Weighted Wheel of Names gives selected entries a larger or smaller chance while showing the difference through slice size. Add a positive weight after each entry, spin, and keep the probability rule visible.
weighted random pickercustom probabilitylarger wheel slicestransparent odds
Wheel of Names
Elimination: OFFAccumulation: OFFAuto-Spin: OFFFair Rotation: OFF
Add entries and spin the wheel.
(()=>{
const r=document.currentScript.closest(‘.wnx-spinner’);
if(!r||r.dataset.ready)return;
r.dataset.ready=’1′;
const $=s=>r.querySelector(s),$$=s=>[…r.querySelectorAll(s)];
const params=new URLSearchParams(location.search),cfg=document.querySelector(‘.wnx-config’);
const mode=cfg?.dataset.mode||r.dataset.mode||’standard’;
const title=cfg?.dataset.title||r.dataset.title||document.querySelector(‘.wn-page h1′)?.textContent||’Wheel of Names’;
const raw=params.get(‘wnitems’)||cfg?.dataset.items||r.dataset.items||’Alice~Bob~Charlie~David~Eve~Frank’;
const palettes=[
((cfg?.dataset.palette)||r.dataset.palette||”).split(‘,’).filter(Boolean),
[‘#6366f1′,’#8b5cf6′,’#ec4899′,’#f97316′,’#14b8a6′,’#3b82f6’],
[‘#ef476f’,’#f78c6b’,’#ffd166′,’#06d6a0′,’#118ab2′,’#7353ba’],
[‘#22c55e’,’#06b6d4′,’#3b82f6′,’#8b5cf6′,’#ec4899′,’#f59e0b’]
].filter(x=>x.length>2);
let colors=palettes[0];
let entries=raw.split(‘~’).map(v=>{try{return decodeURIComponent(v)}catch(e){return v}}).filter(Boolean).map(v=>{
const p=v.split(‘|’);
const weight=mode===’weighted’?Math.max(1,Number(p.pop())||1):1;
return{name:p.join(‘|’),weight,count:0,last:-999,image:”};
});
let angle=0,busy=false,history=[],undo=[],redo=[],spinNumber=0,lastReceipt=null,preSpin=[];
let backgroundImage=”,centerImage=”,backgroundOpacity=.45,centerRadius=76,pendingEntryImage=”,pendingEntryFilename=”;
const imageCache=new Map();
const canvas=$(‘.wnx-canvas’),ctx=canvas.getContext(‘2d’),spin=$(‘.wnx-spin’),result=$(‘.wnx-result’),list=$(‘.wnx-list’);
const elimination=$(‘.wnx-elimination’),accumulation=$(‘.wnx-accumulation’),auto=$(‘.wnx-auto’),winnerCount=$(‘.wnx-winner-count’),duration=$(‘.wnx-duration’);
const balance=$(‘.wnx-smart-balance’),cooldown=$(‘.wnx-smart-cooldown’);
$(‘.wnx-title’).textContent=title;
elimination.checked=mode===’norepeat’||params.get(‘wnremove’)===’1′;
winnerCount.value=mode===’multi’?Math.max(1,Number(cfg?.dataset.count||r.dataset.count)||3):1;
$(‘.wnx-multi-field’).classList.toggle(‘wnx-hidden’,mode!==’multi’);
const escapeHtml=s=>String(s).replace(/[&”‘]/g,m=>({‘&’:’&’,”:’>’,'”‘:’"’,”‘”:’'’}[m]));
const snapshot=()=>JSON.stringify(entries);
const save=()=>{undo.push(snapshot());if(undo.length>25)undo.shift();redo=[];};
const randomInt=n=>{if(n=limit);return a[0]%n;};
function getImage(src){
if(!src)return null;
if(imageCache.has(src))return imageCache.get(src);
const img=new Image();
img.onload=draw;
img.src=src;
imageCache.set(src,img);
return img;
}
function drawCover(img,x,y,w,h){
if(!img||!img.complete||!img.naturalWidth)return;
const scale=Math.max(w/img.naturalWidth,h/img.naturalHeight);
const dw=img.naturalWidth*scale,dh=img.naturalHeight*scale;
ctx.drawImage(img,x+(w-dw)/2,y+(h-dh)/2,dw,dh);
}
function readOptimizedImage(file,maxSize=1000){
return new Promise((resolve,reject)=>{
if(!file||!file.type.startsWith(‘image/’)){reject(new Error(‘Please choose an image file.’));return;}
const reader=new FileReader();
reader.onerror=()=>reject(new Error(‘The image could not be read.’));
reader.onload=()=>{
const img=new Image();
img.onerror=()=>reject(new Error(‘The image format is not supported.’));
img.onload=()=>{
