Inspired by the iconic television game show, the Wheel of Fortune slot machine has become one of International Game Technology’s (IGT) most popular titles and birthed numerous spin-offs over the decades.
But how do you play the slot game? What does it offer to online casino fans? That’s precisely what we’re here to find out, so keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the iconic slot.
What is the Wheel of Fortune slot?
The Wheel of Fortune slot machine was created by IGT in 1996 and is featured in land-based US casinos and the best online casinos. It was initially inspired by the famous US television game show of the same name, which had been on air continuously since 1975.
The game’s massive jackpots, which earned it the moniker “The Millionaire Maker,” made it wildly popular and eventually helped it move to the online realm. This, in turn, led to the creation of many virtual Wheel of Fortune slots.
Today, the game comes in over 200 online and offline variations, each one offering unique combinations of features and gameplay mechanics. If you want to try Wheel of Fortune in Las Vegas or another brick-and-mortar casino, the official IGT site tells you the closest locations.
The original Wheel of Fortune slot — key details
The original Wheel of Fortune slot game has a simple setup with five reels and 30 paylines. It boasts classic visuals and features symbols like fruits, luxury items, and the ubiquitous Wheel of Fortune logo.
Additionally, wilds, gold super wilds, and scatters can appear on the reels, whereas two interesting special features may land you massive wins:
The Mini Wheel Bonus transforms the reels into mini wheels you spin to win a cash prize.
The Triple Extreme Spin Bonus has a set of envelopes, each uncovering wheels that award cash prizes and multipliers.
When you trigger the Triple Extreme Spin Bonus round, you can also win one of four progressive jackpots, including the mega jackpot, which starts at $1 million.
| Number of Reels | 5 |
| Number of Paylines | 30 |
| RTP | 94.04% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Progressive Jackpots | Yes |
| Jackpot | 2,500x |
| Top Win | 750x |
| Wilds | Yes |
| Free Spins | No |
| Bonus Round | Yes |
How to play the Wheel of Fortune slot machine
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to play the original Wheel of Fortune casino game:
Join a casino:
Find a licensed online casino that offers IGT games, including Wheel of Fortune, and follow the registration process to create an account. You’ll be required to provide personal information like your name and address.
Claim the bonus and make a deposit:
If the site offers an enticing welcome bonus with good wagering requirements, claim it by making the required deposit. The casino will likely offer several payment methods.
Find the Wheel of Fortune slot:
Locate the game in the casino’s library and open it. Read the paytable and figure out how the special features operate.
Play the Wheel of Fortune slot:
Set the bet size to the desired amount and spin the reels. You can keep spinning as long as you want to play, but pay attention to your balance.
Trigger the bonus round:
If you want to see the bonus round in action, you’ll need to land three scatters. Doing so will kick off the Mini Wheel Bonus, where several small wheels can get you decent prizes but also trigger the Triple Extreme Spin Bonus. Here, you can get bigger wins and a chance to land one of the four progressive jackpots.
Wheel of Fortune Jackpots
In addition to the jackpots found in online Wheel of Fortune slots, you can win massive progressive prizes on physical Wheel of Fortune machines in land-based casinos. IGT offers a variety of these machines in commercial and Native American casinos across the U.S., with notable hotspots in Nevada and New Jersey.
By now, more than 1,180 people have become millionaires by playing Wheel of Fortune slots, making the game’s nickname very fitting. The total Wheel of Fortune jackpot amounts won surpass $3.5 billion, with one lucky player landing an $891,000 jackpot from a $1.75 spin.
Interestingly, the official IGT website tracks jackpots on its games and has over 830 records of other life-changing Wheel of Fortune wins. According to the site, jackpots exceeding $100,000 tend to drop every 72 hours on average across different establishments.
As of early February 2025, the largest recorded payout was $5,482,229, collected on January 12, 2020. Of course, there’s always a chance that a bigger jackpot will be recorded at some point in the future, either online or at a land-based venue.
Other Wheel of Fortune online slots
The popularity of the original Wheel of Fortune slot motivated the company to create spinoffs. Besides the many interesting slot machines under the Wheel of Fortune brand, IGT has released numerous online versions, too. We’ve picked out three below:
Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin — This IGT title features 720 ways to win, an RTP ranging from 92% to 96.08%, and a medium volatility. More than that, there are plenty of bonus features like the Multiways Xtra system and a Mini Wheel Bonus Game.
Wheel of Fortune On Tour — This medium volatility slot game has a max win of 25,001x and is played on five reels with 30 paylines. In this sense, it resembles the original version. However, there are more bonus features, notably the On Tour Bonus Wheel, whose prizes increase as you advance the tour bus along the trail.
Wheel of Fortune Megaways — This collaboration between IGT and Big Time Gaming features six reels and two to seven rows. Thanks to the Megaways system, it can offer up to a million ways to win. The highly volatile game hosts a free spin round and a feature called Wild Megastacks, which transforms a whole reel into wilds.
Conclusion
The Wheel of Fortune slot machine has been a staple of many land-based casinos and online slot sites throughout the US for decades. The game’s popularity and colossal jackpot payouts have seen over 200 adaptations being produced alongside the original online version, available on IGT gambling platforms.
Playing the game is simple; it operates like most other slots, where any spin can activate a bonus feature or trigger a jackpot. The potential for massive prizes is always there, making it incredibly exciting for thrill-seekers.
The good news is that if you want to experience this for yourself, you don’t have to visit a land-based gambling venue; you can simply register at an online casino featuring the slot and start playing immediately.
FAQs
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References
- Wheel of Fortune Slots (IGT)
- Wheel Of Fortune Slot Machines (PlayUSA)
- Brief Review: Wheel of Fortune Slot Machine by IGT (Roulette Games)
- Wheel of Fortune Slot (FreeSlotsHub.com)
