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Big Six
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Introduction
This game is known by many different names, including Big Six, Wheel of Fortune, Money Wheel, Big Wheel, and Lucky Wheel. Regardless of the title, it consists of a large vertical wheel on which players place their bets on the number they believe it will land on. The odds of winning directly correspond to the number bet on; for instance, betting on 5 yields odds of 5 to 1.
While the odds may not be in your favor, the game is often accompanied at the entrance by a captivating dealer, which has become a staple of the Vegas experience.
Las Vegas Rules
The table below illustrates the various betting options available, along with their corresponding payout odds, the numbers represented on the wheel, and the house edge rules governing Big Six games in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 24 | 44.44% | 11.11% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 7 | 12.96% | 22.22% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
| Logo #2 | 40 | 1 | 1.85% | 24.07% |
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Live games
Atlantic City Rules
In Atlantic City, the game mirrors that of Las Vegas, with the only difference being that one position worth $1 is adjusted to $5, and the payout for the two logo bets is 45 instead of 40.
Atlantic City Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 23 | 42.59% | 14.81% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 8 | 14.81% | 11.11% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 45 | 1 | 1.85% | 14.81% |
| Logo #2 | 45 | 1 | 1.85% | 14.81% |
Draft Kings Rules
Draft Kings follows rules identical to those in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but the two logos provide a payout of 50 to 1, which reduces the house edge on these bets to 5.56%.
Draft Kings Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 23 | 42.59% | 14.81% |
| $2 | 2 | 15 | 27.78% | 16.67% |
| $5 | 5 | 8 | 14.81% | 11.11% |
| $10 | 10 | 4 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| $20 | 20 | 2 | 3.70% | 22.22% |
| Logo #1 | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
| Logo #2 | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
Macau Rules
In Macau, there is a comparable game, though it seems less popular in that region. Larger casinos may feature one or two of these wheels. The wheel maintains the same dimensions but instead displays various colors instead of monetary values. The following table provides insights into the number of stops on the wheel, the probabilities, and the returns associated with each wager. The optimal bets are orange, purple, and green, each with a probability of 7.69%.
Big Six — Macau Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | 1 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Purple | 3 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| Green | 5 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| Blue | 10 | 4 | 7.69% | 15.38% |
| Yellow | 20 | 2 | 3.85% | 19.23% |
| Logo 1 | 45 | 1 | 1.92% | 11.54% |
| Logo 2 | 45 | 1 | 1.92% | 11.54% |
Australia Rules
Star City casino in Sydney features an analogous game dubbed the 'Big Wheel,' which replaces cash with Australian animal symbols. The following table demonstrates that the house edge remains constant at 7.69% across all betting options.
Big Six — Australia Rules
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koala | 1 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| Kookaburra | 3 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| Lizard | 5 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| Echidna | 11 | 4 | 7.69% | 7.69% |
| Platypus | 23 | 2 | 3.85% | 7.69% |
| Emu | 47 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
| Kangaroo | 47 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
Aruze & Interblock Lucky Big Wheel
Aruze and Interblock are manufacturers of electronic table games, both offering Big Six wheels that are mathematically equal in terms of game play. The subsequent tables detail the betting options, the number of available stops, the probability of winning, and the corresponding house edge.
Aruze and Interblock Big Six Wheel
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | 1 | 26 | 48.15% | 3.70% |
| $3 | 3 | 13 | 24.07% | 3.70% |
| $6 | 6 | 7 | 12.96% | 9.26% |
| $12 | 12 | 4 | 7.41% | 3.70% |
| $25 | 25 | 2 | 3.70% | 3.70% |
| Flag | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
| Joker | 50 | 1 | 1.85% | 5.56% |
| Total | 54 | 100.00% |
Moreover, Aruze produces a variant of the game that features a $6.50 symbol instead of $6, with the Joker and Flag bets offering payouts of 52 rather than 50. I’ve encountered this more generous version at Star City casino in Sydney, Australia. The complete odds are displayed below.
Aruze Lucky Big Wheel — Australia variant.
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 26 | 48.15% | 3.70% |
| 3 | 3 | 13 | 24.07% | 3.70% |
| 6.5 | 6.5 | 7 | 12.96% | 2.78% |
| 12 | 12 | 4 | 7.41% | 3.70% |
| 25 | 25 | 2 | 3.70% | 3.70% |
| Joker | 52 | 1 | 1.85% | 1.85% |
| Flag | 52 | 1 | 1.85% | 1.85% |
| Total | 54 | 100.00% |
The house edge for both iterations of the Aruze game is noticeably lower than the standard Big Six game, particularly when played with a live dealer.