const scale=Math.min(1,maxSize/Math.max(img.naturalWidth,img.naturalHeight));
const w=Math.max(1,Math.round(img.naturalWidth*scale)),h=Math.max(1,Math.round(img.naturalHeight*scale));
const temp=document.createElement(‘canvas’);temp.width=w;temp.height=h;
const t=temp.getContext(‘2d’);t.drawImage(img,0,0,w,h);
const type=file.type===’image/png’?’image/png’:’image/jpeg’;
resolve(temp.toDataURL(type,type===’image/jpeg’?.86:undefined));
};
img.src=String(reader.result||”);
};
reader.readAsDataURL(file);
});
}
const smartOn=()=>!elimination.checked&&(balance.checked||Number(cooldown.value)>0);
function eligibleEntries(){
let pool=[…entries];
if(!smartOn())return pool;
const cd=Number(cooldown.value);
if(cd>0){const cooled=pool.filter(e=>spinNumber-e.last>=cd);if(cooled.length)pool=cooled;}
if(balance.checked&&pool.length){const min=Math.min(…pool.map(e=>e.count));pool=pool.filter(e=>e.count===min);}
return pool.length?pool:[…entries];
}
function segments(){
const total=entries.reduce((s,e)=>s+e.weight,0)||1;
let used=0;
return entries.map(entry=>{const start=used/total*Math.PI*2;used+=entry.weight;return{entry,start,end:used/total*Math.PI*2};});
}
function draw(){
const size=900,center=450,radius=418,segs=segments(),allowed=new Set(eligibleEntries());
ctx.clearRect(0,0,size,size);
if(backgroundImage){
const img=getImage(backgroundImage);
ctx.save();ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,radius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.clip();ctx.globalAlpha=backgroundOpacity;drawCover(img,center-radius,center-radius,radius*2,radius*2);ctx.restore();
}
if(!segs.length){
ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,radius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.fillStyle=’#0b1628′;ctx.fill();ctx.strokeStyle=’rgba(129,140,248,.24)’;ctx.lineWidth=6;ctx.stroke();ctx.fillStyle=’#94a3b8′;ctx.font=’800 34px system-ui’;ctx.textAlign=’center’;ctx.fillText(‘Add entries’,center,center);return;
}
segs.forEach((seg,index)=>{
const dim=smartOn()&&!allowed.has(seg.entry);
const start=seg.start+angle,end=seg.end+angle;
ctx.save();
ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.2:1;
ctx.beginPath();ctx.moveTo(center,center);ctx.arc(center,center,radius,start,end);ctx.closePath();
if(seg.entry.image){
ctx.save();ctx.clip();drawCover(getImage(seg.entry.image),center-radius,center-radius,radius*2,radius*2);ctx.restore();
ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.12:.22;ctx.fillStyle=colors[index%colors.length];ctx.fill();ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.2:1;
}else{
ctx.fillStyle=colors[index%colors.length];
if(backgroundImage)ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.14:.72;
ctx.fill();ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.2:1;
}
ctx.strokeStyle=’rgba(255,255,255,.82)’;ctx.lineWidth=5;ctx.stroke();
const mid=(seg.start+seg.end)/2+angle;
ctx.translate(center,center);ctx.rotate(mid);ctx.textAlign=’right’;ctx.fillStyle=’#fff’;ctx.shadowColor=’rgba(0,0,0,.55)’;ctx.shadowBlur=8;
ctx.font=`850 ${Math.max(18,Math.min(33,350/entries.length+16))}px system-ui`;
const label=seg.entry.name.length>22?seg.entry.name.slice(0,20)+’…’:seg.entry.name;
ctx.fillText(label,radius-34,10);ctx.restore();
});
ctx.save();ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,centerRadius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.clip();
if(centerImage){drawCover(getImage(centerImage),center-centerRadius,center-centerRadius,centerRadius*2,centerRadius*2);}else{ctx.fillStyle=’#0b1628′;ctx.fillRect(center-centerRadius,center-centerRadius,centerRadius*2,centerRadius*2);}
