The Big Six Wheel is known by several names, including the Money Wheel and Wheel of Fortune. This game had its origins in chariot races but found its popularity as a carnival game.

How It Started

Soldiers in ancient Greece played a game where they would mark sections on a shield and then spin the shield on top of a spear. The soldiers would place bets on where the shield would stop.

Another variation of this game was used to determine the way soldiers settled disputes and divided the spoils of battle. After each soldier made his mark on an upended chariot wheel, a spear was thrust into the ground near the chariot. The wheel was spun and when it stopped, the soldier whose mark was closest to the spear was declared the winner without argument or fighting.

Because it was simple to play, this wheel game endured over time. One thought is that the chariot wheel version may have been the precursor of today’s roulette game. But it is undoubtedly the birth of the Wheel of Fortune-style game.

The game first gained popularity in the United States at carnivals. The large wheel could be seen easily from the fairways, even after crowds gathered around the game to place their bets. Even today, the Big Six wheel is a fixture at carnivals and fairs around the country. Most people are familiar with the television game show Wheel of Fortune, which is a horizontal version of the same game. Eventually, the wheel moved into the casinos as a game of chance.

How It Works

In casino play, the wheel is vertical with a fixed indicator or pointer. The wheel has 54 sections in six groups that represent the betting slots. The number of sections is inversely proportional to the odds that are offered. The objective is to guess which group of slots the indicator will point to when the wheel stops.

The player places a bet on the table before the wheel is spun. The marked number indicated when the wheel stops is the winning number. This number will also determine the pay off.

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