Dead Man's Riches rules, travelling Wilds and RTP

Dead Man’s Riches is PG Soft catalogue ID 1865521, code dead-man-riches. The English information document is version 1.0 r4, updated 8 July 2025. It uses five reels, three rows and 20 lines, with red and blue Skull Wilds that travel in different directions between respins.

The supplier records 96.75% RTP, high volatility and a 10,000× maximum win. These are reference-build values. They do not establish New Zealand availability, NZD stake limits or presence in a named operator lobby.

Verified specification

Field	PG Soft value	Verification scope
Identity	1865521 · dead-man-riches	Official catalogue
Rules file	1.0 r4 · 8 July 2025	English PDF
Layout	5 reels × 3 rows · 20 lines	Collapsing presentation
RTP	96.75%	Reference configuration
RTP split	59.72% main · 37.03% feature	Supplier simulation
Hit rate	27.10% overall	Not a profit rate
Volatility	High	Session label
Free Spins trigger	3+ Scatters	Choice follows trigger
Free Spins choices	15 standard or 8 persistent	Different Wild behaviour
Maximum win	10,000× bet	Round-ending ceiling
Euro defaults	€0.20–€100	Not confirmed NZ limits

The platform list covers iOS, Android, HTML5, macOS and Windows. The reference portrait resolution is 1080×2340.

Three Wild types have separate jobs

Red Skull, Blue Skull and Captain symbols substitute for regular symbols but not Scatter. Their movement is not decorative. A Red Skull moves down one position at the start of the next respin or free spin; if already on the third row, it leaves the grid. A Blue Skull moves one reel left and exits when already on reel one.

This creates a predictable path once a Skull appears. A red symbol has at most the remaining rows beneath it, while a blue symbol has the remaining reels to its left. The actual value still depends on line wins and multipliers.

Record the initial position before movement. A final screenshot cannot prove where the Wild began or whether it should have remained for another respin.

Travelling Wild respins

One or more Red or Blue Skull Wilds in a paid spin activate the Travelling Wild Feature after wins are paid. A respin follows with every qualifying Skull moving according to its direction.

The sequence continues while at least one Red or Blue Skull remains. If neither is present after movement and settlement, no further respin is awarded. A Captain alone follows its own split rule and should not be treated as an indefinite respin anchor.

Each line win involving a multiplier-bearing Wild is multiplied. The paytable and history should be used to identify the base line amount before the factor is applied.

Captain collisions combine multipliers

When a Red Skull and Blue Skull move into the same cell, they merge into a Wild Captain. Their multipliers are added; a Wild without a printed factor counts as 1× for this calculation.

On the following respin, the Captain separates back into one Red and one Blue Skull. Both carry the combined multiplier. They then continue along their respective downward and leftward paths.

For example, a 2× Red and 3× Blue meeting in one cell create a 5× Captain, not 6×. On the next movement both resulting Skulls carry 5×. This example explains arithmetic only and does not predict how often a collision occurs.

The Free Spins choice changes persistence

Three or more Scatters open a choice between 15 Free Spins and 8 Free Spins with Persistent Wild Symbols. The options are not equivalent labels for the same feature.

The 15-spin route provides more initial spins but allows travelling Wilds to leave in the usual way. The eight-spin route returns a Red Skull that moves below the grid to the top row and a Blue Skull that exits left to reel five. That looping behaviour keeps them available through the remaining feature.

During either route, a total of two Wilds on the reels awards two extra spins, four Wilds awards three, and six Wilds awards five. Record the Wild count and updated counter at the same moment because extensions depend on the total visible number.

The better choice cannot be declared from the initial spin count alone. One offers length; the other offers persistence. Neither promises a particular return in one feature.

Scatter Buy Bet

The rules also describe a Scatter Buy Bet option. Activating one or more levels raises the stake to the value displayed and guarantees one or more Scatters on each paid spin, excluding Free Spins.

It is not the same as purchasing the completed feature. Guaranteed Scatters can still leave the board below the three-symbol trigger. The live interface is the only source for the price and number guaranteed by each selectable level.

Capture the ordinary stake, enhanced stake and guarantee before confirming. Operator or jurisdiction settings may remove the control altogether.

