How to use it like a coin toss
- One person calls heads or tails out loud before the spin.
- Spin the wheel.
- If it lands on their call, they win the toss and choose. If not, the other person does.
Is it fairer than a real coin?
Slightly, yes. Real coins are close to 50 / 50 but not exactly. A large 2023 study, where volunteers flipped coins over 350,000 times, found a coin lands the same way up as it started about 51% of the time. It is a tiny edge, but it is there.
The wheel has no starting side and no thumb. Heads and Tails each have half the circle and the stopping point is set by a random number, so it is an even call every time.
Best of three, and other variations
For a bigger decision, play best of three: first to two wins. Need a third outcome, like Edge or Spin again? Add it to the list. Asking a question rather than settling a toss? The yes or no wheel reads better.
Questions
Is it exactly 50 / 50?
Yes. Heads and Tails each take half the wheel, and the stopping point is random.
Can I get the same result five times in a row?
Yes. The chance is 1 in 16 for any five spins, the same as with a real coin. Each spin ignores the last one.
Can I use it to settle a real bet?
It is fine for who goes first or who picks the film. For anything involving money, agree the rules first.
More ready-made wheels
More in Decisions and quick calls