Control the odds of each prize
Real prize wheels rarely give every prize the same chance. Add a weight to any line to change its odds. "Try again*4" makes it four times as likely as a normal slice, while "JACKPOT*0.5" makes the jackpot half as likely. Slice sizes change to match, so the wheel stays honest and transparent.
Prize wheel ideas
- Retail: 5% / 10% / 20% off, free delivery, buy-one-get-one, free sample.
- Events and trade shows: branded merch, stickers, coffee voucher, grand prize entry.
- Classroom rewards: homework pass, choose the music, 5 minutes extra break, sticker.
- Streams: shout-out, pick the next game, viewer challenge, sub giveaway.
- Office: extra hour for lunch, pick the team lunch, desk plant, gift card.
Tips for running a great giveaway
- Use full-screen mode on a TV or tablet at your booth.
- Turn the sound up, because the ticking draws a crowd.
- Use Share result to post winner graphics on social media.
- Check your local rules for promotions, contests and raffles.
Working out the odds of each prize
The chance of a prize is its weight divided by the total of all the weights. An entry with no weight counts as 1. Here is a five-prize wheel worked through, where the weights add up to 10.5.
| Entry | Weight | Chance per spin |
|---|---|---|
| Try again*4 | 4 | 38.1% |
| 10% OFF*3 | 3 | 28.6% |
| Free shipping*2 | 2 | 19.0% |
| Free gift | 1 | 9.5% |
| JACKPOT*0.5 | 0.5 | 4.8% |
Listing the same prize on several lines has the same effect as a weight, and it spreads that prize around the wheel so the result looks less predictable.
Budgeting a prize wheel
Before an event, work out what an average spin costs you: multiply the chance of each prize by what it costs to give away, then add the results. On the wheel above, with a typical discount worth £2, shipping £4, a gift £5 and a jackpot £50, the average comes to about £4.19 per spin.
Multiply by the number of spins you expect and you have a budget. Two hundred spins at that rate is roughly £840. If that is too much, raise the weight on Try again or lower it on the jackpot and work it out again.
Setting up at an event
- Build and test the wheel beforehand, then press Share and save the link so it can be reopened on any device.
- Load it once while you still have a connection. It keeps working if the venue wifi drops.
- Put it on the biggest screen you have, in full screen, with the sound on.
- Keep six to ten slices. More than that and people cannot read the prizes from a distance.
- Remove a one-off prize from the wheel as soon as it has been won.
If you are drawing a winner from a list of entrants rather than spinning for prizes, see how to pick a giveaway winner fairly.
Frequently asked questions
How many prizes should a prize wheel have?
Six to ten slices is the practical range. Fewer feels predictable, and more makes the labels too small to read from a distance.
How do I stop the jackpot being won twice?
Click Remove in the winner popup when the jackpot is won. It is taken off the wheel, and Restore brings it back for the next event.
How do I make some prizes rarer?
Add a weight after the prize, like "Grand prize*0.2" to make it rarer or "Try again*5" to make it more common. The slice size changes to match the odds.
Can I use the prize wheel at an event?
Yes. Open it on a laptop, tablet or TV and press full screen. It works offline once loaded and needs no account.
Can I pick giveaway winners from comments?
Yes. Paste the usernames into the Random Name Picker and spin live. Use Remove duplicates so each person has one entry.