How the bonus wheel works in slots
How the bonus wheel works in slots
Material refers to "What are prize wheel slots?" and consistently explains exactly how the result is calculated when the wheel rotates, what the configurations are and how they affect the player's payouts and sensations.
1) Event pipeline: From spin to prize
1. Trigger - the wheel is activated according to one of the conditions:
2) What the wheel consists of
Sectors are a finite set of outcomes. Each sector has:
3) Types of prizes on the wheel
Fixed amounts (multiples of 5 ×, 10 ×, 50 ×).
Multipliers (multiply bet or current win).
Freespins/bonus packages (with additional modifiers: extended wilds, increased multipliers).
Upgrade/Next wheel-Access the next circle with more valuable sectors.
Jackpots are fixed or progressive (Mini/Major/Grand).
4) Wheel options
Fixed single-level - a constant set of sectors and weights.
Dynamic - composition/weights depend on bid, progress level or collected symbols.
Multi-level (ladder) - winning on the first wheel gives an attempt on the second/third with a different distribution.
Cumulative - individual sectors are enhanced when conditions are met (e.g. scale filling).
Combined - a mix of money/multipliers/transitions/jackpots in one circle.
5) Math and balance
5. 1. EV wheels
Expected value (EV) of one wheel rotation:
where $ p _ i $ is the probability of the sector, $ V _ i $ is the value of the prize (in bets).
5. 2. EV bonus in the whole game
If the wheel triggers with a probability of $ q $ per spin, the contribution of the wheel to the RTP of the base game:
Total RTP slot = contribution of baselines + contribution of all features (including wheel).
5. 3. Volatility
Less often, more expensive: low $ q $, high $ EV _ext {wheel} $ → rare, but fat prizes (high variance).
More often or modestly: high $ q $, moderate $ EV _ext {wheel} $ → frequent, small prizes (low/medium variance).
5. 4. Sector weights
The developer regulates the probability of large sectors falling out so that:
6) Progress management and "level" wheels
Scales/Symbol Collection: Increases the chance of a trigger or opens an improved wheel.
Persist modifiers: temporary gains (e.g. "+ 2 sectors from 50 × to 10 minutes").
Buy Feature: buying access to a wheel with increased EV/other distribution (expensive, dispersed).
7) Implementation and honesty
RNG server - the player's device, network speed and the moment of pressing "Stop" do not affect the result.
Certification - distributions and generator are checked by laboratories (eCOGRA, GLI, iTech Labs, etc.).
Version stability - mobile/desktop builds use the same math; only UI can differ.
8) Typical myths
"You can catch a sector by timing a click" - incorrect: the sector is selected before the click/stop.
"A large sector falls on the phone more often/less often" - incorrectly: the platform is not included in the formula.
"After a series of empty spins, the wheel is obliged to give big" - incorrectly: independent events, there is no "debt."
9) What matters to the player in practice
See info screen: what types of prizes are on the wheel, whether there are levels/transitions.
Estimate trigger frequency (rarely explicitly stated; indirectly - according to the reviews/nature of the game).
Understand volatility: rare wheels with high factors = long dry periods are possible.
Factor in the bet: many prizes are multiples of the bet; rate increases linearly increase absolute amounts and risk.
Budget control: the wheel heightens emotions - fix limits in advance.
10) Mini sample configurations
"Frequent wheel": $ q\approach 1/$ 60, sectors mainly 2 × -20 ×, rare 50 × -100 ×; EV moderate, low/medium variance.
"Rare premium wheel": $ q\approx 1/$ 250, many empty/small sectors, but there are 250 × -1000 × and jackpot keys; EV matched to RTP, dispersion high.
"Ladder": the first wheel gives 70% - money, 25% - multipliers, 5% - upgrade; the second is higher multipliers and a jackpot chance.
Conclusion: the bonus wheel is a pre-calculated table of sectors and weights, launched under clear conditions and resolved by server RNGs. Its role is to increase variability and emotions, and the balance between trigger frequency and sector value sets actual volatility. For the player, the practical point is to understand the type of wheel, its "rarity/generosity" and manage the bankroll based on this.
Material refers to "What are prize wheel slots?" and consistently explains exactly how the result is calculated when the wheel rotates, what the configurations are and how they affect the player's payouts and sensations.
1) Event pipeline: From spin to prize
1. Trigger - the wheel is activated according to one of the conditions:
- The specified character set (scatter/bonus)
- achievement of progress counter (collect N symbols);
- random trigger with a given probability;
- feature buy.
- 2. Rate fixing - the size of the active rate/face value is fixed for the calculation of all multipliers and fixed prices.
