Anyone who has never set foot inside a casino, but who has seen the famous TV show 'Wheel of Fortune' will have a pretty good idea of just what The Big Wheel game offers casino players.
The Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin is the latest feature which makes use of three mechanically-operated spinning wheels. This brilliant innovation by IGT adds to the game’s appeal. In addition, these thrilling features can be found on the wheel of fortune casino game: Overhead plasma screens and surround sound systems.
It is easy to see why many people enjoy playing The Big Wheel at casinos across the world. The game is very simple to play (very similar to how you would play another classic casino game, roulette but it is much easier to place bets in The Big Wheel), it is quick to play and it is also very eye-catching.
So what is it that makes this game one of the more popular in the world today? Let's take a look at it in a little more detail.
What is the Big Wheel?
The Big Wheel is precisely as described. It is a large wheel (usually well over a meter in diameter) that is usually divided into 52 subsections. Each of these subsections is marked either by a number or some other identifying symbol.
The wheel is positioned vertically, not horizontally like a roulette wheel, and is spun by the dealer for every turn. No player, other than the dealer, is allowed to touch the Big Wheel. The fact the wheel faces the crowd from a vertical position means it is much easier for everyone placing a bet on the spin to see the outcome.
On a typical Big Wheel there are seven different symbols or numbers, though they do not appear the same number of times on the wheel. Typically where numbers are used in The Big Wheel game, the numbers correspond to the factor by which your stake will be returned if you successfully predict the outcome of a spin.
Therefore, if you back the number 1 (the most numerous number on the wheel) and the spin sees the wheel land on number 1, you will win your stake back, plus one times your stake in winnings (So if you bet 1, you'd receive back your 1 stake, plus 1 profit).
The numbers on a typical Big Wheel Game are outlined below together with how much you would win for a successful 10 bet on each number (remembering you would also receive yours stake back with a successful bet). In addition I have outlined how many of each symbol are represented across the big wheels 52 available subsections:
In some casinos, symbols may be used instead of numbers and there are also variants of the game where slightly different numbers of symbols are used across the wheel. This may then alter the odds at which each successful spin on a symbol is paid out.
The Big Wheel is also known by several different names across the globe, such as Wheel of Fortune, Big Six, Money Wheel and Lucky Wheel.
The game is very popular particularly in Australia, New Zealand, Macau, the United States and United Kingdom.
How to play The Big Wheel
Playing The Big Wheel is very similar to how you would play roulette, only the layout for the bets on the Big Wheel is considerably less complex than a typical roulette spread. Players place their bets by selecting which of the numbers or symbols they think the wheel will land on next.
They then place their chips onto this symbol to place the bet. When the dealer calls no more bets, they will then start the wheel spinning.
When the spin is completed and the wheel has finished on a certain symbol, all losing bets are collected in by the dealer and all winning bets are paid out at the odds stated. A new round will then begin again with players once again placing bets.
Occasionally the Big Wheel may land on the thin strip which divides one symbol from the others on the reel. On the rare occasions that this happens. The dealer will announce 'no spin'. Players can then either reclaim their bets from the table, leave them in place for the following spin, or change the bet to a different symbol of their choice.
What are my chances when playing The Big Wheel?
The Big Wheel is a fabulous example of a casino game that is so easy to play and understand that it seems deceptively easy to win on.
A statistical analysis of a typical Big Wheel game reveals that the house edge for the game outlined above, popular in Australia is around 7.69% regardless of which bet you place.
In other countries and with other variations of the Big Wheel game, the difference in pay out levels and the number of symbols on the Big Wheel compared to the number of slots available can radically alter the house edge.
Indeed in some American casinos, the house edge on some bets can be as much as 24.07%.
Effectively this means that the house edge for the Big Wheel game listed above (at 7.69%) means that the house has a significant advantage over the player on every spin.
So how does a typical Big Wheel Bet compare?
Let's say you want to place a 10 bet on a casino game. You choose big wheel and you decide to place your 10 on the 1 symbol, the even money bet.
There are 24 symbols on the wheel that will give you a win out of a total of 52. This means you have a 46.15% chance of hitting the symbol you need to double your money.
How does this compare with, lets say, a red or black bet on a European roulette wheel?
The single zero European Roulette wheel has 18 red segments, 18 black and one green. That means there are 37 segments, 18 of which will result in you winning your bet.
This means that in roulette, you have a 48.65% chance of hitting the color you need on a spin in order to win your bet.
This means that you are 2.5% less likely on every spin of The Big Wheel to be successful compared to roulette.
Another thing to watch out for when playing The Big Wheel is to avoid falling into the trap of the gambler's fallacy. Remember, every spin is an entirely random event. Just because preceding numbers have followed a certain pattern or seem to be showing a certain trend, this is simply down to random effects. The game isn't following any mystic pattern you can predict to win.
However, don't let that put you off. The Big Wheel is a hugely entertaining, fun and fast game to play and it has many outstanding features that make it a real joy to play and it is that enjoyment which should keep you coming back to play.
Why not check out the big wheel next time when visiting your local casino? Better yet check out the games online!
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