Tombolio

Spin the wheel

Press “Spin the wheel”.

Session history

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    Type one entry per line, spin the wheel and let chance pick. The result is drawn before the wheel starts turning: the animation simply shows it to you.

    This random wheel is built for classrooms, offices and family nights rather than a TV game show: you decide what goes on it, from names and chores to dinner ideas.

    How to use it

    1. Type or paste your entries into the list, one per line. A column copied from Excel or Google Sheets works straight away.
    2. Tick “Remove the winner after each spin” if each entry should only come up once.
    3. Press “Spin the wheel”. When it stops, the result appears in large type below the wheel.
    4. Switch to full screen to put the wheel on the projector in a classroom or meeting room.
    5. Copy the share link to open the same list on another device.

    Ways to use it

    • Call on a student

      Paste your class roster and turn on winner removal: every student gets one turn, in an order nobody can argue with.

    • Pick who runs the meeting

      Put the wheel on full screen at the start of stand-up to choose the facilitator, the note-taker or the speaking order.

    • Pick a giveaway winner

      Copy the usernames from the comments, spin the wheel live or on a screen recording, then post the result along with the link to the list.

    • Settle family night

      Movie, board game, walk or cooking together: everyone adds an idea and the wheel decides, no debate needed.

    • Hand out chores

      Put the chores on the wheel and spin once per person, with winner removal on, so each chore is assigned exactly once.

    How the randomness is guaranteed

    The winner is chosen by your browser’s cryptographic random generator (crypto.getRandomValues), the same one used to create encryption keys. We don’t use Math.random, which isn’t designed for this.

    So that no slice is favored, the draw throws away values that would cause modulo bias (rejection sampling). Every slice has exactly the same probability, whether the wheel has 2 entries or 200.

    The winner is known before the animation starts, and the spin is then calculated to land on it. Speed, sound and full screen have no influence on the result.

    The draw runs on your device. Your list is never sent to a server: it stays in your browser and, if you choose, in the share link.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is the wheel really fair?

    Yes. Every entry has the same chance of being picked. The draw uses the browser’s cryptographic generator with a method that removes modulo bias, and the animation then stops on the result that has already been drawn.

    How many entries can the wheel hold?

    From 2 to 200. Above 40 entries, labels are shortened on the wheel so they stay readable, and the winner’s full name is shown in large type below the wheel.

    How do I stop the same name coming up twice?

    Tick “Remove the winner after each spin”. The picked entry is taken off the list at the end of the spin, and the session history keeps track of every result.

    Is my list saved?

    Only in your browser, so it’s there on your next visit. It is never sent to our servers. The “Clear list” button deletes it.

    How do I share my wheel with someone?

    Press “Copy share link”. The list is placed in the address, after the # sign. That part of the address is not sent to the server when the page loads.

    Is this related to the TV show Wheel of Fortune?

    No. Tombolio is an independent wheel spinner that you fill in yourself. It doesn’t run any game and doesn’t award prizes; you decide what the result is used for.

    Can I use the wheel without sound or animation?

    Sound is off by default and can be turned on with its button. If your system asks for reduced motion, the wheel stops on the result almost immediately.

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