International versions

The immense popularity of Wheel of Fortune since its 1975 debut has caused the format to be sold in many countries around the world, albeit to varying amounts of success. These international versions tend to deviate from the normal American format and typically offer less (or more) money depending on the available budget, puzzle difficulty, and Wheel layouts.

Many of these versions also had home games, published by companies such as Waddington's and branches of Milton Bradley, which were usually localized versions of the American games (and most frequently those made by Pressman) with near-identical parts. Additionally, many of the European adaptions published by Milton Bradley (along with Mexico's adaption albeit with different colors) used France's 1987 Round 1 layout for the spinner.

(Note that with perhaps the exception of the British and Australian versions, none of these versions will have an article on this Wiki. If you know a lot about a particular version and want to make a Wikia site all about its history, hosts, etc., then feel free to do so.)

Argentina
Tiempo Límite ATP runs, or ran, on America TV.

Australia
Probably the most well-known iteration to those outside its home country, the Aussie Wheel was a Reg Grundy production which ran on the Seven Network from 21 July 1981 to 28 July 2006 for 5,093 episodes. The show began with Ernie Sigley and Adriana Xenides on a set that (per Grundy's standard) heavily resembled the then-current American one, down to the green-glitter backdrops behind the players. In 1982, the contestant backdrops were replaced by a set of sunbursts nearly identical to the then-current American ones, which were in turn replaced in late 1992 by an "art deco" style.

The format was mostly the same as the American version, with a fanfare playing when the top dollar value was hit. Contestants were also allowed to repeatedly grab the pegs while spinning in order to help elongate the spin, a rule that New Zealand's version (and possibly Turkey's) would use. There was also a different scoring system: while spins were not multiplied by how many times the letter was in the puzzle, the contestant never had to solve to keep his/her bank for that round; as a result, vowels cost a mere $50.

The Wheel had 96 pegs with each wedge being four pegs wide, compared to 72 pegs with three pegs per wedge in most other versions. The dollar values were all multiples of 5, instead of the 50 of most versions.

John Burgess replaced Sigley in June 1984, and he and Xenides became the faces of Wheel in Australia. Around the same time, the Bonus Round began having the day's winner spin a Golden Wheel to determine the prize they would play for; the puzzle itself gave the player two consonants and a vowel, then an additional consonant for every $2,000 the player had earned – up to $38,000 for all the consonants.

At the beginning of 1996, the puzzle board was upgraded to have four rows and Burgess shaved off his mustache, a style he (like Alex Trebek) retains to this day.

Burgess' departure was abrupt and, he since claimed, it was an accident that he even found out about it: the show had decided to move to Sydney, and Burgess' last episode on 12 July 1996 has him mentioning this with the pronoun "we", including himself. He was replaced by Tony Barber on 15 July, and the format and set were overhauled (among other things, no more shopping; a near-vertical Wheel; a "five envelopes" Bonus Round much like the American one; and a new theme song that incorporated lyrics).

Viewers did not take to the changes, even after the Golden Wheel and classic theme were reinstated on August 19, and moreso when Adriana left in November due to suffering from depression (Kerrie Friend filled in for her). As a result, the old format returned in January 1997 with Barber passing the torch to new host Rob Elliott. Adriana returned in July, but left permanently in June 1999 and was replaced by Sophie Falkiner.

To celebrate its 22nd Anniversary, Wheel did a special three-week tournament from 11-29 August 2003: representatives from the Australian states competed in a series of heats, and the biggest winners from those played for the title of "State Champion" and go for a Renault Clio in the Bonus Round; home viewers were also awarded $10,000 each day, for a total of $150,000. These episodes were the first to air in high-definition, and also debuted a new set of graphics (including new opening/closing credits); Melanie Simon filled in for Falkiner for a few episodes during the tournament, including the finale.

Elliott left on 28 November, replaced by Steve Oemcke when the show returned in February 2004; this also saw the introduction of a new, touch-based puzzle board. Wheel was shelved in December due to low ratings, although 20 episodes had been recorded (with Oemcke and a visibly-pregnant Falkiner) for the new year.

When the show returned on 30 January 2006, it had been freshened up with new hosts Larry Emdur and Laura Csortan. 21 March was both the 5,000th episode and a celebration of the show's 25th Anniversary, with special $5,000 wedges on the Wheel (two in Round 1, one on the yellow $110 and the other on the yellow $150; a third was added in Round 2, with the wedges moved to three yellow wedges: $450, $385, and $310; as a result, the Surprise Wedge was moved to the red $530); no clips were shown, however. The $5,000 was treated as a Prize wedge: 5,000 points were added to the player's score, but the player had to solve the puzzle to get the money. The $5,000 wedges were removed starting in Round 3, but were placed again in Round 4 on the top dollar value, along with two Mystery Wedges placed on blue wedges: $220 and $295 (between Bankrupt and $375).

While Wheel ended again on 28 July, the network still had some unfinished business: from 31 July-25 August, the 10:00 AM slot consisted of the 20 unaired Oemcke shows, the first of which had a "welcome back to 2005" message.

Interestingly, the category strips continued to call Fill In the Blank "Blank" and the "decade" categories by their written form (i.e., "The Sixties") through at least part of 2006. Also, the Puzzler became exclusive to home viewers, not unlike the Preview Puzzle. A common occurrence on Australian versions was the use of infinitive phrases as Phrase puzzles (e.g., TO SCARE THE PANTS OFF SOMEONE), perhaps one of the more notable departures from the American version in the show's writing.

2008

The programme returned briefly on the Nine Network from 26 May-27 June 2008 as Million-Dollar Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Tim Campbell and Kelly Landry. While the American version adopted the Million-Dollar Wedge almost immediately afterward, the Australian version only used it in Round 1 (on the yellow $110 between $200 and $165), greatly decreasing the already-small chance of awarding it.

Normally, the Bonus Round had a single $200,000 wedge; another $200,000 wedge was added each time it was not won, and taking the Million-Dollar Wedge to the Bonus Round only replaced one of these wedges.

Gameplay Elements

Initially, the top amounts were $240 in Round 1, $460 in Round 2, and $1,200 in Rounds 3+; these were increased in 1985 to $360/$690/$1,800, followed by $400/$750/$2,000 beginning on the 2,000th episode in 1990. In 1995, the top values were upped to $500/$1,000/$2,000 (although from July 1996 until 1997, and again from 1999-2000, it used a $500/$1,000/$1,000/$2,000 structure). In 2000, the values were increased for the last time to $750/$1,500/$2,500.


 * Bankrupt - from July 1996 to 1998, it had the further penalty of wiping out that player's score in the game up to that point. Originally, there was one Bankrupt in Round 1 and two for subsequent rounds; in July 1996, the second Bankrupt only appeared in Round 4, with its position being replaced by a blue $600. Sometime in 2000, the second Bankrupt was moved to the green $210 between $600 and $165; at some point later on, it moved again to the purple $180, and in 2006 it was on the red (changed to red-violet in 2008) $180.
 * Lose A Turn - exactly like the American version. There was one wedge in Rounds 1-3 (Rounds 1-2 until July 1996 and again from 1997-98) and two in Round 4 (Round 3 in the aforementioned timeframes).
 * Free Spin - just like the American version, except it could also be used in Speed Up rounds. Originally, it was a green wedge (changed to blue in 1992), but in July 1996 it became a small golden (changed to silver in 2008) rectangular token on a blue $250 (which also allowed the player to add $250 to their score). In 1997, it was moved to the purple $135 (later $150 {the purple $150 was changed to light green in 2008}). The Free Spin was awarded before the contestant gave a letter, though as was the case before the change, more than one could be awarded and the space was only present in Round 1.
 * Speed Up - also like the American version, except the arrow used to determine the value of each consonant was that of the player in control when Speed Up began and Free Spins could be used. In the event the host landed on the Prize wedge, the first player to call a correct letter picked up the prize and received the value underneath it, but had to solve the puzzle to claim the prize; the value underneath the Prize wedge then became the value for the rest of the round. The move to Speed Up was indicated by a ringing bell during the Seven Network run.
 * Possibly to adhere to a four round structure, a rule was introduced at some point that there could be more than one Speed Up in an episode. There have been several instances of Rounds 3 and 4 being played as full Speed Up rounds, and the bell has also sounded in Round 2 (with one instance being the 2006 premiere).
 * Goodie (1994-95) - a wedge valued the same as the top dollar value.
 * Red Mystery Letter (1994-July 1996, 1997-2006) - if a letter revealed was red, the value spun was doubled and added to the contestant's score.
 * Surprise Wedge (1995-96, 1999-2006) - just like the US version. In its first stint, it was placed on the yellow $180 in Round 1, the yellow $210 in Round 2, and the blue $200 in Round 3. From 1999-2002, it was placed on the red $165 in Rounds 2-3 and the blue $220 in Round 4; sometime after the retirement of the Car Wedge, it was placed in that spot. In 2006, it moved to the red $165 in Round 1 and the red $310 in Rounds 2-3 (it is unknown where it was placed in Round 4). In the 2008 version, the Surprise changed from red to gray and was on the red-violet $155 for Round 1 only.
 * Bonus Wedge - worked exactly like the Prize wedge on the American version and the Surprise. The blue wedge (gold with bold black writing from 1993-July 1996, a small silver token during the Barber era) gave the player who landed on it a chance to win a prize. The wedge was placed where the Surprise had been; as the token, it was on the blue $390 in Rounds 2-3 (its Round 4 location is unknown).
 * Bonus Prize - a short-lived item that worked exactly like the Bonus Wedge, except it was given to the first person to spin the top dollar value.
 * Bonus Puzzle - worked like the "bonus" categories of the American version, with a $200 bonus.
 * Car Wedge (February 2000 to 2002) - the player who landed on this had to call a correct letter, solve that puzzle, then solve a later puzzle to win the car. It was placed on the blue $150 in Round 1, the green $180 in Rounds 2-3, and the blue $295 between Bankrupt and $375 in Round 4.
 * Mystery Wedge (2003-08) – worked like the American version, except the "bribe" was $500 (as both were placed on a blue {changed to light green in 2008} $500) and the Mystery prize was never cash. The Mystery Wedges were changed from blue with yellow numbers and an orange question mark in a purple circle, to a red wedge with that black numbers and punctuation mark in a white circle in 2008.
 * Flip-Up (2004-08) - worked exactly like the Toss-Ups of the American version, albeit with no value. Two Flip-Ups were played, the second before Round 4. A third Flip-Up was played before Round 2, albeit a Prize Puzzle; like the American version, whoever solved correctly won a prize related to the puzzle, often a small prize. The 2008 version called the Flip-Ups by their American name (Toss Up) and renamed the Prize Puzzle to "Cash Up" (as it now awarded a $500 bonus).

