Life as the Goddess of Slots
YouTube Player Hosting Slots on the High Seas Cruise in September
By Sean Chaffin
The jackpot meant more than just scoring a nice payout. Seeing those Dragon Link reels lined up just right eventually brought about a new business venture for Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff. The actress, producer and entrepreneur had just finished a Netflix comedy appearance about two and a half years ago, and headed to the Hard Rock Casino Tampa while on a break in filming.
Bencivengo-Ziff dropped some cash into a machine while she just happened to be walking by the slot area. Using a $1 denomination and placing a $25 bet, the machine hit a $1,550 jackpot and she received a hand pay. The experience and her reaction was captured by a friend on video. The native of the Bronx, NY, posted the video on Tik Tok and it went viral with over one million views. The lucky winner couldn’t believe so many viewers were interested in her good fortune and an idea began to take shape. That led to Bencivengo-Ziff’s “Goddess of Slots” persona and YouTube channel after learning that watching others play slots online was growing in popularity.
“While telling another friend about it, he explained there was an audience for this content, which was its own genre—casino influencer and content creator,” she says. “We created the moniker ‘Goddess of Slots’ because my friend said I was a goddess and dominated the slot machine. I’ve always believed that every woman has a goddess within her. It all just clicked and the ‘Goddess of Slots’ was created. Ever the businesswoman and entrepreneur, I’ve since trademarked the name and logos.”
The Goddess of Slots now has more than 23,000 subscribers on YouTube, 47,000 followers on Facebook, 211,000 followers on Instagram and 51,000 on TikTok. She recently spoke with Casino Player about her life as a slot streamer and vlogger—as well as an upcoming cruise she’s hosting in September.
Resonating on the Reels
For the uninitiated, streaming and vlogging slot play online has really taken off in recent years, with millions of fans around the world tuning in to check others playing slots on YouTube, Twitch and other platforms. These players’ own slot adventures allow fans the chance to check out new games, features and simply to live through the eyes of another gambler—without spending a dime of their own money.
The Goddess has built quite an audience since that first video. But simply posting videos of playing slots and making a channel interesting are two entirely different things. Bencivengo-Ziff has been a performer for much of her life and that has helped keep viewers checking out every spin of the slot reels. Beyond playing, Bencivengo-Ziff explains how certain games work and the key symbols to keep an eye out for.
“I love working and interacting with people and am comfortable with public speaking and being on camera,” she says. “The Goddess of Slots character is the perfect blend of ad libbing, acting, fun, entertainment and being able to show positivity with and toward people. My followers feel comfortable enough to come talk to me and share their stories with me when they see me, which I encourage. It’s the best of all my worlds—things I enjoy and make me happy. When I play, I love the thrill of the possibilities! I enjoy the entertainment.”
When it comes to hitting the casino floor with the camera rolling, that very first game seems to be the one that pays off the most for Bencivengo-Ziff. Dragon Link has brought her the most winnings.
“It’s the first one I hit that created this whole thing, so it’s always going to be special to me,” she says.
That large audience also means Bencivengo-Ziff is regularly recognized as she heads to the casino for her next video. Because Bencivengo-Ziff is right on viewers’ phones—literally in the palm of subscribers’ hands—or in their living room on the television, people not only become fans but often assume a level of familiarity. That can lead to some interesting interactions.
“People feel very comfortable coming up and speaking with me anytime, which is perfectly fine with me,” she says. “I did have a lady do exactly that while I was mid-sentence and clearly filming. She did not care that I was filming and proceeded to have a whole conversation with me even after I told her, and she saw the camera rolling.”
Job That’s Slots of Fun
Growing up, Bencivengo-Ziff was into a bit of everything. She was involved with sports, playing basketball and earning several black belt levels in Taekwondo. She also excelled in theater, communications and writing—with each of those helping when planning, recording and promoting her videos. She has always loved music, playing the clarinet as a kid, and has sung and been involved with choirs most of my life. That time on stage also paid dividends in transforming into the Goddess of Slots.
Other interests included working on the school newspaper, fishing, cars, collecting baseball cards and learning to shoot a gun. She was also always an avid fan of New York sports teams, from the Rangers to the Knicks and especially the Yankees. As she got older, gambling became a part of life as well when she had a few bucks to wager.
“I grew up within walking distance to Yonkers racetrack and knew the best horses because relatives knew some of the jockeys, so we could visit the stables as a young adult,” she says. “Friends and I would occasionally drive the three hours to Atlantic City for an overnighter at a casino. I never took gambling seriously and frankly, never had extra money to gamble but once in a blue moon.”