- 3. Result Definition (RNG) - The server RNG selects the source sector before or at the start of the animation. Animation - visualization of a predetermined result.
- 4. Payout/transition - the game accrues a prize (cash, multiplier, freespins, jackpot) or transfers to the next round/level.
2) What the wheel consists of
Sectors are a finite set of outcomes. Each sector has:
- prize type (fixed amount, multiplier to bet/to win, freespins, access to another level, jackpot);
- weight - probability of sector falling out (often unequal);
- limiters (e.g. "only at rate ≥ X").
- Distribution table - an internal array of weights and prize values. Balanced under target RTP/volatility.
- Decor - visual "stop pins," backlights, "almost hit" - do not affect mathematics.
3) Types of prizes on the wheel
Fixed amounts (multiples of 5 ×, 10 ×, 50 ×).
Multipliers (multiply bet or current win).
Freespins/bonus packages (with additional modifiers: extended wilds, increased multipliers).
Upgrade/Next wheel-Access the next circle with more valuable sectors.
Jackpots are fixed or progressive (Mini/Major/Grand).
4) Wheel options
Fixed single-level - a constant set of sectors and weights.
Dynamic - composition/weights depend on bid, progress level or collected symbols.
Multi-level (ladder) - winning on the first wheel gives an attempt on the second/third with a different distribution.
Cumulative - individual sectors are enhanced when conditions are met (e.g. scale filling).
Combined - a mix of money/multipliers/transitions/jackpots in one circle.
5) Math and balance
5. 1. EV wheels
Expected value (EV) of one wheel rotation:
- $$
- EV_ext{wheel}=\sum_{i=1}^{n} p_i \cdot V_i
- $$
where $ p _ i $ is the probability of the sector, $ V _ i $ is the value of the prize (in bets).
5. 2. EV bonus in the whole game
If the wheel triggers with a probability of $ q $ per spin, the contribution of the wheel to the RTP of the base game:
- $$
- RTP_ext{wheel} = q \cdot EV_ext{wheel}
- $$
Total RTP slot = contribution of baselines + contribution of all features (including wheel).
5. 3. Volatility
Less often, more expensive: low $ q $, high $ EV _ext {wheel} $ → rare, but fat prizes (high variance).
More often or modestly: high $ q $, moderate $ EV _ext {wheel} $ → frequent, small prizes (low/medium variance).
5. 4. Sector weights
The developer regulates the probability of large sectors falling out so that:
- comply with the declared RTP;
- set the target variance and frequency of "joyful moments";
- maintain marketing "showcases" (presence of large but rare sectors).
6) Progress management and "level" wheels
Scales/Symbol Collection: Increases the chance of a trigger or opens an improved wheel.
Persist modifiers: temporary gains (e.g. "+ 2 sectors from 50 × to 10 minutes").
Buy Feature: buying access to a wheel with increased EV/other distribution (expensive, dispersed).
7) Implementation and honesty
RNG server - the player's device, network speed and the moment of pressing "Stop" do not affect the result.
Certification - distributions and generator are checked by laboratories (eCOGRA, GLI, iTech Labs, etc.).
Version stability - mobile/desktop builds use the same math; only UI can differ.
8) Typical myths
"You can catch a sector by timing a click" - incorrect: the sector is selected before the click/stop.
"A large sector falls on the phone more often/less often" - incorrectly: the platform is not included in the formula.
"After a series of empty spins, the wheel is obliged to give big" - incorrectly: independent events, there is no "debt."
9) What matters to the player in practice
See info screen: what types of prizes are on the wheel, whether there are levels/transitions.
Estimate trigger frequency (rarely explicitly stated; indirectly - according to the reviews/nature of the game).
Understand volatility: rare wheels with high factors = long dry periods are possible.
Factor in the bet: many prizes are multiples of the bet; rate increases linearly increase absolute amounts and risk.
Budget control: the wheel heightens emotions - fix limits in advance.
10) Mini sample configurations
"Frequent wheel": $ q\approach 1/$ 60, sectors mainly 2 × -20 ×, rare 50 × -100 ×; EV moderate, low/medium variance.
"Rare premium wheel": $ q\approx 1/$ 250, many empty/small sectors, but there are 250 × -1000 × and jackpot keys; EV matched to RTP, dispersion high.
"Ladder": the first wheel gives 70% - money, 25% - multipliers, 5% - upgrade; the second is higher multipliers and a jackpot chance.
Conclusion: the bonus wheel is a pre-calculated table of sectors and weights, launched under clear conditions and resolved by server RNGs. Its role is to increase variability and emotions, and the balance between trigger frequency and sector value sets actual volatility. For the player, the practical point is to understand the type of wheel, its "rarity/generosity" and manage the bankroll based on this.