As an aside, the Australian version is probably the only version to be referenced by the American version outside a "Wheel Around the World" or similar week: the theme song was used as a music bed on April 12, 2004 for a description of a trip to Australia which was that day's Prize wedge.

Belgium
Het Rad Der Fortuin aired on BRT and was hosted by Mike Verdrengh. It is also likely to be the first international adaptation, as it debuted in 1975 and contains elements of the early American episodes, including the Buy A Vowel wedge (and, interestingly, a four-line puzzle board). This version ended later in the decade.

A revival, Het Rad Van Fortuin, ran on VTM from 1989-97, hosted at various times by Walter Capiau and Bart Kaell. The show returned on Canvas from 2004-06, hosted by Luc Appermont; this version ended due to new laws that banned any kind of "sweepstakes".

Brazil
One of the many Brazilian game shows hosted by Silvio Santos, Roletrando aired on SBT during the 1980s-90s and appears to have been at least partly based on the American format – by 1991, they began using a bonus envelope holder not unlike the American one in use at the time, albeit larger and with seven envelopes.

2003-

The current version, Roda a Roda ("Wheel to Wheel"), debuted 13 October 2003 on SBT, hosted again by Santos with Patricia Salvador as hostess. It is also heavily based on the American version. It was originally sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, but in 2006, Jequiti (then a relatively-new cosmetics company) took over the role.

On 4 April 2010, the show introduced three 1 Milhão wedges placed by the contestants before Round 1; these work the same as the American version's Million-Dollar Wedge, although the wedges are entirely green with no Bankrupts. The top prize has been won at least four times: 24 October 2010, 8 May 2011, an episode around October 2011, and 29 April 2012.

Two interesting differences for the current revival are that trilons are still used and, from at least 20 September 2009 through August 2011, Santos would switch places with Salvador partway through each round.

Two major differences are that vowels are chosen in the same manner as consonants, and that on at least this version the game has 12 rounds with a time limit for each; if time runs out in any round, it presumably moves to Speed-Up.

A weekly hour-long series, Roda a Roda Jequiti, debuted on 6 September 2008. On 23 April 2012, Santos and Salvador were replaced for both versions by Patricia Abravanel and Liminha, although their run on Jequiti only lasted two episodes before being replaced on 13 May by a revival of Vamos Brincar de Forca ("Let's Play Hangman"), which had been Santos' first program back in 1961; the new version, hosted by Santos, was sponsored by Jequiti as the weekly Roda had been.

On 7 October, Vamos began sharing some of the daily Roda set, including an all-new touch-screen puzzle board. Vamos ended on 31 March 2013, being replaced by the return of Roda a Roda Jequiti, now hosted by Santos and Abravanel (who also now did the daily series as well).

Bulgaria
Колелото на късмета (or Koleloto na kasmeta), hosted by Rumen Lukanov and Jasmina Toshkova, debuted January 18, 2010 on Nova TV.

The gameplay is as follows:
 * The Toss-Up is worth 300 лв and the right to introduce themselves.
 * After the contestant introduction, there is the first Speed-Up round starting with the player in the red position.
 * Round 1 starts with the winner of the first Speed-Up round. The top value is 500 лв.
 * Round 2 and 3 starts with the player in third place.
 * Following Round 3 is the second Toss-Up worth 100 лв.
 * Round 4 starts with the winner of the second Toss-Up. The top value is now 1,000 лв, increased from the purple 50 лв next to Bankrupt. In addiction, the green 150 лв is increased to 600 лв, the red 250 лв is upped to 700 лв, and the second Bankrupt replaces the blue 350 лв.
 * After Round 4, there is the second Speed-Up round starting with the player in the yellow position, followed by the third Toss-Up worth 100 лв. BulgariaLoseEverything.jpg
 * Round 5 begins with the winner of the third Toss-Up. The "green 50 лв-Bankrupt" stretch is replaced by a six-peg 5,000 лв/Lose Everything/2,000 лв wedge with each section two pegs wide. "Lose Everything" acts like Bankrupt, but also takes the contestant's winnings earned in previous rounds.

In the Bonus Round, Λ, Р, С, Т, and А are given and the contestant chooses three consonants and a vowel. S/he then has 10 seconds to solve the puzzle.

Cambodia
A version ostensibly for children aired around 2009 on CTN, as can be seen in this video. The Wheel on this version is short, with a stark black/white contrast on the wedges, very tall pegs, and a single arrow in the center. The theme resembles "Do-Re-Mi" from The Sound of Music.

Nothing is known about this version outside of the aforementioned video.

Canada
A French-Canadian version, La Roue Chanceuse, was hosted by Donald Lautrec and Lyne Sarrazin. This iteration, airing on TQS from May 1, 1989 to Spring 1992, borrowed and mixed various elements from the American series: the Rounds 1-2 Wheel first used on daytime in September 1989 (although the show originally had a layout with $50 and $75) and a set that could be best described as a "knockoff" of the 1986-89 daytime one; sometime in the early 1990s, the "knockoff" sunburst backdrops were replaced by a set of hexagons, although at times large stars were placed over the hexagons.

Also present were a very similar opening sequence (complete with a theme very similar to "Changing Keys"), a version of the W-H-E-E-L envelopes (spelling L-A-R-O-U-E), and even a localized "I'm a Wheel Watcher".

It is known that the shopping format was used for at least part of the run.

Chile
La Rueda de la Fortuna, hosted by Rodolfo Torrealba, ran on Canal 13 from 1978-79 (one of only two versions known to have debuted in the 1970s). In 2012, the show returned as La Ruleta de la Suerte, hosted by Sergio Lagos.

Colombia
La Rueda de La Suerte, hosted by Mauro Urquijo, aired on Canal Caracol from 1998-99. A revival for Canal RCN, helmed by Gonzalo Vivanco, debuted in 2012.

Croatia
Kolo Sreće, hosted by Oliver Mlakar and Maja Vracaric, was another hit for the franchise, running on HRT1 from 1993-2002.

Czech Republic
Kolotoč ("Carousel") aired briefly on TV Nova in 1996, then returned for a modest five-year run from 1997-2002. Hosts included Pavel Poulicek, Dalibor Gondik, and Honza Musils.

Two notable variations are present on this show: the Wheel is actually the top of a carousel, and the board operates automatically without a hostess.

Denmark
Lykkehjulet debuted on 1 October 1988 and quickly brought success to TV2, which aired the show. The program originally used the shopping format, but later switched to a play-for-cash format.

The show was originally helmed by Michael Meyerheim and Pia Dresner, but they were replaced in 1989 by Bengt Burg and Carina Jensen. Jensen was replaced by Maria Hirse in 1995, with Burg briefly replaced by Keld Heick from 1996-97. Although Burg returned in 1997, he left for good in 2000 and was replaced by Lars Herlow.

The Wheel was slightly smaller, using only 22 wedges. When the show began, the top amount was 1,500 Kroner in early rounds and 2,500 in later ones; from 1990-98, the top value was 3,000 Kroner in Round 1 and 5,000 in subsequent rounds. 5,000 became top value in all rounds in 1998. (Vowels cost 500 Kroner throughout the run.)

Lykkehjulet ended in 2001 after 3,599 episodes due to declining viewership and a failed attempt at "modernizing" the show for its final season. It is known that one of these alterations was the debut of an electronic puzzle board.

