How the picker wheel works
The wheel is divided into equal slices, one per entry, so nothing is weighted. When you press Spin the wheel is given a random number of full turns plus a random final angle, then slowed down with an easing curve so it decelerates naturally instead of stopping dead. Whichever slice sits under the black pointer at the top when it stops is the winner. Because the stopping angle is drawn fresh every time, the same option can win twice in a row — that is normal randomness, not a bug.
If you want a different flavour of the same thing, try the random list picker.
Ways people use it
Teachers spin it to call on a student, teams to choose who runs the stand-up, and families to settle what is for dinner. It also suits giveaways, raffle winners, chore rotas, ice-breakers and workout picks. To weight an option, list it twice: two slices out of ten means double the chance.
The random team generator covers the same ground with a different mechanism.
Editing your wheel
Put one option per line in the text box. Blank lines are ignored, long names are shortened on the wheel face (the full text still appears in the winner box), and the wheel accepts between 2 and 30 entries. Press Reset list to bring back the sample list. Nothing you type is uploaded — the wheel is drawn and spun entirely in your own browser, so your names and prizes never leave your device.
The dice roller handles the same job in a slightly different way.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the wheel really random?
- Yes. The stopping angle comes from JavaScript's built-in random generator, so every slice has an equal chance. It is fine for games and giveaways but is not cryptographically secure.
- How many entries can I add?
- Between 2 and 30. Anything past the thirtieth line is ignored, and the text shrinks automatically as the list grows.
- Can I make one option more likely?
- Yes — list it more than once. Each repeat gives it another slice of the wheel and a proportionally bigger chance.
- Does the winner get removed automatically?
- No. The list stays as you typed it, so you can spin again straight away. Delete the winning line yourself if you want draws without replacement.
- Is my list saved between visits?
- No. Entries live only in the open tab, so a refresh restores the sample list. Copy anything you want to keep.