RTP and hit-rate interpretation

The 96.75% model allocates 59.72% to the main game and 37.03% to the feature. PG Soft reports a 27.10% overall hit rate, split between 26.54% main play and 0.56% feature contribution.

Hit rate does not mean that 27.10% of spins create a net gain. An award can be smaller than the stake. RTP is a long-run ratio across a very large simulation, not a session forecast.

High volatility remains relevant because travelling multipliers can concentrate value in uncommon collision sequences. A long Wild route does not by itself prove a large cash result.

Maximum win and line settlement

The 10,000× maximum covers cumulative winnings in the main game or Free Spins. Once reached, the active sequence ends. The cap includes multiplier-enhanced line results and is not paid in addition to them.

Because the game has 20 lines, a matching symbol set must occupy a documented active line. Similar symbols elsewhere do not automatically combine. The bet menu should show the total stake rather than inviting calculation from an unverified coin value.

Euro defaults in the supplier file are not evidence of local currency. Check the loaded bet panel for denomination, total stake and maximum.

Mobile and interruption checks

On a phone, confirm that Wild colour, direction, multiplier, remaining spins, stake and balance are all visible. Red and blue lighting can be confused on a dim display, so use the symbol shape and movement as well as colour.

If a connection drops mid-respin, save the timestamp and reopen the same game. Compare the resumed or completed result with account history and retain the round ID. A server-settled result can complete even when the animation is interrupted.

Turbo changes animation duration, not Wild travel rules. Disable it when collecting evidence so collisions and splits can be followed.

Practical assessment

Dead Man’s Riches is best suited to readers who enjoy following persistent state across several respins. Its central decision—more starting spins or fewer spins with looping Wilds—is meaningful and easy to document.

It is less suitable for someone seeking a fixed-grid result resolved in a single stop. High volatility, directional movement and multiplier inheritance create more bookkeeping than the simple 5×3 board suggests.

The most important checks are the active RTP, Scatter Buy cost and exact Free Spins choice shown in the loaded version.

A compact replay note

For a useful replay record, write the moving Wild sequence as coordinates rather than relying on the animation. A note such as “red entered column four, moved down, met blue on the second row, Captain continued left” preserves the order in which the rules were applied. Add the factor shown on each Wild before the collision and the Captain’s displayed factor after it. This makes it possible to test the additive rule without interpreting celebratory graphics. If the feature ends because a Wild leaves the grid, record that exit separately from a symbol that simply did not form a paying combination. The distinction matters when comparing the ordinary 15-spin route with the eight-spin travelling-Wild route.

Evidence checklist

1. Match ID 1865521 and code dead-man-riches.
2. Record the Help-screen RTP and currency.
3. Capture each Skull’s starting position and factor.
4. Add, rather than multiply, factors when a Captain forms.
5. Note which Free Spins route was selected.
6. Save round history and account ledger entries for a dispute.

FAQ

What triggers the travelling respins?

At least one Red or Blue Skull Wild appearing in a main-game spin activates them after wins are paid.

How does a Wild Captain form?

A Red and Blue Skull moving into the same position combine, adding their multipliers.

What are the two Free Spins choices?

Players choose 15 ordinary Free Spins or eight with travelling Wilds that re-enter after leaving the grid.

What is the RTP?

The checked PDF and catalogue state 96.75% for the reference configuration.

What is the maximum win?

The documented ceiling is 10,000× the bet.

Is New Zealand operator availability confirmed?

No. This page verifies supplier rules without claiming local deployment.

Sources

• PG Soft, Dead Man’s Riches Game Information, version 1.0 r4, updated 8 July 2025.
• PG Soft official catalogue record for ID 1865521, checked 8 October 2026.

How to verify the version you can actually open

A provider page proves that a title exists and describes the supplier's intended rules. It does not prove that a casino accepts players in New Zealand, that the title is enabled for a particular account, or that the highest published RTP is the version in the lobby. Treat availability, operator eligibility and product configuration as three separate checks.

Start with identity, then configuration

Open the game only through the authenticated casino lobby. The information or help panel should identify PG Soft, the exact title and the active mathematical return. Compare the reel or grid layout, paylines or cluster rules, named features and symbol behaviour with the official product material. Similar artwork or a matching title is not enough when the help file is missing or inconsistent.

