How to use the wheel
Spin the wheel in three steps: list your options, press the button, read the result. The text box already holds four sample entries so you can see how it works. Delete them and type your own, one entry per line. Names, restaurants, chores, prize numbers, yes and no: anything that fits on a line will work, and each line becomes its own slice of the wheel.
When the list looks right, press Spin. The wheel turns for about three seconds, slows down and stops with the pointer on the winning slice. Want another round? Press Spin again. To remove a winner from the next draw, delete that line first.
Pasting is the fastest way to load a long list. Copy a column from a spreadsheet or a list of names from a chat, drop it into the box, and every row turns into a separate entry. Glance over the result before spinning so a stray empty row or a merged name does not sneak in.
How the random pick works
The outcome is decided the moment you press the button, before the wheel starts moving. The tool asks your browser for a random number through crypto.getRandomValues, a cryptographically secure generator built into every modern browser. That number is mapped to one of your entries, and each entry covers an identical share of the range. Nothing about the order of the list, the time of day or previous results changes the odds.
The spinning animation is then calculated to come to rest on the chosen slice. That keeps the experience fun while making sure the visual never biases the result. If your system asks apps to reduce motion, the animation is skipped and the winner appears immediately.
| Entries on the wheel | Chance for each entry |
|---|---|
| 2 | 50% |
| 4 | 25% |
| 10 | 10% |
| 25 | 4% |
Ideas and tips for fair draws
Teachers use the wheel to call on students without anyone feeling singled out, or to pick the next presenter. Friends use it to decide who pays for coffee, which movie to watch or where to eat when the group chat goes in circles. Game nights get a quick way to choose who goes first or which challenge comes next.
For giveaways and contests, transparency matters as much as randomness. Show the complete list of participants before the draw, then spin live on a stream or screen share so everyone sees the same result. Save a screenshot of the list and the winner afterwards; it answers most questions before they are asked.
A few practical habits help too. Check the list for duplicate names unless you want someone to have extra chances. Keep entries short so they stay readable on the slices. And for a decision you keep putting off, try a spin and notice how you react to the result. Sometimes the relief or disappointment tells you what you really wanted.