Bencivengo-Ziff was part of a tight-knit family and she could regularly be found at St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx on Sundays, and then either with family or friends, usually playing a friendly game of co-ed softball.
“When with relatives on weekends, we were either making a sauce or perogies [filled dumplings of Polish origin, commonly made with unleavened dough and various savory or sweet fillings], depending on which extended family we were with,” she says. “Either way, food, family, music and laughter were involved.”
That communal approach mixed with fun now extends to her life as a slot influencer. Being willing to give anything a try was also a nice mindset for launching a business that some might find strange—playing slots online. Not only is Bencivengo-Ziff releasing slot videos, but other gaming opportunities have also come her way over the last two years. That has included attending the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas that saw her showcasing AGS’ latest slot machines. She’s also partnered with top casinos, including the Hard Rock Tampa and El Cortez in Las Vegas.
Bencivengo-Ziff recently had the opportunity to participate in a $1 million slot tournament at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas, where she advanced to the semifinals. Additionally, she is currently working on two upcoming television series, further expanding her presence in the entertainment world.
And while most Americans are familiar with YouTube videos, creating content is much more than simply filming something and throwing it up on the platform. There is really a lot of work that goes into creating content that will resonate with others—planning, editing, social media and plenty of sweat equity goes into building a channel that will bring in thousands of views. Not to mention the real risk of losing money and dealing with criticism from viewers.
“Creating content, making sure it’s entertaining and getting it out there, really takes more work than people realize,” she says. “The money going into the machines is my own. I have wins and I have losses. I show both and I remind people that it’s still all gambling. I constantly advocate to set a limit and stick to a limit. Think of it as an entertainment budget and never ever go over what you allocate for your budget. If you find you’ve blown your money and you are at an ATM, you are in trouble and need to stop.
“Most people can be so sweet, but some can also be cruel when they act as scared keyboard trolls with nasty comments. I’m comfortable in my own skin and life experiences have made me incredibly confident in who I am and what I do, but I could see where words could be very hurtful, if allowed. People should understand, this is for entertainment and amusement—yours, but mine too. And I’m having the time of my life!”
Cruising with the Goddess
Slot fans can now join the Goddess of Slots on the high seas. Bencivengo-Ziff is inviting casino players and travel enthusiasts to join her on a five-night cruise she is hosting aboard Virgin Voyages’ ship Valiant Lady. Departing from Miami, FL, on Sept. 12, the Dominican Daze voyage offers a unique opportunity to sail alongside the Goddess and experience premium casino gaming at sea. The ship takes guests on a stop in the Dominican Republic and then to Bimini in the Bahamas before returning to Miami.
Casino players and fans of the Goddess can participate in exclusive gaming events and enjoy Virgin Voyages amenities. The host is already familiar with the Valiant Lady, where she helped unveil the high-limit gaming room. The new Goddess of Slots cruise offers premier gaming and Virgin is one of the few cruise lines with a dedicated high-limit gaming room tailored for serious slot and table players. Guests who register through Goddess of Slots will enjoy numerous perks—all in a child-free, no-dress-code atmosphere designed for ultimate relaxation and fun.
“My first cruise on Virgin Voyages was when Raja, ‘The Big Jackpot’ [another popular YouTube slot player] offered for me to join him at the opening of the high limit room on the ship,” she says. “That cruise was a blast and the cruise line was so much fun. When the opportunity came up to have my own Goddess of Slots cruise in partnership with Virgin Voyages, I was very excited to do it. We are having a special cocktail party, group get-togethers, special meet-ups in the high limit room, everyone involved will get a special swag bag of Goddess of Slots goodies. There will be a special Goddess of Slots slot tournament and more. The cruise is going to be amazing!”
Sail & Spin with the Goddess of Slots! Sun, Fun and Casino Perks Await
Ready to hit the high seas to spin some reels and enjoy some sun and fun with the Goddess of Slots? Expect great cuisine, tasty cocktails, brilliant beaches and numerous excursions away from the ship. Interested travelers can submit their request by completing the registration form at www.airtable.com/appSXG2mUaCm9hEU9/pag3X2WW7E59xFKI3/form. Eligibility for complimentary or promotional offers is based on previous casino play. Returning Virgin Voyages casino players will have their eligibility verified based on past casino play on board.
New travelers can submit their best casino offer from a land-based casino (minimum three-night comp) or a complimentary cruise offer for a balcony cabin or higher. Final eligibility will be determined by Virgin Voyages. Non-casino players who wish to sail with the Goddess of Slots can book at the best available promotional rate. For more information on the cruise, email GoddessOfSlotsCruise@gmail.com.
