Wheel game apparatus and wagering game methods

A wheel game apparatus comprising:

• a base having a central axial shaft;
• an inner ring mounted for rotational motion about the shaft, the inner ring having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side including a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent to the radially outer edge;
• a central cone mounted for rotational motion about the shaft independently of the inner ring, the central cone being in an axial adjacent position relative to the upper side of the inner ring, the central cone having an upper side, a lower side and a radially outer edge, the upper side of the central cone including a marker thereon, the marker being disposed on the upper side at a radially inner position relative to the radially outer edge of the central cone;
• a plunger mounted to the upper side of the inner ring, the plunger including a spring for biasing an arm extending radially inward, the arm including a distal end;
• an annular ring mounted on the lower side of the central cone, the annular ring including a plurality of equally sized engagement spaces divided by radial ridges, the plurality of engagement spaces being equal to the number of circumferentially spaced slots, each engagement space being generally in radial alignment with a single circumferentially spaced slot, wherein the plunger is configured to form an engagement with at least one of the engagement spaces of the annular ring through the application of a radially inward force to the distal end of the arm of the plunger against the engagement space whereby the at least one marker is positioned in radial alignment with a single slot and the cone is at rest;
• and
• a plurality of raised portions protruding from the upper side of the central cone at a radially inner position relative to the radially outer edge of the central cone, the plurality of raised portions being spaced circumferentially apart from one another on the upper side of the central cone, wherein responsive to the disengagement of the plunger with the at least one engagement space and subsequent rotational motion of the central cone, the rotational motion of the central cone is slowed by the radially inward force applied to the distal end of the plunger until the plunger forms another engagement with at least one of the engagement spaces whereby the marker is positioned in radial alignment with a single slot and the central cone comes to a rest.