Hobbies And Interests
Big 6 Money Wheel
The U.S. version of "Big 6 Money Wheel" (or "The Big Six") features 54 sections on a vertical wheel, with each section separated by a fixed pin or peg on the edge. Following a spin of the wheel, a leather or rubber flapper, resting still at the wheel's 12 o'clock position, determines the winning number.
Six groups comprise the 54 sections, identified by the following: $1, which pays 1 to 1 and fills 24 slots; $2, which pays 2 to 1 and fills 15 slots; $5, which pays 5 to 1 and fills seven slots; $10, which pays 10 to 1 and fills four slots; $20, which pays 20 to 1 and fills two slots; and one joker slot and one casino logo slot, each paying 40 to 1 (some establishments may pay 45 to 1).
At the table, players place bets (in the form of money or chips) on top of the symbol corresponding to the wheel's numbers. Players place as many bets as they like per spin and may wager until the dealer says, "No more bets." The dealer then spins the wheel, calling the winning number/symbol, as determined by wherever the flapper stops. The dealer collects all losing bets and then pays all winning bets.
Another variation of the game features dice combinations on the wheel.
Roulette
Rather than a flapper, a small white ball determines the winner in roulette. The horizontal wheel consists of 38 slots: two green slots marked "0" and "00," and 36 slots (half red, half black) containing the numbers 1 through 36.
Players place bets on a variety of scenarios, including the ball landing on single numbers (which have the largest payout, at 35 to 1) and split numbers (one of two numbers, which pays 17 to 1). Players also may bet that the ball will land on any red, black, even or odd number on the wheel, as well as any number in the 1 to 18 range (low bet) or the 19 to 36 range (high bet).
Tables have different minimum and maximum bets, and players cannot wager more than the maximum bet in any one round of the game. When the total amount placed on the table exceeds the minimum bet, the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and then tosses the ball into the wheel, in the other direction. When the ball stops in a slot, the dealer removes losing bets from the table and then pays the winning bets.
Wheel of Fortune
Touted as "America's Game," "Wheel of Fortune" took a cue from the money wheel concept. Three contestants compete to solve word puzzles, with every move they make dependent on spinning a horizontal wheel that contains slots with monetary value. Contestants spin the wheel and then guess consonants, For each correct guess, they earn the amount of money spun on the wheel times the frequency of that letter in the puzzle.
While "Wheel of Fortune" features no wagering, players do take risks with every spin of the wheel, as the wheel may land on "Bankrupt" (in which they lose any money they have accumulated up to that point in the round) or "Lose a Turn." When a player solves a puzzle, he wins whatever money he accumulated for that round. In some rounds, players may win bonus prizes or a jackpot.