It is not new that Hollywood earns big bets from the slot machines, and both the industries are very much related each other for decades. But the latest news confirms that it is going much deeper than the earlier days. When the annual Global Gaming Expo or G2E launched on Oct. 3, 2017, many Hollywood celebrities came with their slot machines to engage the gamblers. The event was opening zombie cosplayers, celebrity cameos, set props from various entertainment franchises such as Game of Thrones, and finally, nearly 30,000 attendees. Interestingly, the event looked like high-energy fanboy convention. In 2016, everyone saw Tim McGraw coming with his slot machine, and it surprised most of them. This year also the attendees saw such a wonder.
It is none other than Madonna who came up with a slot machine by signing an agreement with gaming maker, Aristocrat Technologies. The contract is projected to be worth over $10 million, and she was inspired by her hits in the slot. Since the initial Wheel of Fortune slot game started its journey two decades back, the manufacturers started tempting to get licensed properties. That created the bonus income options for the Hollywood Studios and the celebrities, who could attract more people into the slots. Interestingly, the income ranges from $1 million up to $20 million, confirms Todd Eilers, a well-known gaming analyst. It is already revealed that the game manufacturers pump nearly $200 million per year to grab the rights of famous brands such as The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory. It is due to the impact of the brand name that can create a difference on the gaming floor.
Licensing agents have already confirmed that the gamers are likely to play those branded machines. It comes as out of curiosity to know what each branded machine offers. The gamblers may think what a Wild Stallion or Friends would provide them. Initially, the Hollywood celebrities were reluctant to put their faces on one-armed bandits, but the complex machines of current days – most of them are coming with 4K screens and Bose Speakers – ensures an excellent gaming experience. One of the rep has confirmed what happened over the years, he says that gambling was considered to be shabby a decade back, but the improved characteristics of the machines including entertainment-friendly, interactive, and engaging nature of the machines changed the industry forever.
Apart from royalty payments, the celebrities also get a chance to take benefit of the promotional boost. While coming to royalty payments, few dollars per machine in a day contract can easily fetch few millions per year when it comes to popular games. In the case of promotional boost, analysts call it as an income generating brand awareness especially for celebrities hovering around Las Vegas, including Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Cirque du Soleil, and more. The celebrities who have homes in Vegas tend to collaborate with machines as part of a natural association. The slot machines are also working on a free ad campaign for the celebrities and bringing attention towards their shows and films.