Ecuador
La Rueda de la Fortuna has aired since 2004 on Ecuavisa, hosted by Pancho Cabanilla.

Egypt
دائرة الحياة (or Daeret Al Hayat), hosted by Kareem Kojak and Heba Sameer Goudah, began airing on Al Hayat TV on August 19, 2012. This version uses some sounds from the US one, such as the puzzle reveal chimes, but others (including the Prize Puzzle chimes and Final Spin bells) are unique to this version.

The game is confirmed to offer Egyptian pounds (EGP), with the top values being 1,000 in Round 1, 2,000 for Rounds 2-3, and 2,500 in Round 4 with the second Bankrupt added on the pink 200 in Round 4. The Toss-Ups, done at the same spots as the US version, are worth 1,000-1,000-2,000. Vowels cost 150.

Round 1 is a normal round, Round 2 is the Prize Puzzle, and Round 3 places a 10,000-EGP Wedge on the purple 700 (the only removable "extra" on the Wheel, although it does not carry over into Round 4 if it is not claimed). It appears that, much like the 1973-74 American pilots, the game is limited to four rounds and some games do not have a Final Spin; even if the Final Spin is used, nothing is added to the value the host lands on and "invalid" spins are edited out.

For a brief period, a Free Spin token was placed on the green 200.

Solving a puzzle with a score of 0 awards 1,000, even if it is the Prize Puzzle. However, there is no house minimum.

The Bonus Round is played somewhat the same as the US version: the winner spins a Bonus Wheel with cash amounts and a car (usually a Chevrolet worth approximately 100,000 EGP). The player is given three consonants and a vowel, then chooses another three-and-a-vowel before being given 10 seconds to solve. If the player does not land on the car, host Kojak shows where it is. It is known that the car has been won at least once.

Estonia
Õnneratas originally aired from 1999-2000 on TV3 with Emil Rutiku as host. The current run, now called Suur lotokolmapäev and hosted by Mart Sander, debuted in 2011 on Kanal 2.

Finland
Finland had another popular version named Onnenpyörä, which ran on MTV3 (not related to the music-based cable network) from Spring 1993-2001. It was originally hosted by Kim Floor and Saija Palin; Floor was dismissed in June 1993 and replaced in August by Janne Porkka.

France
France was among the more successful countries regarding Wheel, although it began much like the Italian franchise: as the first of five events on the show Pentathlon on the now-defunct channel La Cinq 5; Pentathlon itself had a short run, airing on Thursdays from 21 February through 18 June 1986.

La Roue de la Fortune debuted on 5 January 1987 as a daily series on TF1 hosted by Michel Robbe and Annie Pujol, and was heavily based on the American format (complete with shopping and even a similar Wheel color scheme). The only difference was that vowels cost ₣500 (Francs) and this was not deducted if the vowel was not in the puzzle.

Robbe left in September 1987 and was replaced by Christian Morin, who was in turn replaced by Alexandre Debanne in January 1993. In January 1995, Debanne and Pujol were replaced by Olivier Chiabodo and Sandra Rossi, but Rossi apparently did not fit with the show and was replaced after a month by Frederique Calvez.

Spaces in the original version
 * Relance/Joker: Free Spin. It was originally a yellow wedge, but starting around 1993 it was a fancy-colored 6 on the red ₣1,500 (12-colored Wheel over ₣800 in 1995) between the orange ₣2,000 and blue ₣1,000 (₣1,000 and ₣500 respectively in 1995); in at least 1996, players who landed on it received a Free Spin and played for the value shown on the wedge. It is not known whether contestants could immediately hand the Free Spin back if s/he called a wrong letter.
 * Bonus: Same as Bonus in the Australian version.
 * Surprise

The show ended in April 1997.

2006-12

La Roue de la Fortune returned on 7 August 2006, now hosted by Christophe Dechavanne and Victoria Silvstedt. As before, most of the format was copied from the American one, albeit using Euros. The normal top value on the Wheel was €500 and vowels cost €200. The €0 space is the same as $0 on the 1973 Shopper's Bazaar pilot.

The game began with a Toss-Up puzzle to see who would be introduced first. Furthermore, every round started with that puzzle worth €500 and the right to start the round with that money; therefore, the contestant had to solve the puzzle without hitting Bankrupt to keep the money. As a result, this is one of the few adaptations (two others being Bulgaria's version via the "Lose Everything" wedge and Hungary's most recent version) where a contestant can solve a puzzle but still win nothing; it is also one of the few versions where it is possible for at least one contestant to not even be given a chance to play, the British and Hungarian versions (as well as the format used in at least the 1974 NBC pilots) being others.

The gameplay was as follows: Prior to 2007, the numbers were placed near the center of each wedge. By 2007, they moved near the rim, possibly to aid the cameramen with close overhead shots.
 * Round 1's top value was €2,000, along with €1,000 and €1,500. There was also a Filet Garni wedge, which offered a net believed to contain a small prize such as a cell phone or gift card. The net also contained some seemingly worthless accessories such as pre-filled inflatables.
 * A Caverne space was added in Round 2. Landing on it sent that player to a prize-filled cavern where s/he had 15 seconds to collect as many prizes as they could without exceeding €2,500 (€2,000 in Round 3 before the Jackpot debuted).
 * A Bankrupt/€10,000/Bankrupt wedge was added in Round 3. It moved to the newly-added Round 4 around the time the Jackpot Round debuted.

​31 August 2009 added one more round and at least one new wedge: the Jackpot, in Round 3. Its value began at €0 at the beginning of the game (before becoming available in Round 3) and increased with each amount landed on, with the wedge itself treated like a Prize wedge. The Hold-Up wedge, used in Round 4 (which allowed that player to steal an opponent's score for that round), debuted around the same time.

Around 2010, ½ Auto wedges were introduced, a forerunner to the ½ Car tags used on the American version. Interestingly, this is one of only two known elements used on the American version that were introduced in a foreign adaption, the first being the Million-Dollar Wedge (introduced for the 2008 Australian version).

The Bonus Round prizes were cash amounts of €5,000, €7,500, €10,000, €15,000, €20,000, two cars, or the top prize of €100,000.

Daytime Version

The show became a daytime series on 2 January 2012, changing its format and replacing Dechavanne and Silvstedt with Benjamin Castaldi and Valérie Bègue. €300 was the normal top value on the Wheel, vowels cost €100, and gameplay was as follows:


 * The game began with a Toss-Up, and whoever solved it correctly went first in Round 1.
 * Round 1 (Mystery): Played just like America, with a "bribe" of €50 per letter and one wedge hiding €500. When one is revealed, the other one is also removed, unlike the US version. The two wedges were placed on €0 and the on the blue €50 next to the normal top value.
 * Starting in Round 2, the yellow €150 between two €100s became a third Bankrupt space.
 * Round 2 (Caverne): Same as the pre-2012 version, except the time limit was increased to 30 seconds and the limit was decreased to €1,500. After this, the contestant chose a consonant for €150. This wedge was placed on the yellow €150 between €50 and €200.
 * Round 3 (Flash Cash): if the Flash Cash wedge was landed on, that player had 10 seconds to solve the puzzle for €1,000 minus €100 for each second elapsed. This wedge was placed on the green €100 two wedges apart from the normal top dollar value.
 * Round 4 had several wedges: Weekend (a weekend trip to a popular vacation spot), Hold-Up (same as before), and one similar to the Million-Dollar Wedge that offers €60,000 in the Bonus Round. The Weekend Wedge was placed on the orange €200 between €150 and €100, Hold-Up on €0, and the Bankrupt/€60,000/Bankrupt wedge on the Bankrupt next to the normal top value.

The only removable wedge available throughout the game was the Half Gift Wedge. Whoever landed on it picked it up and then called a consonant for €50 (played like the pre-1991 Prize wedge rules in the US version); whoever picked two of them and solved the puzzle won the prize. This wedge was placed on the blue €50 three wedges from Lose A Turn.

In the Bonus Round, the winning contestant played for an electric car or cash of up to €30,000 (€60,000 if that player had the aforementioned wedge). The gameplay was otherwise exactly like the American version.

This overhauled format only lasted for two months, and the series as a whole ended on 23 March. By the end, €100 became the smallest value on the Wheel.

Georgia
იღბლიანი ბორბალი (or Igbliani Barbali), hosted by Duta Skhirtladze, has aired on Rustavi 2 since March 3, 2011. The hostess wears a bikini, and trilons are still used.

Germany
Wheel also became popular in Germany as the long-running Glücksrad, debuting on Sat.1 on November 7, 1988. In a rare move, Frederic Meisner and Peter Bond alternated hosting duties from episode to episode, with Maren Gilzner as hostess.

