Joker acts as a Wild, substituting for all regular symbols. Upon landing, it instantly activates Poker Mode and transforms into one of four powerful variants.
Key Features of Deal with Death: Joker Modifiers and Poker Payouts
The Joker symbol is key to boosting wins within the Poker Mode by transforming into special variants.
Multiplier Jokers
- Hand Multiplier Joker: Applies a multiplier of x2 to x10 to the specific row it landed on.
- Global Multiplier Joker: Applies a multiplier of x2 to x10 to all winning Poker Hands across the entire grid for that spin. If both multiplier types affect the same win, their values are added together.
- Triple Trouble Joker: This unique feature acts like a Regular Joker initially to complete a hand. After Poker Hand wins are awarded, all cards on the grid are collected, shuffled, and the three best possible Poker Hands from the collected cards are re-dealt and paid out.
Free Spins: Three Tiers of Card play
Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters triggers one of three free spins features, all awarding an initial 10 spins. Landing additional scatters grants extra spins (+2 or +4).
- Deal With It Bonus Game (3 Scatters): Keeps the base game mechanics but with an increased chance of landing Joker symbols.
- Dealbreaker Bonus Game (4 Scatters): Introduces a progressive win mechanic: every Poker Hand win increases the base payout value for that specific hand, meaning subsequent wins on that row pay the accumulated, increasing amount.
- Fool's Gold Hidden Epic Bonus (5 Scatters): The most lucrative bonus, guaranteeing a Joker symbol on every single spin. This continuous Joker action forces the progressive row multipliers from the Dealbreaker mechanics to climb rapidly, creating the game's highest win potential.
Strategic Assessment: Volatility and Feature Buy Options
Deal with Death operates on a high-volatility math model, meaning big wins rely almost entirely on the bonus rounds and the complex interactions within Poker Mode. The base game's Classic Mode is deliberately uneventful, and its modest line wins are merely an avenue to trigger the action.
To accelerate exposure to the high-tension Poker mechanics and multiplier stacking, Hacksaw Gaming offers four Feature Buy options:
- BonusHunt FeatureSpins (3x the bet): Makes each spin five times more likely to trigger a bonus game. This provides a low-cost strategic advantage for players prioritizing feature access.
- Flippin' FeatureSpins (60x the bet): Guarantees a Joker symbol lands on every spin. This is a direct investment into the high-tension Poker Mode. We personally found this to be the most rewarding bonus buy for the price tag.
- Deal With It Bonus (100x the stake): Direct entry to the first tier of free spins.
- Dealbreaker Bonus (200x the stake): Direct entry to the lucrative, progressive free spins feature. As with the Deal With It Bonus, although these Bonus Buys may sound appealing, for such a high stake the returns weren’t always as expected.
Given the structure, these purchases are often viewed as essential for players seeking rapid exposure to the game's 20,000x potential, as they bypass the measured Classic Mode and immediately engage the multiplying Joker action.
Good Alternatives to Deal with Death
If you found Deal with Death enjoyable, we think these games could really be of interest to you:
- Life and Death: This slot features a haunting gothic atmosphere set in a mausoleum with eerie visuals and ominous sound design, evoking a chilling sense of the afterlife. The game includes thematic symbols like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as Wilds and bonus features that reinforce its dark, fate-driven narrative, making it a strong death-themed slot.
- Jack Hammer 4: Chasing the Dragon: Like Deal with Death this Netent slot goes beyond standard reel-and-pay gameplay by introducing layered mechanics that keep each spin engaging. It adds depth through evolving features such as cluster pays, respins, and special symbol interactions, appealing to players who enjoy more strategic, feature-driven slots. Further, the hue of the game has a similar old-town gangster vibe.
Our Opinion and Final Verdict
Deal with Death is a triumph of innovation from Hacksaw Gaming. The studio successfully fuses the worlds of slot machines and poker, creating a calculated, tense experience that stands out from typical casino fare. The brilliant system is centered around the pivotal Joker symbol, which transforms an ordinary spin into a high-stakes, card-flipping event, enhanced by multiplying Jokers and the thrilling Triple Trouble reshuffle. While the Classic Mode's measured pace might seem frustrating compared to the intense action of Poker Mode, the promise of the 20,000x max win potential and the engaging mechanics make this a top-tier title for strategic players and those who love a calculated risk.
James is a casino games expert on the Playcasino.com editorial team. With many years of professional experience at a leading casino game development company and a passion for playing casino games, James has become a true expert in slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and other games.
James uses this expertise to provide reliable, insider advice through his reviews and guides, breaking down the game rules and offering tips to help you win more often. Rely on James's extensive experience for expert advice on your casino play.