When the supplier publishes several RTP values, report all of them as configurations. Do not assume the highest option is deployed. RTP is a theoretical long-run measure across a very large number of rounds; it is not a refund rate for one player and cannot predict the next result. Volatility is different: it describes how unevenly results are distributed on the provider's scale.

Read stake controls as money, not interface decoration

Provider sheets often quote a reference range in euros. That range does not establish New Zealand-dollar support or the limits in a specific account. Before a paid round, identify the total amount that will leave the balance. If the interface separates denomination, coins and lines, verify the combined total. If Extra Bet is active, calculate its full cost before pressing spin.

Feature-buy prices are multiples of the current bet, not promised returns. A 100x purchase at a $1 stake costs $100; at a $2 stake it costs $200. Availability can vary by market and some mathematical configurations may not support the control. If the live help does not explain the price, delivered feature and active RTP, leave the option unused.

Keep simulation figures in their proper scope

A game sheet may publish a maximum result observed in a large simulation. That is not automatically the contractual maximum payout and never describes a likely session. Preserve the provider's wording, sample size and configuration. Check the live rules for a binding cap and the operator terms for any separate payout limit. Do not turn an extreme result into a promotional headline.

Audit a disputed round

If an animation freezes or a connection drops, do not repeat the wager immediately. Reopen the game through the authenticated lobby and inspect round history. Record the time, total stake, balance movement and round identifier. The result can be settled by the gaming system even when the device never displays the final animation. Send evidence through verified operator support; never disclose a password, recovery phrase or one-time code.

Read the paytable as a calculation document

The paytable should explain what creates a win, which symbols substitute, where special symbols can land and how multiple awards combine. For line games, confirm direction and active paylines. For cluster games, confirm adjacency, minimum group size and the order of collection. For respins, identify what remains locked, what resets the counter and what ends the feature. A graphic effect can illustrate those rules but cannot replace them.

Separate addition from multiplication. Several prize values may be added before a multiplier applies, while reel-specific multipliers can sometimes multiply together only when each reel participates in the same win. Reconstruct one low-stake result from game history. If the arithmetic cannot be matched to the help file, stop and ask the operator rather than guessing.

Do not confuse hit frequency with a profitable round

Provider sheets can publish hit frequency or category probabilities. A hit simply means a round returned a qualifying amount; it can be smaller than the stake. “Big”, “Mega” or “Epic” thresholds are provider reporting categories, not promises. They are useful for comparing mathematical versions only when definitions and samples are the same.

Random outcomes do not become due after a long gap. A feature that appeared repeatedly in a demo or marketing clip has no obligation to repeat in a funded session. Previous rounds do not create a debt from the next random result.

Confirm market and device behaviour independently

A title can exist in the supplier catalogue while an operator disables it for a territory, currency, device or bonus. Language localisation is not evidence of legal availability. Confirm the operator's identity, accepted countries and current lobby separately from the provider review.

On mobile, verify that balance, total bet, feature state and help remain visible without overlap. On desktop, check that browser zoom does not hide a purchase control or change the apparent denomination. Mathematical configuration should not change merely because the screen changes; if the help shows another RTP, treat it as a different deployment and record it.

Keep a compact evidence record

For any fact used in a review, save the title, provider, official URL, document date when available, access date and exact territorial scope. For a live session, add the operator domain, Game ID, RTP, currency and a non-sensitive screenshot of the help panel. This makes later corrections possible when a supplier updates a sheet or an operator changes configuration.

Missing information should remain missing. Do not estimate an RTP from results, convert a euro reference range into an operator's NZD limit, or treat another casino's configuration as evidence. A transparent “not confirmed” is more useful than a precise-looking number without the correct source.

Use limits that survive the feature design

Collection meters, expanding grids, sticky symbols and near misses can make a session feel unfinished. Unless the rules explicitly preserve progress, the visible state has no value after the round or feature ends. Set a money limit and time limit before launch, count feature buys immediately, and stop at the limit even when a meter appears close to an upgrade.

No random game is an income plan. Do not borrow, use essential funds or raise the stake to recover a loss. If play stops feeling recreational, use timeout, deposit-limit or self-exclusion tools and consult the site's responsible gambling guide.