The Wheelmobile includes stand-ins for Pat Sajak and Vanna White, along with the wheel and game board.
The Wheel of Fortune Wheelmobile is going to be at the Chinook Winds Casino in Lincoln City, Oregon this weekend. Those who visit the Wheelmobile can sign up to be a contestant on the Wheel of Fortune TV show.
The Wheelmobile is going to be on the Chinook Winds’s grounds on Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the vehicle goes to another city in America to audition players.
While the Wheelmobile obviously does not feature the real stars of the famous television game show, it is an officially-sanctioned version of the game with a host and hostess paid by the Wheel of Fortune itself.
About the Wheelmobile
The Wheelmobile is a mobile testing facility for potential contestants on the Wheel of Fortune syndicated television program. People who think they might be a good Wheel of Fortune contestant can visit the 39 feet long, 13 feet high vehicle.
One difference between The Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy is the game hosted by Pat Sajak is more of a mainstream game show. Millions of people love to watch Jeopardy, but a small percentage of the US population think they know trivia well enough to compete. The Wheel of Fortune is much more accessible.
The Wheelmobile goes around the United States testing out potential contestants. People sign up and play a mock game of Wheel of Fortune, complete with a live audience, game show host, and hostess.
Auditions for Wheel of Fortune
At the typical stop, thousands of fans gather to fill out an application to become a contestant. The fans then wait for a random drawing, in which a handful of game contestants are chosen.
Then they play Wheel of Fortune with the Wheelmobile as a backdrop. Groups of five players play at once, answering a few questions and playing a speed-up round. The winners receive special show-themed prizes. The Wheelmobile vehicle contains a version of the famous wheel and puzzle board, so the game is played much like it would be on television. Those who are most promising are invited back to final auditions for the show. At final auditions, show coordinators make decisions on who gets a callback.
Organizers warn people not to incur expenses for the Wheel of Fortune tryout process. Last year, over a million Americans filled out applications. Of those, only 600 people were chosen for the TV show, which has aired since 1982.
When the Wheelmobile Is Going to Arrive
The Chinook Winds Casino event is going to take place from noon until 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Players must be 18 years of age to participate, or to visit the Chinook Winds Casino.
This is not the first time the Wheel of Fortune has come to Chinook Winds. The show used the casino as a backdrop in 2014. The Wheelmobile gaming is not the only attraction on Saturday. The casino also has Beach, Bacon & Brews, which takes place on Saturday from 12-6pm.
About Chinook Winds Casino
The Chinook Winds Casino opened in Lincoln City in 1995. The casino is owned by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. These days, the gaming space is 157,000-square-foot in size and contains 1,140 gaming machines, as well as 29 table games and poker tables.
Over the years, the Confederates Tribes have expanded the gaming operation. The casino also has 2 restaurants, a convention center, an arcade, and live entertainment. The complex also has a 227-room hotel and a golf course.
Wheel of Fortune Slots from IGT
The connection between the Wheel of Fortune TV show and casinos is not nearly as tenuous as casual readers might think. The Wheel of Fortune slot machine from IGT is the most popular slot machine of all time. Wheel of Fortune Slots was one of the first slot machines with a $1 million+ progressive jackpot.
One study showed that Wheel of Fortune Slots is not the most popular because of the jackpot, though. MegaBucks from IGT offers much bigger payouts. Research showed that a strange number of gamblers said the game reminds them of watching Pat Sajak and Vanna White on the Wheel of Fortune at their grandmother’s house.