Gamesys
Online casinos utilizing Gamesys software host two distinct Wheel of Fortune games, each featuring a 49-stop wheel with various prize amounts: $1, $3, $7, $15, $23, and $47. The table below outlines the possible outcomes for each prize, including their payouts, winning probabilities, and the house edge. It's evident that every betting option carries a house edge of just 2.04%, making it the finest Big Six/Wheel of Fortune game I have encountered.
Gamesys Version
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24 | 0.489796 | 0.020408 |
| 3 | 3 | 12 | 0.244898 | 0.020408 |
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 0.122449 | 0.020408 |
| 15 | 15 | 3 | 0.061224 | 0.020408 |
| 23 | 23 | 2 | 0.040816 | 0.020408 |
| Logo | 47 | 1 | 0.020408 | 0.020408 |
| Joker | 47 | 1 | 0.020408 | 0.020408 |
| Total | 49 | 1.000000 |
They also provide a version with 'zero house edge,' where the gameplay remains the same except for the following adjustments:
- If the wheel lands on the Logo, all bets excluding the Logo will result in a push instead of a loss.
- If the wheel stops on the Joker, any bet placed on the Logo will also result in a push rather than a loss.
This adjustment changes one potential loss to a push for all bets, effectively reducing the house edge to precisely 0.00%. However, there’s a stipulation: players are required to pay a 10% commission on net wins within each 'gambling session.' If there is a break of an hour or longer between bets, the session concludes, and no session can extend beyond 24 hours.
KGM
I came across this machine during the 2018 Global Gaming Expo. The Bonus feature offers prizes on a separate prize wheel with amounts of 5, 20, 50, 100, 250, and 1000. The weighting of these prizes remains unknown, hence I’m leaving the return for this feature as uncertain.
Aruze Lucky Big Wheel — American variant.
| Bet | Number on Wheel |
Probability | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | 24 | 46.15% | 7.69% |
| $4 | 12 | 23.08% | 7.69% |
| $6 | 8 | 15.38% | 7.69% |
| $16 | 3 | 5.77% | 7.69% |
| $24 | 2 | 3.85% | 7.69% |
| $48 | 1 | 1.92% | 7.69% |
| Bonus | 2 | 3.85% | ? |
| Total | 52 | 100.00% |
Interblock Big Six
Another product from Interblock is named 'Big Six.' This game adheres to the same guidelines as the Australian version but introduces two additional slices entitled 'Super Spin.' When a player bets on Super Spin and the wheel lands on one of these slices, a secondary electronic wheel at the center of the main wheel will spin to determine the potential payout. Wins can be 20, 50, 75, 100, 500, and 1000. However, the specific weightings of this inner wheel are unfamiliar to me. Company materials I acquired at the 2019 Global Gaming Expo suggested that there are five distinct payout tables for the Super Spin feature. I later saw this game at the Resorts World casino in New York City.
The subsequent table outlines the potential returns for each wager, structured on a 'to one' basis. It reflects an overall return of 88.89% across all bets (yielding an 11.11% house edge), except for the Super Spin, which I cannot precisely evaluate due to a lack of information regarding the wheel's weightings.
Interblock Big Six
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 24 | 44.44% | 88.89% |
| 3 | 3 | 12 | 22.22% | 88.89% |
| 5 | 5 | 8 | 14.81% | 88.89% |
| 11 | 11 | 4 | 7.41% | 88.89% |
| 23 | 23 | 2 | 3.70% | 88.89% |
| Red Diamond | 47 | 1 | 1.85% | 88.89% |
| Yellow Diamond | 47 | 1 | 1.85% | 88.89% |
| Super Spin | ? | 2 | 3.70% | ? |
| Total | 54 | 100.00% |
Wheel
At BetFury.io, there is a game called Wheel that serves as another variant of Big Six, seemingly developed in-house. Wheel offers four distinct betting options. The following table breaks down the number of slices tied to each bet and their respective odds.
Wheel
| Bet | Pays | Number on Wheel |
Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 2 | 26 | 0.481481 | 0.962963 |
| Red | 3 | 17 | 0.314815 | 0.944444 |
| Green | 5 | 10 | 0.185185 | 0.925926 |
| Yellow | 50 | 1 | 0.018519 | 0.925926 |
| Total | 54 | 1.000000 |
Other Wheel Games
- Money Wheel This game resembles Big Six but incorporates multipliers and additional spins for added excitement.
- Wheel It looks akin to Big Six, yet operates more like roulette with 19 possible outcomes. This is a live dealer game from BetGames.tv.
- Dream Catcher , by Evolution Gaming This game has similarities with Big Six while providing 2x and 7x multipliers for enhanced betting opportunities.