The game is divided into four rounds of four spins each. During the first two rounds, the contestant answers each question in 10 seconds whilst the wheel is making its mind up; answering a question correctly adds whatever the ball inside the wheel rests on to the player's bank (think that old lottery game show The Big Spin. But bigger.), and wrong answers deduct instead. The first round ("Quickspin") has a maximum amount of $500,000 and each question having two possible answers. In round 2 ("Quickspin +"), each question now has three possible answers, and the contestant's supporter is given control of a button that they can press to double the amount that the question is played for, for a possible $1 million per question.
Round 3 is dubbed "Build Your Wheel"; in this round, two $1 million spaces, negative values, four sets of four low-valued spaces, and two "Back to Zero" spaces are added to the wheel. This time, before the wheel is spun, the contestant gets a chance to replace some of the low-valued spaces with bigger values. They are shown the first few words of a question, and choose whether to play for $250,000, $500,000, $1 million, or $2 million (with each value only used once). If they answer correctly, the contestant can divide the money equally among all, some, or just one of the spaces. However, if they answer incorrectly, the spaces turn into more Back to Zero spaces (ranging from one, to all four, depending on which value the contestant chose to play for).
In the final round, there are no more questions, but more large amounts and Back to Zero spaces are added to the wheel on every spin. The contestant automatically loses if their bank reaches $0note at any point. The partner can secretly take a guaranteed bailout offer (calculated based on the contestant's current bank and the chance of hitting Back to Zero) during these final spins — whether they took said offer is only revealed after the final spins are completed, or the contestant goes bankrupt.
This series provides examples of:
- All or Nothing: The combination of this show's version of the "Guardian Angel" mechanic (itself originating from the short-lived Set for Life), and the aforementioned "Back to Zero" spaces becoming an instant lose space in the final round, really make the final four spins quite dangerous.
- Downer Ending: Hitting a Back to Zero in the final round and the partner not taking the offer.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Taken up to eleven, since all contestants are those who have made significant contributions to society. Invoked by the pre-show introductions, which typically end with the affirmation that whoever is playing deserves it.
- Game Show Host: Dax Shepard.
- Let's Get Dangerous!: The partner's role in round 2, opting in to Double the Dollars (either winning double, or losing double.)
- Luck-Based Mission: And how?
- Recycled In Space: The Wall WITH A WHEEL! Not only do both shows have a 40-foot-tall randomizing device capable of making multi-millionaires out of their contestants, they also both share an executive producer in Andrew Glassman. Both shows also emphasize good Samaritans playing for "life-changing money", with all of Spin the Wheel's contestants having made notable charitable contributions, or otherwise performed some act of newsworthy heroism. As said in a statement:Dax Shepard: "I can't think of a better job than giving out millions of dollars to nice people,... It's my chance to finally be Willy Wonka."
- Scenery Porn: The wheel itself, which truly deserves the title of a "big wheel" (sorry, Shoppers Casino).
- Whammy: The "Back to Zero" spaces... which then become a One-Hit Kill in the final round.
- Tutorial Level: The first round of four spins, which are collectively known as "Quick Spins". This round appears to be an exact copy of the Free Fall round of The Wall, with each question only having two answer choices and the contestant winning or losing the money the ball lands on based on his or her answer.
- Who Wants to Be "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?": This show checks off many of the boxes.
- Writing Around Trademarks: The wedges that result in the player losing all their winnings are labeled "Back to Zero", because "Bankrupt" is already used on a certain other game show that centers around a large, money-bearing wheel.