Germany's version is one of the few versions (others being Belgium, Egypt, France, New Zealand, and Vietnam) to have used similar aspects of an American Wheel layout. When it premiered, it used the nighttime 1985 round 1 layout (albeit reversed) for all three rounds on a rainbow-esque Wheel. In round 2, the 150 by the 900 was replaced by a Sonderpreis (special prize) wedge while the other 150 increased to 500. The Aussetzen (Lose A Turn) was replaced by a second Bankrott (Bankrupt). In round 3, the Extra Dreh (Extra Turn/Free Spin) was replaced by an Aussetzen, the adjacent 200 was increased to 2000, and the Sonderpreis was replaced by 5000. The following year, the font and pegs changed from black to white, the colors were brightened, and 350 and Bankrott swapped positions. This would be the basis for most of its layouts until around 1999 or when Germany switched to the Euro.

In late 1991, the trio did a behind-the-scenes special while at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida about the American Wheel's "Around the World" tapings of Season 9, which had quite a few other international hosts and hostesses present as well.

In mid-May 1998, the show moved to Kabel Eins; Bond and Gilzer left shortly afterward, the latter replaced by Sonja Kraus around 2000. The last changes came near the end, as Meisner was replaced in 2001 by Thomas Ohrner and Kraus was replaced in 2002 by Katrin Wrobel. The show ended on October 31, 2002.

The show returned on 9 Live from March 2004 to March 2005, with Meisner and Ramona Drews hosting.

Kinder-Glücksrad

A children's version, hosted by Petra Hausberg, aired on Sat.1 from 1992-93. In a rarity for the franchise, there was no hostess or Bankrupt wedges.

Glücksrad-Gala

A bigger-budget series aired on Sat.1 from 1993-96, presumably replacing Kinder-Glücksrad. The show aired about once a month for 100 minutes, all live; the hosts were the same as the regular series, with Gundis Zambo alternating with Gilzner at the puzzle board.

Greece
Ο τροχός της τύχης ran on ANT1 from January 1, 1990 to 1996, then revived as O trokós tis túkis on MEGA from 1997-98. It was hosted at various times by George Polychroniou, Paul Chaikalis, Danis Katranidis, and Yiannis Koutrakis.

From about 1993-94, to celebrate its 3rd Anniversary, the show changed its opening to a localized version of the 1992 American one, complete with that remix of "Changing Keys".

Hungary
Another popular version was Szerencsekerék, originally running from 1993-97 on MTV1 before jumping to TV2 until 2001, then returning for its current series in 2011 on Story4TV. The original series' Wheel used 23 wedges, with three pegs each.

The series, in its three runs, has gone through several personnel changes. Also, the surname is listed first per customs of the Hungarian language.
 * In 1993, the hosts were Gajdos Tamás, Klausmann Viktor, and Prokopp Dóra.
 * In 1999, Tamás left and was replaced by Vízy András; Viktor left in 2000 and was not replaced.
 * When the show returned in 2011, Viktor returned as well and was joined by Árpa Attila and Rácz Zsuzsi.
 * In 2012, Viktor and Attila were replaced by Szulák Andrea.

Special Wedges
 * Csőd: Same as Bankrupt.
 * Kimarad: Same as Lose A Turn. It was originally called "Passz" until around 2000.
 * Joker: Same as Free Spin. It was originally called "Újra" until around 2000.
 * Különdíj (Special Prize): When landed on, the host asks a trivial question and if the contestant answered it correctly, s/he must solve the puzzle to win the prize. In the original version, it behaved like the Jackpot Wedge in the US version and the Prize wedge in the Polish version. Around 2000, 5,000 forintok per letter was awarded even if the contestant did not immediately solve the puzzle.
 * Dupla vagy Semmi (Double or Nothing): Used only on the original version, a player who landed on this wedge had to call a correct letter to double their money; otherwise, it acted as a Bankrupt.
 * Risiko (Risk): Wrong letters upon landing on it takes away money. It is only used around 2000.

Indonesia
Roda Impian, hosted by Charles Bonar Sirait, originally ran on SCTV from August 6, 2001 to August 2, 2002 for 260 episodes. The original hostess, "Vicky", was replaced on May 1 by "Ike".

Originally, the show aired daily at 17:30 (5:30 PM), but on November 5 moved to 17:00 until February 4, when it returned to 17:30. On May 6, the show moved to its final timeslot of 16:00, where it remained until its demise.

The series appears to have ended out of controversy; according to Sirait, some deception of the public was involved.

Revivals

The series was revived on antv from 2003 to July 29, 2005, followed by a very brief revival on Indosiar from January 2-March 3, 2006.

Another revival was planned for MBC 4 to begin in December 2011 or January 2012, although it appears that these plans fell through.

Israel
גלגל המזל (or Galgal HaMazal) ran on Channel 2 from 1994-2000, hosted by Erez Tal. A revival, מחזירים את הגלגל ("Return the Wheel"), aired in at least 2010.

Strangely, at least the revival has the set reversed (Wheel at left, puzzle board at right). Even stranger is that the revival's Wheel has just one arrow, positioned in front of the host.

Italy
La Ruota Della Fortuna debuted in 1985 as one of several games played on Pentatlon, which aired on Canale 5 and was hosted by Mike Bongiorno. The Wheel used on this version had only 15 wedges. (France followed suit with their own version of Pentatlon, which aired for four months in 1986 as Pentathlon.)

The original pilot used an automated Wheel, with players stopping it via a button in front of them (similar to the Shopper's Bazaar pilot); these buttons were covered with boxes when the show went to series. Beginning in 1987 (specifically, on a "redemption episode"), each contestant was given one spin to begin the round.

1987-88

A revival aired on Odeon TV from September 1987 to 1988, using the shopping element and hosted by Augusto "Casti" Mondelli. This version was half gameplay, half something else (most likely a comedy show).

Parole d'oro

What could be best described as a knockoff, "Golden Words" aired on Sundays during the 1987-88 season at 4:00 PM, ending due to low ratings. The main difference was that the Wheel, rather than use money, had all letters of the alphabet (the Italian alphabet does not use J, K, W, X, or Y, except on loanwords) plus one each of Bankrupt and Wild. Players who landed on a letter could take the letter (for 500,000 lire per appearance) or pass their turn, as a wrong letter cost that player 500,000 lire.

Some letters on the Wheel were gold, and hence were worth 1,000,000 lire per appearance. Landing on the Wild space allowed that player to choose a letter. Once a puzzle was solved, all players won what was on their display, with the person who solved receiving an additional 5,000,000 lire.

The Bonus Round allowed the player to choose five letters, albeit picked at random from a bag. Solving the puzzle doubled that player's winnings.

1989-2003

The more famous version debuted on Rete 4, with Bongiorno as host and Ylenia Carrasi as hostess, although Carrasi was quickly dismissed and replaced by Paola Barale.

On this version, the Free Spin was called "Jolly" and used a picture of a jester. Originally, the Jolly was a disc with a J on it, but this appears to have been changed because the wedge it was on said "JOO". By the end of the run, the Toss-Up awarded a Free Spin.

This version was one of the few to try Wheel in an hour-long format; unlike in America, the show played at least nine rounds. The "warm-up lap" used on Pentatlon was dropped after the first few seasons.

Round 3 was the Prize Puzzle, which was awarded only if the player could answer a "bonus" question. Round 8 added the "Golden Letter", which when called began a short minigame: Bongiorno named a category, after which the contestant had to name a certain number of things that both fit the category and began with the Golden Letter; success doubled that player's score, but failure was essentially Bankrupt.

The final round increased all cash values and added a Vowel wedge, which essentially acted like Free Vowel did in the Shopper's Bazaar pilot.

By the end of the run, the Bonus Round was played for a car.

Aside from Carrasi briefly returning in 1992, Ruota remained stable until Barale left in 1995. She was originally replaced by Roberta Capula, who in turn was quickly replaced by Antonella Elia, who herself was replaced in 1996 by Claudia Grego; after Grego departed in 1997, Ana Laura Ribas briefly held the role and was replaced by Miriana Trevisan. At this point, the show returned to stability until 2002, when Trevisan was replaced by Nancy Comelli until the show's demise.

The show ran for 3,125 episodes, ending with a Tournament of Champions.

2007-09

The most recent version aired on Italia 1, with Enrico Papi hosting and Victoria Silvstedt (from the French version) at the puzzle board.

Japan
Hoiru﻿ obu Fochon, hosted by Jyoji Shibue and Miyuu Sawai, aired on the Tokyo Broadcasting System during the 1980s-90s.

Kurdistan
There was a version, possibly a one-time special, sometime in the 2000s.

Macedonia
Тркало На Среќата (or Trkalo Na Srekata) premiered on A1 Channel in 2009, hosted by Igor Dzambazov and Natali Grubovic.

Malaysia
Roda Impian was another success for the franchise, airing on Astro Ria from 1996-2006; original host Halim Othman was replaced by Hani Mohsin in 2002. Hostesses included Zalda Zainal, Abby Abadi, "Spell", "Liza AF1", and Irma Hasmie. The show ended out of respect for Mohsin, who had died suddenly of a heart attack in 2006.

The top value was RM1000, wit Bankrupt and Lose A Turn called "Muflis" and "Hilang Giliran" respectively. There were also two Prize wedges on the Wheel.

