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Carnival, IGT promote Wheel of Fortune slots with tournament, shows

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'Wheel of Fortune's Vanna White and Pat Sajak aboard a Fun Ship (Photo: Carnival Cruise Line)
Carnival Cruise Line and International Game Technology partnered to mark the 20th anniversary of the IGT Wheel of Fortune slot machines featured aboard all Fun Ships and in casinos worldwide.

Carnival and IGT will reward players with free cruises and a variety of giveaways throughout 2016. The brands are also partnering with the syndicated game show 'Wheel of Fortune' on a Carnival-themed week.

This year Carnival and IGT’s partner casinos will give away hundreds of free Carnival Magic cruises. The winners will participate in the on-board Spin & Sail slot tournament featuring the IGT Wheel of Fortune slot machines during an eight-day Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral in November.

The $200,000 prize pool provided by IGT includes a $100,000 grand prize to be taken home by one winner. IGT customers across the US and Canada will host qualifying events where winning players are awarded a free cruise for two and an entry into the grand finale $200,000 tournament.

'Featuring Wheel of Fortune slots on all 24 Carnival cruise ships gives the games great exposure to millions of people, and has played a valuable role in helping IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slots become the most popular casino slot brand of all time,' said IGT's Victor Duarte, global chief product officer, gaming.

Introduced in 1996, the Wheel of Fortune slot machines have become a player favorite in shipboard casinos, including the entire Carnival fleet, as well as in casinos on land. IGT has placed more than 200 versions of Wheel of Fortune slots in casinos around the world, and the game has awarded more than $3bn in jackpots and minted more than 1,000 millionaires.

Throughout 2016, Carnival also will host a number of 'Wheel of Fortune'-themed events across the fleet to include special branded items and activities and games every sailing, including the Wheel of Fortune scratch-off game where players can win up to $30,000. Additionally, each sailing will feature a Wheel of Fortune prize wheel offering a wide range of prizes, everything from Carnival logo items and casino cash to entry into the $200,000 Spin & Sail slot tournament.

The 20th anniversary Wheel of Fortune slot festivities also will include a Spin & Sail Week with five Carnival-themed shows airing this spring on the game show that inspired the slot machine. Spin & Sail Week, airing March 21-25, will feature a custom, tropical-themed set with high-definition Carnival ship images and footage.  Contestants will be able to win cruises to destinations including the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska.

In preparation for the broadcast, Pat Sajak, Vanna White and the 'Wheel of Fortune' crew went on location to shoot customized segments aboard a Carnival ship.

The Wheel of Fortune Spin & Sail Sweepstakes will encourage viewers to watch Spin & Sail Week on 'Wheel of Fortune' and enter each night’s bonus puzzle solution at www.wheeloffortune.com. Twenty winning entries will be selected, and the grand prize will be an eight-day Caribbean cruise aboard Carnival Magic to be taken in November with a guaranteed spot in the Spin & Sail $200,000 slot tournament.