Wheel of Fortune
Thanks to its popularity and simplicity, the Wheel of Fortune is the first game that most people see when entering the American casino. There’s usually a large crowd gathered around the wheel and cheering while they wait for the end of the spin.
The game itself is known by many names, including the Money Wheel, the Big Six and the Wheel of Fortune, and is based on a popular game with roots back in the days of chariot warfare.
After a brutal battle, the victors would have the difficult problem of figuring out how to share the spoils. In order to limit fighting amongst themselves, the commanders encouraged games of chance to settle any disputes. The overturned chariots lying on the battlefield were perfect for that purpose. They would stick a spear into the ground next to a wheel to represent the pointer and every participant placed his mark between two spokes. The wheel was spun and the winner was determined by whichever soldier’s mark ended up closer to the spear. He then could take his trophy without a fight.
Exchanging their swords for shouts, former soldiers introduced this game of chance into ancient harvest festivals. A large vertical wheel nearly two meters high was used at festivals so that it would be visible even from a distance. This tradition is carried on to this day at many local festivals. It’s alive and well in the modern era, as game show Wheel of Fortune attests.
Wheel of Fortune’s rules are very simple: players make bets on sectors of the wheel and, if the marker lands on the chosen sector, the bet wins and pays according to a predetermined coefficient.
There are two main types of the Wheel of Fortune: American and Australian.
American Wheel of Fortune
Total number of symbols on the wheel: 54.
| Bet Name | Payout | Number of Symbols on the Wheel | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:1 | 24 | 11.11% |
| 2 | 2:1 | 15 | 16.67% |
| 5 | 5:1 | 7 | 22.22% |
| 10 | 10:1 | 4 | 18.52% |
| 20 | 20:1 | 2 | 22.22% |
| Joker | 40:1 | 1 | 24.07% |
| Logotype | 40:1 | 1 | 24.07% |
Australian Wheel of Fortune
Total number of symbols on the wheel: 52.
| Bet Name | Payout | Number of Symbols on the Wheel | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:1 | 24 | 7.69% |
| 3 | 3:1 | 12 | 7.69% |
| 5 | 5:1 | 8 | 7.69% |
| 11 | 11:1 | 4 | 7.69% |
| 23 | 23:1 | 2 | 7.69% |
| Joker | 47:1 | 1 | 7.69% |
| Logotype | 47:1 | 1 | 7.69% |
Now compare the above odds with BetVoyager’s original Wheel of Fortune.
BetVoyager’s Wheel of Fortune
Total number of symbols on the wheel: 49.
| Bet Name | Payout | Number of Symbols on the Wheel | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1:1 | 24 | 2.04% |
| 3 | 3:1 | 12 | 2.04% |
| 7 | 7:1 | 6 | 2.04% |
| 15 | 15:1 | 3 | 2.04% |
| 23 | 23:1 | 2 | 2.04% |
| Joker | 47:1 | 1 | 2.04% |
| Logotype | 47:1 | 1 | 2.04% |
Clearly, while we preserved the game’s basics and appeal, the house edge on our Wheel of Fortune is less even than on European roulette.
Don’t forget that one of the Tarot cards is also named the Wheel of Fortune. It symbolizes constant change, constant formation and destruction, and the ephemeral nature of happiness and misery. The card is considered a symbol of progress and it doesn’t give gifts. In order to win, it is necessary to be deliberately wishful, daring, and fearless. The card can represent unexpected good fortune, but it should always be remembered that the wheel’s spinning represents the cyclical nature of things and events.