This text describes the RTP versions of Dead Canary and the way Australian online gambling law relates to the game. Three RTPs for this slot appear on the game sheet from Nolimit City, and the casino decides which one to use. Online slots of this type cannot be legally offered to individuals in Australia under Australian law.
Fundamental details are handled well in other places. Dead Canary is a Nolimit City slot with a mining theme that came out on 20 December 2022. It has six reels and a top win of 65,000 times the bet. The provider states the odds of achieving that maximum win are 1 in 7 million.
Three RTP versions, one game
The game page from the provider displays 96.02%. Three choices are listed on its operator game sheet:
- 96.02% (game ID DeadCanary)
- 94.12% (DeadCanaryDX1)
- 92.11% (DeadCanaryDX2)
All three share the same features and artwork. Only the long-run return varies. The 96.02% version is the one where the 1-in-7-million max-win figure applies.
A version of 87.25% is also mentioned on one secondary page. Since that number isn't among the options the provider lists, treat it as incorrect.
What the gap costs
On average, play costs the amount staked multiplied by the house edge, which is 100% minus the RTP. This represents a long-run average. One session can end anywhere.
| Play | 96.02% | 94.12% | 92.11% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 spins at A$0.20 (A$20.00 staked) | A$0.80 | A$1.18 | A$1.58 |
| 100 spins at A$1.00 (A$100.00 staked) | A$3.98 | A$5.88 | A$7.89 |
Over 1,000 spins at A$1.00, the 92.11% version costs A$39.10 more on average than the 96.02% one.
Checking which version is running
You can find the RTP for the specific copy you're using on the paytable or info screen within the game. Look at the number shown there. Don't assume a site runs the version mentioned on a review page.
The general help file from the provider uses "XX.XX%" as a placeholder instead of a real value. This is why the in-game screen is the place to check.
xBet is not a fourth version
Each spin costs 40% more with xBet. This feature ensures a scatter and unlocks the initial barrier. Nolimit City states that payouts for symbols remain the same, and no distinct RTP for xBet is provided. Values like 96.33% or 96.39% aren't selectable versions of the base game.
The top stake rises from 100 to 140 when xBet is active.
How the grid and features work
The opening grid
The layout begins as 3-3-2-2-1-1, and barriers block three rows. It can open up to 3-4-3-4-3-4. A blocked row opens following any of these:
- a win
- an xBomb exploding beside the barrier
- a Wild Mining trigger
Descriptions calling the game a five-reel slot are incorrect. It contains six reels.
Wild Mining
Wild Mining fires if three, four or five identical paying symbols appear diagonally but don't result in a win. These symbols change into one, two or three Wild bombs. Every blast increases the win multiplier for the following collapse by one.
xBomb Wilds
An xBomb replaces any symbol besides scatters. It then destroys the symbols in a cross shape around itself, but leaves scatters and other xBombs alone. It also increases the multiplier for the following collapse by one.
Volatility and hit rate
Some pages list the volatility as 26.20%, but this number is actually the hit frequency. The game sheet describes the volatility as Extreme (10).
Other rates from the sheet:
- Free spins appear roughly 1 in 197 spins.
- A 100x win occurs roughly 1 in 903 spins.
- For the 96.02% version, 61.80% of the return is from the main game and 34.22% is from the bonus.
Canary Freespins
The bonus is triggered by three scatters, which appear in gold or silver cages. You start with three spins, but any xBomb will reset this number to three.
Coins, modifiers and multipliers are gathered by each canary:
- Silver cages gather in an X pattern one space away.
- Gold cages gather in an X pattern across the full rows.
A bird's haul is paid only when it dies. Gas and xBombs each remove one of a bird's three hit points. Once a bird dies, it respawns in its cage and starts collecting again. If a bird is still alive when the round ends, its collection isn't paid.
Vaults in the four corners also collect, though they remain locked until an xBomb opens them. These opened vaults pay when the bonus ends.
The way the birds function is changed by three modifiers:
- Upgrades add a hit point and change silver cages to gold.
- The dwarf causes a bird to collect from every other bird on every spin.
- The rat causes a bird to share its value with all other birds on every spin.
The round ends at 65,000x if any win exceeds 65,000x.
Stakes and the bonus buy
Nolimit City shows stakes from 0.20 to 100. According to its game sheet, bonus buy costs range from 68 to 500 times the base bet. The provider mentions that the buy may be removed in some regulated markets.
Australian law
Local or offshore operators may not provide online casino games, such as slots, to individuals in Australia. Advertising them here is also prohibited (Interactive Gambling Act 2001, s 15). The ACMA has the websites of offshore providers that breach the Act blocked. The offences are the providers', not the players'.
Since no online casino can obtain a licence here, Australia does not have an RTP minimum or stake cap for online slots. There is no guarantee that any site is using the 96.02% version.
Wagering advertising is the main focus of the gambling reforms starting mostly on 1 January 2027. They don't establish an exception for online slots.
BetStop, the national self-exclusion register, only applies to licensed phone and online wagering. Online casino games aren't covered by it.
Nolimit City's game page offers a free demo with no money involved. Set your limits before you start if you gamble in any form.