Part I: Games & Gaming · Wheel Games — Roulette

Wheelhead

Roulette

The complete rotating upper assembly of the roulette wheel, also known as the rotor, which includes the numbered pockets, frets, cone, and pocket dividers. The wheelhead sits within the stationary bowl and is supported by upper and lower precision bearings that allow smooth, consistent rotation. The wheelhead is typically 20 inches in diameter on a standard 32-inch roulette wheel and is designed to be removable by casino staff for cleaning, maintenance, and rotation between tables. Premium wheelheads feature precision-machined pockets with consistent depth and geometry to ensure random ball distribution.

In practice

Regular inspection of the wheelhead bearings is essential; worn bearings can cause irregular rotation speeds that may be exploited by advantage players.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.