Spaces used in the original version
 * Mystery Wedges: Much like the American version, with two wedges and a face value of RM500. They hid either a prize or Lose A Turn.
 * Selesaikan (Solve): Landing on this forced the contestant to solve the puzzle. Doing so doubled their money, but failing resulted in a Bankrupt.
 * Undur (Reverse): Same as Lose A Turn, except the turn order was reversed (for example, if the blue contestant landed on it, the yellow contestant gained control).
 * Putaran Percuma (Free Spin): Placed on RM1000.
 * Misteri (Surprise)

The show briefly returned in 2009 on TV3, hosted by "Kieran" and Fauziah Gaus.

Despite the program's demise in Malaysia, the original Roda Impian remains the longest-running and most-watched game show in the country.

Mexico
La Rueda de la Fortuna, hosted by Laura Flores and "Anastasia", aired on Televisa from 1995-97. The opening was a localized version of the 1992 American one, and oddly the show used two puzzle boards.

Mongolia
Agshin ("A Moment"), heavily modeled after the Russian version, premiered on TV MNB in April 1992 and eventually became the longest-running show on Mongolian television. Despite its longevity, it is unknown if the show still airs.

The Netherlands
Het Rad van Fortuin, originally hosted by Hans van der Togt, ran on RTL 4 from 1989-98 and at one point used a localized version of the 1989-92 American opening. For the first few years, this version was very similar to Belgium's version at the time, including similar Wheel layouts, and even the same music and sound effects. Hostess included Leontine Borsato, Patricia Rietveld, and Cindy Pielstroom. This version used the shopping format.

The show was briefly revived in 2009, with Carlo Boszhard as host (who also did that country's version of The Price is Right), and Leontine returning to the puzzleboard. This version was played for cash using Euros, with a top value of just €500 with a €0 wedge to the right of it (the latter which, when landed on, the player had to give a correct letter to continue but did not win anything).

Bankrupt and Lose A Turn were named "Bankroet" and "Verliesbeurt", respectively. Overval was in play for Rounds 1-2, which gave a chance to steal the opponents' money, like the Power Wedge in the Filipino version, placed on the €100 between €250 and €350. Starting in Round 3, Overval was removed and two Mystery Wedges (one on the €100 between €250 and €350, the other on the light-purple €100) and the Bankroet/€5,000/Bankroet Wedge were added. The Mystery Wedges had a face value of €100, although the Mystery Prize is unknown. The Bankroet/€5,000/Bankroet wedge was placed on the Bankroet next to €500, but it is not known if this was treated as a cash prize or spendable cash.

New Zealand
Wheel debuted on TV2 in February 1991, hosted by Phillip Leishman and Lana Coc-Kroft with Grant Walker as announcer. This version based itself heavily on the Australian one, with a very similar set (and possibly rules).

The show began at 5:30 PM, then moved to TV ONE at 7:00 PM (previously held by $ale of the Century). In 1995, TV ONE expanded its newscast to a full hour and moved Wheel to TV2 at 6:00 PM, where it was unable to compete with the news broadcasts of TV ONE and TV3 and ended in 1996.

One infamous episode which appears from time to time in blooper specials was boxer David Tua's game on October 10, 1992: at one point, he asked for P when buying a vowel; at another, he tried to buy a "constonant". He was also believed to have tried to call "O for awesome", but in fact it was "O for Olsen" (a reference to Olsen Filipaina), although the main problem is that he was supposed to call a consonant.

2008-09

The show returned on April 14, 2008, again on TV ONE, now hosted by Jason Gunn and Sonia Gray. Like the American version, a SPIN ID number was drawn during the show; in this case, it was an "aside" during one round and awarded $500. In addition to using categories (most of which appeared to be identical to the American and Australian versions), Sonia offered a clue pertaining to each puzzle at the start of every round (similarly to the 1974 American pilots).

Values ranged from $50-$500 in Round 1, $50-$900 in Round 2, and $100-$2,000/$150-$2,000 in Rounds 3+.
 * Toss-Ups were played like the US version, with a value of $100.
 * A Free Spin was placed on a $50 space in Rounds 1 and 2.
 * A Prize wedge was placed in all rounds. The prize was always kitchen appliances.
 * $600, $700, $800, and $900 were placed on four of the $50 spaces beginning in Round 2.
 * $1,000 and $2,000 were added for Round 3. Also added were a Bankrupt/$5,000/Bankrupt wedge, another Bankrupt wedge, and two Mystery Wedges.
 * The Mystery Wedges had a bribe of $300, with a Bankrupt or $2,500 on the reverse.
 * RSTLNE was given by default in the Bonus Round but, if a player accidentally called one of those letters, that pick was considered to have been wasted and was essentially held against the contestant.

Wheel ended in June 2009 due to low ratings, low advertiser revenue, and high production costs; an increased emphasis on the play-by-phone game "Speed Digits" (where Gray gave RSTLNE and Gunn gave a sixth consonant) is likely to have been a contributing factor, as it typically disrupted the game flow. The week of April 27, 2009 had firefighters playing the game; while not stated outright, all of them were male, likely in an attempt to draw a large female demographic.

Norway
Lykkehjulet aired from 13 March 1990 to 16 April 1993 on TV3 and is the same as the original Swedish Lyckohjulet, with one contestant from Norway and two from Sweden (or vice versa) playing against each other (and as a result of the dual-country airing, intros and promos used two logos). This is the only known version of Wheel to have contestants from different countries playing against each other as a regular part of the format (Canadians have played on the American version, and at least one American played on the Australian version).

For a while (also seen on the cover of the board game adaptation), only two contestants – one from Sweden and the other from Norway – played against each other. Two regular rounds were played, followed by a duel round (which may have been similar to the Bonus Round only with two players), followed by a single-player Bonus Round. This is the only known time a version in the worldwide franchise to regularly depart from the standard three-player format.

Originally, the show was hosted by Ragnar Otnes and Ulrika Nilsson. Otnes was replaced by Knut Bjornsen on 31 December 1991, while Nilsson was replaced by Lise Nilsen on 1 September 1992.

Initially, a shopping-based turntable was at center stage, which appears to have been dropped when Knut became host.

There also appears to have been a one-time special that aired 26 February 2007.

Panama
La Rueda de la Fortuna, hosted by Rassiel Rodriguez and Nadage Herrera, briefly ran on Telémetro in 2001. It was revived on Canal 13 on June 9, 2010, hosted by Jorge Ortega, but appears to have ended in 2011.

Peru
La Ruleta de la Suerte premiered in late November 2011 on Frecuencia Latina, with host Cristian Rivero. It appears to have ended in 2012.

The Philippines
Wheel originally aired on ABC-5 from November 19, 2001 to October 2002, hosted by Rustom Padilla and Victoria London. This version used the Surprise wedge and Free Spin wedge (though treated like the token), along with the W-H-E-E-L envelopes and RSTLNE given automatically in the Bonus Round. The logo was the American one used from 1995-97.

The peso amounts on the Wheel were 1,000, 1,200, 1,400, 1,600, 1,800, 2,000, 2,250, 2,500, 2,750, 3,000, 3,250, 3,500, 3,750, and 4,000 (notably between Lose A Turn and Bankrupt). Vowels cost 500 pesos. Special wedges included:
 * Surprise (Round 1), placed on the green 1,000 between 3,500 and 1,600.
 * Free Spin (Rounds 1-2), placed on the green 1,000 between 1,400 and 2,250.
 * Goodie 1 (Round 2), a Prize wedge placed on the orange 1,000.
 * Jackpot (Round 2): The Jackpot started at 5,000 pesos, with the wedge placed on the light-green 1,000 between 3,000 and Bankrupt.

The Speed-Up is played like the American version, with consonants worth the Final Spin's amount plus 1,000 pesos.

2008

The show was revived on ABS-CBN from January 14-July 25, 2008 for 140 episodes, hosted by Kris Aquino with Zara Aldana and Jasmine Fitzgerald alternating at the puzzle board. Strangely, promos and the like for this version made no mention of the Padilla series.

This version closely resembled the American format then in use, albeit with puzzles in both English and Tagalog, and K replacing R in the Bonus Round. The Bonus Round prizes were: cars and cash amounts ranging from 50,000 pesos to 1,000,000 pesos and a top prize of 2,000,000 pesos. The most notable difference was the Power wedge (known as "Hold Up" in other versions that use it) which, after calling a correct letter, allowed a player to steal all current round winnings from an opponent. If neither opponent had any money, the player still had to call a correct letter at no value. Another notable difference was the position of each of the player's arrows. Instead of being placed at the center of each player's podium, they were placed just clockwise of the center. The reason for this is unknown.

The peso amounts on the Wheel were 3,000, 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 15,000. Vowels cost 2,500 pesos. A Free Spin token (styled just like the US version's only shaped like an oval) was present on the purple 6,000, and obtaining it also added 6,000 pesos per letter to that player's score. There was no house minimum, but it was implied that the contestants were given parting gifts.


