Prize games
The big prize should be rare and the small prizes common.
Try a ready list
Make it yours
Weighted Wheel
A normal wheel gives every option the same chance. A weighted wheel changes that. You decide how likely each option is.
Make "pizza" twice as likely as "salad". Or give a big prize a 5% chance and a sticker a 40% chance. The draw is still random. Only your odds change.
Many people search for a rigged wheel spinner. In plain words, this is what that means. It works best when everyone knows the odds.
How to Set the Odds
The free wheels have no weight box. You set the odds by repeating entries. Each copy of an entry adds one more chance for it.
- Add your options.
- Repeat the ones you want to win more often. Three copies of "pizza" and one of "salad" give pizza a 75% chance and salad 25%.
- Work out the chances. An option's chance is its copies divided by the total number of lines. The wheel does not show percentages, so do the sum yourself.
- Spin. The winner is drawn using those odds.
Each copy gets its own slice, so a repeated option appears in several places around the wheel. If you would rather see one wide slice per option, open Customize and turn off Display duplicates. The odds stay the same. The Quick lists menu has a Prize odds example that is already set up this way.
The Math Behind a Weighted Wheel
The chance of any option is its number of copies divided by the total.
| Option | Copies | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Small prize | 5 | 50% |
| Medium prize | 3 | 30% |
| Big prize | 1 | 10% |
| Try again | 1 | 10% |
The total is 10 lines. Notice that changing one option changes every other chance too, because the total changes.
When a Weighted Wheel Is Useful
Party games
Some results should be more likely than others.
Teaching probability
Let the class predict, spin 50 times, and compare the results with the odds.
Everyday choices
You prefer one option but want some surprise. For dinner, use 3 copies of "cook at home" and 1 of "takeout".
Role-play and story games
Make some events likely and others rare.
Rigged Wheel Spinner: Be Open About It
Setting the odds is fine when everyone knows. It stops being fun, and can stop being honest, when people think the odds are equal and they are not. Follow these rules.
- Tell the players the odds, or show the list on screen.
- Do not use a weighted wheel for contests or giveaways where people expect a fair draw. For those, use the giveaway picker or the raffle wheel with equal odds.
- Do not use it to trick people. If a choice matters to someone, they deserve a fair draw.
Weighted Wheel or Rigged Wheel Spinner: Which Do You Need?
If you want fair, use an equal wheel, like the home wheel or the decision maker. If you want custom odds, use a weighted wheel. For a prize game with different chances, the prize wheel uses the same idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a weighted wheel?
It is a wheel where options have different chances, and you set them.
Is a weighted wheel random?
Yes. Your browser's secure random tool still picks the winner at random. It just uses your odds.
How do I make one option more likely?
Enter it more than once. Each copy adds one more chance.
Can I make a wheel always land on one option?
That is a fixed result, not a wheel. We do not offer it, because the point of a wheel is a fair draw.
Is it free?
Yes. It is free, and you do not need an account.