Big Wheel

The Big Wheel, designed by Don Hooker for Bally Manufacturing Corporation, is an electro-mechanical (EM) bingo machine built around a carnival and Ferris wheel theme. Its playfield features an impressive 20 trap holes, giving players plenty of scoring opportunities and adding complexity to gameplay.

Key gameplay features on the Big Wheel include its wheel on the backglass, which can be rearranged by pressing specific buttons before the 4th ball, before the 5th ball, or after the 5th ball is shot -- if those optional features are purchased and enabled by the operator. This interactive element allows players to influence their odds and strategy, a hallmark of Bally's bingo-style machines of the era.

The machine's design is characterized by a straightforward and minimalist approach, typical of Bally's EM output. A postcard depicting a modified payout version of the game from 1968 -- an after-factory conversion for use in Nevada -- suggests the machine circulated widely enough to attract such adaptations. While detailed information on this particular title is limited, its carnival theme and interactive backglass wheel make it an interesting find for collectors of vintage bingo machines.