 * Like the American version, three Toss-Ups were played for 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 pesos respectively. Whoever solved a Toss-Up spun first in the next round (Rounds 1, 3, and 4 respectively). The person who won Round 1 also started Round 2, as was the case on the 1973-74 American pilots.
 * Round 1 featured a Bankrupt/100,000/Bankrupt Wedge. A correct letter on the center simply added 100,000 pesos to that player's score, which could be spent on vowels.
 * Jackpot (Round 2): The Jackpot began at 100,000 pesos, but wrong letters did not add to it. Landing on the wedge itself added 3,000 to the Jackpot.
 * Round 2 was also the Prize Puzzle. After the puzzle was solved, a question was asked about it for the prize.
 * Mystery Wedge (Round 3): Unlike the American version, there was only one Mystery Wedge (placed on the blue 5,000 and with a face value of 5,000) that could be a Bankrupt or 200,000 pesos; the wedge was either yellow, red, or blue. Also in this round, Power moved to between 3,000 and 9,000, with its former spot becoming a green 3,000.
 * If there was time for Round 4, a Bankrupt/200,000/Bankrupt Wedge replaced the blue 5,000.
 * When the Speed-Up began, the amount landed on was the value of the Speed-Up (if the Wheel landed on Power, the highest score earned by a contestant in this round would go to whoever solved the puzzle). Vowels originally had to be bought unless the contestant did not receive any money, but this was scrapped later on.

Unlike the original run, the 2008 series ended with a proper finale: a special game with adult-child teams.

Poland
Kolo Fortuny was a TVP2 show which debuted on 2 October 1992, originally hosted by Wojciech Pijanowski and Magda Masny. Pijanowski left the show in 1995 and was replaced by Paweł Wawrzecki, who was himself quickly replaced by Stanisław Mikulski until the show's end on 1 September 1998.

The show debuted during Poland's period of Złoty hyperinflation, resulting in the top amounts being zł5,000,000/zł12,500,000/zł17,500,000/zł25,000,000 until 1995, when the "new" Złoty was introduced and the top amounts hence became zł500/zł1,250/zł1,750/zł2,500 (the change was either before or during Wawrzecki's tenure).

From 1992-96, the Wheel had 21 wedges with three pegs each; this was decreased to 20 wedges with two pegs each when the top amounts were changed to zł500/zł1,400/zł2,000 in 1996, and the Wheel also adopted a new color scheme. Bankrupt and Lose A Turn were called "Bankrut" and "Stop" respectively, although the latter was "Strata Kolejki" until sometime in 1993.

On a Christmas episode from 1992, celebrities played. The Round 4 Wheel layout was used during the entire game. By Round 2, Niespodzianka (Surprise) was placed on the pink zł500,000, Zestaw (set of prizes) on Lose A Turn, and a blue zł17,500,000 on Bankrupt.

One major difference from the American version was the Bonus Round, played for a car through 1996 and a zł10,000 prize package from 1997-98: the seven envelopes (spelling out F-O-R-T-U-N-A on a pedestal much like the American one used from about 1990/91-92) only determined which five consonants and one vowel the player would receive at the outset, after which s/he then called for another three-and-a-vowel, and then had 15 seconds to solve the puzzle. Unlike any other known adaptation of the Bonus Round (apart from various American home console and computer game adaptations), the player had just one guess at the puzzle solution, and when he/she picked one of the letters he/she already recieved, it's considered wasted and held against.

By 1993, the seven envelopes were reduced to four (now spelling K-O-L-O with a star between each) and gave just three-and-a-vowel. For a brief time, the graphics were altered to show the chosen envelope's letters and the contestant's picks at the same time along with the 15-second clock, although this was dropped by Spring 1994.

Sometime between Winter 1995 and Spring 1997, the time limit was reduced to 10 seconds; the envelope podium was shrunk to a short, domed style; and the player was not given any free letters.

2007-09

A revival aired on TVP2 from 29 October 2007 to 27 October 2009, helmed by Krzysztof Tyniec and Marta Lewandowska. The format used here more closely resembled the American format, including the ability to give unlimited answers in the Bonus Round. zł1,500 was the top amount in all rounds.


 * Toss-Ups were played for a dishwasher or a trip to a hotel in Poland. The puzzle board's border lit up depending on which player (red, yellow, or green) buzzed in.
 * Vowels cost zł200.
 * Prize wedges behaved like the US nighttime Jackpot wedge: players had to call a correct letter on it and immediately solve the puzzle to win it.
 * The Bonus Round was played for cars, trips, and cash prizes up to zł50,000, using the Bonus Wheel. The player was given RSTLNE and selected the three-and-a-vowel, after which s/he had unlimited guesses.

Special spaces


 * AGD: Home appliances worth zł5,000. This wedge was placed on the orange zł150 between zł200 and zł300 in Round 3.
 * Wycieczka: Represented trips.
 * Sklep Internetowy: A computer-related prize. Placed on the orange zł150 between zł200 and zł300 in Round 2.
 * Skuter: A scooter. Placed on the green zł100 between zł150 and the Mystery Wedge in Round 3.
 * Nagroda: Any other prize. Placed on the orange zł150 between zł100 and zł200 for Rounds 1-2 and the other orange zł150 (between zł200 and zł250) in Round 3.
 * Bankrut/zł10,000/Bankrut: Placed on the Bankrut between zł500 and zł400 in Round 2. The zł10,000 section awarded that much in spendable cash.
 * Mystery Wedges: Two were placed on the Wheel in Round 3 (one on the blue zł250 between zł350 and Skuter, the other on zł1,000), with a "bribe" of zł500; these hid either a Bankrut or zł10,000. Unlike the US version, the player had to choose whether to flip the wedge before calling a letter:
 * If s/he opted not to flip, the wedge was treated as a regular zł500 space for that turn.
 * If the wedge was flipped and was the zł10,000 (treated like a Prize wedge), the contestant had to call a correct letter to actually keep the wedge. Regardless of what was on the reverse, the other Mystery Wedge was removed from the Wheel.

Portugal
A Roda da Sorte originally ran on RTP1 from 1990 to December 31, 1993, then returned in September 2008 on SIC. Both versions were hosted by Herman José.

The original series ended in a rather unorthodox way: Herman walked out dressed in leather, wearing sunglasses and holding a shotgun. As the game progressed, José destroyed the various prizes sitting at center stage and, at the beginning of the Bonus Round, destroyed a weight scale in the same way. After the bonus puzzle was solved, he gave the winner all three bonus prizes before shooting at several trilons (notably blowing out one's light). During the credits, José pretended to kill the onstage staff before pretending to commit suicide.

Romania
Roata Norocului originally aired briefly in March 1997 on TVR1, hosted by Doru Dumitrescu. Another version, hosted by Mihai Călin, aired on Pro TV from December 1997 to May 1999. The set and rules were similar to the French version at the time, including the Free Spin/Joker wedge. Unlike France's version, however, the player had to choose whether or not to take the Joker token and spin again or choose a consonant for 150,000 lei (leu, singular). Values were displayed in thousands of lei.

In Round 3, a Jackpot wedge was placed on the Wheel. It worked similar to a blend of both the daytime and nighttime Jackpots used on the American version. It started at 0 lei and increased by the cash amount spun only when a chosen letter was not in the puzzle. If the Jackpot was not claimed, the amount in the Jackpot carried over into each subsequent episode until claimed. The Jackpot worked just like a Prize wedge on the American. It is unknown if the Jackpot was reset to 0 at the beginning of the next episode if claimed yet not won.

A revival debuted June 20, 2012 on Kanal D, now helmed by Liviu Vârciu. It runs for two hours, and is currently the only version that has a shopping format. Top value is 1,500 lei. It is unknown if the Wheel offers points or lei (the current leu was introduced in 2005).

Bankrupt and Lose a Turn are called Faliment and Stai o Tura respectively. On the Pro TV version, Lose a Turn was known as Stai un Tur.

The first Toss-Up is worth 1,500 lei and the second is worth 800 lei; the contestant must solve the round's puzzle without hitting Faliment to keep the Toss-Up money.

There are four Prize Wedges and one 1/2 Car Wedge (or sometimes one 1/3 Car Wedge) that is a full wedge.The color of the latter wedge varies in each episode.

Other Spaces in the 2012 revival


 * Pedeapsa (Punishment): When this wedge is landed on, the player has to perform a stunt with the host and/or hostess. There is believed to be no effect on scoring or gameplay, the only known wedge in the "Wheel" franchise to have such a purpose.
 * Surpriza: Acts like the Surprise Wedge; if this is landed on and the correct letter is called, the host and the hostess will open the tresure box and reveal the name of the prize.
 * Joker: Free Spin.
 * Faliment/20,000 lei/Faliment: Treated like the Bankrupt/$10,000/Bankrupt Wedge in the US version.

In the Bonus Round NRTSCE is given by default, and the contestant chooses the three-and-a-vowel.

