If you were a celebrity who could put your name on anything, what products would you pick? Supplements? Blenders? An energy drink? If you're talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, the answer is "slot machines," and the devices are apparently drawing crowds to Northern California casinos.
The slots, which were announced by gaming company IGT last fall, are "some of the most popular in the house” at Rohnert Park's Graton Resort & Casino, the Chron reports. Forget the baccarat, James Bond — if you're spying in NorCal, it's apparently all about the Ellen slot machine! Sigh.
DeGeneres relentlessly promoted the casino attractions on her show's website a few months ago, with not just a product announcement, but trumpeting in January that "Someone just won $5,000 on Ellen’s new slot machine!" That's why you pay Ellen the big endorsement bucks, I guess?
"From the first spin of the reels, the famously familiar Ellen theme song emanates from each game and players are transported to the set of their favorite TV hour," IGT says. Sure, if Ellen's set is full of cigarette smoke and gritted-teeth gamblers, and is located in fucking Rohnert Park.
According to Casino Gambling Expert Al Moe (a name and title that totally makes me think of this), "the huge Ellen photos" that endcap the slots "are a bit creepy, as her eyes seem to follow you around the slot floor." The Chron, however, says "it's not unusual to see a crowd standing around" the six Ellen slots at Graton Casino, "laughing at what transpires while people play."
Hilarious or creepy? Here's a gripping video of the gambling devices that might help you decide.
The slots are also at NoCal gambling joints including the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Kings County and Yolo County's Cache Creek Casino. According to IGT, other area casinos are expected to add machines with the multihyphenate's (DeGeneres is also an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights and plans on launching a homegoods/lifestyle brand later this year) mug in coming months.