ctx.restore();ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,centerRadius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.strokeStyle=’rgba(255,255,255,.24)’;ctx.lineWidth=10;ctx.stroke();
}
function updateBadges(){
[[ $(‘.wnx-badge-elimination’),elimination,’Elimination’],[$(‘.wnx-badge-accumulation’),accumulation,’Accumulation’],[$(‘.wnx-badge-auto’),auto,’Auto-Spin’],[$(‘.wnx-badge-smart’),{checked:smartOn()},’Fair Rotation’]].forEach(([el,input,label])=>{el.textContent=`${label}: ${input.checked?’ON’:’OFF’}`;el.classList.toggle(‘is-on’,input.checked);});
}
function balanceScore(){
if(!entries.length)return 100;
const total=entries.reduce((s,e)=>s+e.count,0),mean=total/entries.length;
if(!mean)return 100;
const deviation=entries.reduce((s,e)=>s+Math.abs(e.count-mean),0)/entries.length;
return Math.max(0,Math.round(100-deviation/mean*100));
}
function updateDashboard(){
$(‘.wnx-balance-score’).textContent=balanceScore()+’%’;$(‘.wnx-smart-spins’).textContent=String(spinNumber);
$(‘.wnx-smart-counts’).innerHTML=[…entries].sort((a,b)=>a.count-b.count||a.name.localeCompare(b.name)).map(e=>`
${escapeHtml(e.name)}${e.count}
`).join(”)||’
No entries yet.
‘;
const status=$(‘.wnx-smart-status’);
if(elimination.checked&&(balance.checked||Number(cooldown.value)>0))status.textContent=’Smart Fair Rotation is paused while Elimination mode is active.’;
else if(!smartOn())status.textContent=’Pure random mode is active.’;
else{const parts=[];if(balance.checked)parts.push(‘least-selected priority’);if(Number(cooldown.value)>0)parts.push(`${cooldown.value}-spin cooldown`);status.textContent=`Smart mode active: ${parts.join(‘ + ‘)}. Dimmed slices are temporarily ineligible.`;}
}
function render(){
list.innerHTML=entries.map((entry,index)=>`
Weighted Wheel of Names is a free browser-based weighted random name picker that gives approved entries different disclosed chances. Edit the sample entries, confirm the eligible list, choose the mode that matches the activity, and spin for a visible random result. Weights change probability rather than guaranteeing an outcome, so show every value, explain the reason, test the list, and avoid hidden weighting in consequential decisions.
Enter each option as Label | Weight. A weight of 4 receives four times the slice area and selection chance of an option with weight 1. The values are relative, so 1 and 2 create the same ratio as 5 and 10.
The wheel uses the total of all positive weights to calculate each slice. Before a public draw, show the complete weighted list and explain why the probabilities are different. Equal chances require equal weights.
1base weight
2×double chance
4×larger slice
>0valid weight
Weighted Wheel of Names examples
Entry
Weight
Meaning
Grand Prize
1
Smallest chance in this example.
Standard Prize
3
Three times the chance of Grand Prize.
Try Again
6
Six times the chance of Grand Prize.
A weighted wheel is useful for game mechanics, tiered rewards, or simulations where unequal probabilities are intentional. It is not appropriate when rules promise every eligible participant an equal chance.
Use weighted selection transparently
👁️
Show the weights
Do not hide the values from participants. Visible probabilities make the process understandable.
⚖️
Match the published rule
Use equal weights for equal-entry giveaways and only use unequal chances when the rules clearly allow them.
🧪
Test before going live
Check labels, weight formatting, slice sizes, and the total entry list before a public session.
`:”}