Russia
По́ле Чуде́с (or Polé Chudes, literally "The Field of Wonders") has been airing on Channel One (1TV) since 25 October 1990. The original host was Vladislav Listyev, who was replaced in October or November 1991 by Leonid Yakubovich and Rimma Agafoshina.

The Wheel on this version is a drum, and scores are kept in points (although they are not shown during the game). Prize wedges offer that player 2,000 points or a prize, but the latter can only be taken at the cost of leaving the game (as does solving a puzzle incorrectly). Three puzzles are played with three new contestants each, and the three winners play another puzzle to determine the champion.

Polé Chudes is the only iteration of Wheel currently on the air which uses the shopping format, done only by the final winner. The player then has the option to play a Super Game for an additional prize spun on the drum, with failure forfeiting all prizes already purchased.

The current logo and theme debuted on 29 December 2000, the same day the opening sequence was overhauled. The current opening sequence debuted sometime between 8 February and 8 March 2013.

Singapore
Wheel of Fortune, hosted by Bernard Lim and Eunice Olsen, has aired on MediaCorp Channel 5 since May 8, 2002.

Channel 5 also currently airs episodes of the US version over a year after their original air dates (along with other American syndicated series). It is known that Season 25 aired from 2009-10, and the channel has gone as far back as Season 19. Season 30 began airing in October 2013.

Slovakia
Koleso šťastia ran on STV, then VTV, from 1994-97, hosted at various times by Jozef Pročko, Tibor Hlista, Roman Feder, Laco Híveš, Roman Pomajbo, and Peter Marcin. The shopping format was used for the entire run.

The show's set and opening titles shared elements with the Hungarian version (as well as a few sound effects), but used the theme of the Croatian version. The sound for Bankrott (Bankrupt) was the famous first four notes of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Oddly, Marcin's hosting duties appear to have been simply voiceovers, not unlike the "hosts" of 100%.

Slovenia
Kolo sreče aired during the 1990s on TV SLO1.

Spain
La Ruleta de la Fortuna originally ran from at least June 30, 1990 to 1997 on Telecinco, with the current version (La Ruleta de la Suerte) airing since April 17, 2006 on Antena 3. A bigger-budget version called La Ruleta de la Suerte Premium aired from April-July 2011.

Originally hosted by Mayra Gómez Kemp, subsequent hosts include Ramón García, Irma Soriano, Bigote Arrocet, Mabel Lozano, Belén Rueda, Fernando Esteso, Jesús Vázquez, Andoni Ferreño, Goyo González, Carlos Lozano, and Diana Fernández. The current hosts are Jorge Fernández and Paloma López.

The Wheel values are €0, €25, €50, €75, €100, €150, €200 (although initially, €25 was the minimum) with vowels costing €25. The Premium values were originally €50, €75, €100, €150, €200, €300, and €500, with €50 replaced by €800 shortly into the run and €75 replaced by €600 near the end. Since 2008, the layout changes every few months.

Lose A Turn and Bankrupt are named Pierde Turno and Quiebra, respectively.

Spaces from the current version


 * ×2 and ½: Respectively double and halve the contestant's score (rounded down) when a correct letter is called. ×2 is green and placed to the left of either Quiebra, while ½ is red and placed to the right of the other Quiebra. When these premiered around 1993, ½ was called ÷2 and the penalty (along with a lost turn) was immediately put on that player. They first appeared sometime between October and November 2009.
 * ?: A yellow wedge with a large question mark that acts like the Mystery Wedge (hiding a Quiebra, €100, €200, €300, €500, and sometimes a Comodín; on January 24, 2014, it actually hid a Me Lo Quedo twice) but, rather than using a flat face value, the "bribe" is made by the host with a maximum of €150. Premium had the wedge hide a Quiebra, €100, €200, €300, €500, or €600 with the host's maximum offer being €300. This wedge is usually placed to the right of either Pierde Turno or Quiebra. This wedge remains from the first episode of the 2006 version.
 * Bote (Bank) Round/Wedge: Acts the same as the Jackpot round. The wedge is usually placed on one of the purple wedges. This wedge remains from the first episode of the 2006 version.
 * Premio: A yellow Prize wedge with the name and picture of the prize in reverse. It is usually placed to the right of Pierde Turno or Quiebra. This wedge remains from the first episode of the 2006 version.
 * Quiebra/€1,000/Quiebra: Commonly introduced after Round 3, but often removed for the final round, and acts like the former $10,000 Wedge of the American version with one difference – the silver €1,000 section is a cash wedge, and the money can be spent. The wedge is usually placed on one of the purple wedges. It was introduced on April 17, 2008 as a permanent wedge on the Wheel, but it was limited to the second half of the show at September 2008. It was subtituted by the Quiebra/€1,500/Quiebra wedge on the 1,500th show on June 11, 2012.
 * Comodín: A dark blue wedge that acts like the Free Spin, and is usually placed two wedges clockwise from Pierde Turno. This wedge remains from the first episode of the 2006 version.
 * Doble Letra: A light green wedge that acts like the Wild Card (a player may turn it in to call another consonant on the amount previously spun), and is usually placed on ×2. It was introduced on September 14, 2011.
 * Ayuda Final: A red and silver wedge usually placed on ½ that, if taken to the Bonus Round, will give the player additional help for its puzzle. Before the player spins the Bonus Wheel, the hostess presents a tray with three colored envelopes (red, yellow, and blue) which contain an additional consonant, an additional vowel, or an additional clue about the puzzle. It was introduced at the 1,000th episode, celebrated on April 26, 2010.
 * Me Lo Quedo: A red wedge that allows players to steal an opponent's money and wedges, usually placed two wedges counterclockwise from Pierde Turno. It was introduced on September 27, 2012.
 * €0 Wedge: A silver wedge two spaces counterclockwise from Quiebra. Players who land on it must give a correct letter to continue, but win nothing. It was introduced on September 27, 2012.
 * Gran Premio: A two-space pink and orange Prize wedge, with the reverse being the same as Premio. If both pieces are picked up, the player holding at least one piece must solve the puzzle to win the grand prize. Both pieces are usually placed on either the red or purple wedges. It was introduced on April 19, 2012, the show's 6th-Anniversary episode.

On some occasions, wedges that represent companies are placed on either one round or throughout the game. If the contestant lands on either of them, s/he flips it over to reveal a prize or cash that represents a brand.

Due to an overabundance of special spaces on the Wheel, in 2013 some wedges began to be put onto other special spaces: normally, Doble Letra is placed on ×2 and Ayuda Final at ½, although Me lo Quedo has been placed at ½ sometimes and one time on ×2. For at least one 2012 episode, Comodín was placed on a Pierde Turno.

On November 27, 2013, wedges that represents other Spanish programs on Antena 3 hid cash amounts.

Retired spaces


 * Quiebra/Comodín (approx. November 2008 - September 27, 2012): The Free Spin version of the ? Wedge, hiding either a Comodín or Quiebra. Retired in September 27, 2012.
 * ×2 / ½ (April 17, 2008 - October or November 2009): A wedge hiding either an ×2 or ½. It was replaced by the ×2 and ½ wedges.
 * Desbloquear (November 2010 - May 13, 2013): Acts the same as the "Blocked Puzzle" Round. It is retired in May 13, 2013.
 * €10,000/'€30,000/'€50,000 (Premium version): Used only in the Premium version, if this was landed on and the correct letter was called, the top prize in the Bonus Round was replaced by whatever section is landed on if the contestant wins the game holding that wedge.

Puzzles from the current version


 * Prueba de Velocidad (Toss-Up; April 18, 2006 - Present): Mostly the same as the American version, but worth €100 and contestants can have an unlimited number of guesses. Toss-Ups on this version are mostly song lyrics with the clue being the artist of the song (and the song is played by the house band), but sometimes it is strange or funny news (as a "Titular loco").
 * Panel de la Palabra (Word Puzzle; September 21, 2011 - Present): A one-word Toss-Up also worth €100, but the letters are randomly shown and hidden until it is solved.
 * Panel de la Letra Traducida (Translated Lyrics Puzzle; September 11, 2013 - Present): A normal Toss-Up with song lyrics, but the original song is in English. Players must solve a translated version of the lyrics to win €100, after which the puzzle board will show the original lyrics and the house band will play it in its original version.


 * Panel Normal: Standard puzzles, although some use the general category and a more specific clue – for example, "Frases de cine" (Movie Quotes) is the category and the clue is the movie the puzzle solution is from.
 * Panel de la Letra Oculta (Hidden Letter Puzzle; May 6, 2013 - Present): At the beginning of the round, the titular letter (always a consonant) is shown to the audience. If a player calls this letter, it will appear green in the puzzle and the host awards a Supercomodín that can only be claimed by solving the puzzle. Afterward, the contestant may use the Supercomodín as Comodín or Doble Letra; if that player wins the game without using it, it acts as an Ayuda Final.


 * Panel con Crono (Counter-Clock Puzzle; April 17, 2008 - Present): A Speed-Up round worth €300, played with a time limit of two minutes but without giving any money for consonants.
 * Panel con Pregunta (Question Puzzle; September 7, 2011 - Present): Played like Clue of the American version, with the clue for the puzzle being a question and the puzzle being something related to the answer. Correctly answering the question awards an extra €200.
 * Panel Desordenado (Disordered Puzzle; January 7, 2014 - Present): In this puzzle, all words are distributed randomly at the puzzle board, and they can be in horizontal or vertical and sharing letters with other words.


 * Panel de Facebook/Panel de Twitter (Facebook/Twitter Puzzle; March 21, 2012 - Present): A puzzle not written by the show, but sent in by viewers through the show's official Facebook and Twitter pages.
 * Panel con Bote (Jackpot Round; April 17, 2006 - Present): Played like the American version, with two differences – the Jackpot starts at €1,000, and it does not go up by the wedge values but what the players earn from them; for example, landing on €50 and calling three of a consonant adds €150 to the Jackpot.

Retired puzzle types


 * Panel Cruzado (Crossed Puzzle; April 16, 2013 - January 8, 2014): A crossword-style puzzle with three words, usually two horizontal and one vertical, although sometimes this was reversed. It was replaced by the Panel Desordenado due to a high number of contestants failing to solve it by adding an "y" ("and" conjunction in Spanish) between the last two words.
 * Panel Bloqueado (Blocked Puzzle; November 2010 - May 13, 2013): This puzzle had a red-marked word on the puzzle board, where any letter were revealed although there was any instance (although the corresponding cash was added to the scoreboard if the letter was in that word). During this puzzle, a green Desbloquear wedge was placed on the Wheel; if a contestant landed on it and called a correct consonant, the blocked word was revealed and all instances of the letters of this word were also revealed.
 * Panel del Espectador (Viewer's Puzzle; September 2006 - January 31, 2013): Played like a normal round by the contestants, but home viewers could win €500 if they solved first via phone call.
 * Panel al Revés (Backwards Puzzle; approx. October 2008 - September 2011): A puzzle composed only of two words written backwards.
 * Panel Misterio (Mystery Puzzle; February 2007 - September 2011): Played like the Clue puzzles of the American version, but contestants had to answer the question to win the round.
 * Panel Crono Imagen (Counter-Clock Image Puzzle; April or May 2010 - September or October 2010): It was a different version of the Panel con Crono, where contestants had 45 seconds to answer a question (which was the clue of the puzzle) by identifying an image. The puzzle board initially showed a phrase which was a clue to answer the question, and contestants told consonants or vowels of this phrase to remove them from the puzzle board and try to identify the image. The winner earned €300.
 * This puzzle was played again on the Premium version, giving €500 to the winner with two differences: contestants had one minute, and the image was disordered.


 * Solo ante el panel (Alone to the Puzzle): Only used on Premium, it was played like the Puzzler and Bonus Round – after solving the puzzle, that contestant faced another puzzle worth an extra €500. The player was given PISTA (clue), then chose another three-and-a-vowel and had ten seconds to solve.
 * Panel Premium (Premium Puzzle; July 2011): Also only used on Premium, as the final puzzle beginning in the second half of July (before this, the final puzzle was Panel con Bote). It was played like a Prize Puzzle: contestants would earn an extra quantity of money when solving the puzzle, beginning at €1,000.

Bonus Round

The winner spins a Bonus Wheel containing a car and various cash amounts (€1,000, €1,500, €2,000, €2,500, €3,000, €3,500, €4,000, €4,500, €5,000, €6,000, €7,000, and €8,000). CLXGA are given by default, after which the contestant picks another three-and-a-vowel. The player then has 10 seconds to solve the puzzle, and the audience gives a standing ovation if the Bonus Round is won.

Sweden
Lyckohjulet originally aired on TV3 during the 1990s, hosted by Ragnar Otnes and Ulrika Nilsson. This run was the same as Norway's Lykkehjulet, played in the same studio with one contestant from Sweden and one from Norway playing against each other.

A revival, Miljonlotteriet Lyckohjulet, has aired on TV8 since 18 January 2010. Hosted by Hans Wiklund and Hannah Graaf, the Wheel values range from 500-300,000 Kronor, then 300-2,000 Kroner. Stå​ Över means Lose A Turn, Bankrutt means Bankrupt, and Frispel means Free Play.

Special Wedges and Tokens in the 2010 version


 * Kvitt/Dubbelt (Double or Nothing): Placed on both 1,000 spaces, when a contestant lands on either wedge with them and calls a correct consonant, s/he can take another turn or risk their current earnings for a chance of doubling their money or losing it all. They behave like the Mystery Wedges without face value.
 * Joker (Free Spin): Placed on 700.
 * Jackpot Wedge: Placed on the pink 600 between 300 and 400, although the starting Jackpot amount is unknown.

Taiwan
While Mahjong Fortune is not a licensed version of Wheel, it nonetheless heavily borrows from the franchise. One major difference is that the Wheel is replaced by a Pachinko machine, with the player in control rolling a Lucky Ball down to hopefully land on a money amount. The other major difference is to the puzzles: they are actually configurations of mahjong blocks, which may perhaps make the show purely based on luck.

This version also has several "variety show" elements, a typical staple of Taiwan programming.

Turkey
Çarkıfelek, hosted by Tarık Tarcan and Mehmet Ali Erbil, debuted on June 1, 1992 as a Show TV program, then moved to FOX Turk a few years later. It is known to have ended in the late 1990s.

A spinoff, Cark 2000, was hosted by Ataman Erkel and aired on Kanal D in 2000. It is also one of only two known international adaptations of Wheel 2000, the other being Vietnam.

The show returned, now on the Turkish version of TNT, in 2011. The host is Petek Dinçöz.

United Arab Emirates
عجلة الحظ debuted in 2003 on America Plus, moving to Al Yawm in 2005 and LBC Sat in 2007 before ending in 2011. A revival is planned for MBC 4 in 2013.

United Kingdom
The British Wheel aired on ITV. debuting 19 July 1988 with Nicky Campbell and Angela Ekaette hosting. The format was similar, albeit with points, although Free Spin remained a wedge throughout the show's run. Solving a puzzle allowed that contestant to pick an onstage prize to be kept regardless of outcome. Unlike the American version, all three players' scores are banked after a puzzle is solved.

However, the format had one major problem from at least 1988-89: at the start of the round, and every time the Wheel changed hands, the player in control had to answer a 50/50 question to actually get control. A wrong answer meant the next player was asked a question for control, and the process continued until a correct answer was given. This slowed the show to a crawl, especially for difficult puzzles, and was replaced by 1993 with an open-ended toss-up question at the beginning of each round.

In Round one, there was one Bankrupt and one space worth 1000 points. In round two, a second Bankrupt and 1000-point space was added. In round 3, a third 1000 point space was added. By 1993, point values were doubled from this round onwards. Whenever a 1000 point was added, the camera was known for errenously zooming in on a 1000-point space already on the Wheel instead the newly added one.

According to one recollection, vowels were never available for purchase (not even through a wedge like the American version briefly used), and trying to do so presumably cost that player their turn. It is possible that such a rule only existed in Series 2 (1989), as Series 1 allowed players to buy vowels. If the rule was altered, it was dropped by 1993.

Ekaette was replaced by Carol Smillie at the beginning of Series 2, who in turn was replaced by Jenny Powell at the start of Series 7 (1995). Bradley Walsh became host in 1997, but his style (a cross between Pat Sajak and Edd Byrnes) proved unfitting for the show and he was replaced by John Leslie at the start of Series 10 in 1998. Leslie and Powell left at the end of Series 12 in 2000, replaced by Paul Hendy and Terri Seymour for the entirety of the final series (which ended on 21 December 2001).

The Bonus Round originally used three envelopes (A-B-C, offering a prize, new car, or £3,000), but were dropped in 1989 in favor of "pick your prize" (with the cash award increased to £4,000) and by 1994 this was replaced by a single package containing a car and £10,000. The envelopes returned at the beginning of Series 7, splitting the two prizes and increasing the cash award to £20,000. In 1999, when Wheel became a daytime show, the envelopes were again removed in favor of a flat £2,000.

For the final series, Lose A Turn became Miss A Turn and a "500 Gamble" wedge was added. How the latter worked is currently unknown.

The opening sequence originally used a unique logo, which changed around 1994 to a flashier one that more closely resembled the 1992 American logo. This changed from 1999-2000 to the American "marquee" intro from Season 16, after which the final series in 2001 used another "original" sequence and a new logo.

Venezuela
La Estrella de la Fortuna ("The Star of Fortune") aired on Venevisión from 1984-89, hosted at various times by Orlando Urdaneta, Corina Azopardo, Luis Velazco, and Juan Manuel Montesinos with Maru Winklemann as hostess.

Vietnam
Chiếc nón kỳ diệu (most likely meaning "Magic Hat") debuted on VTV3 in June 2002, and from at least 2007-09 was heavily based on Wheel 2000 (one of only two countries known to have done so, the other being Turkey). The format used since then appears to be based on the regular nighttime one.