Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff, affectionately known as “The Goddess of Slots,” chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos.
Tell us about the viral jackpot that led you to becoming a top content creator in the gambling world.
It’s really incredible how that all played out! I am an actor by trade however; this was after Covid so there was some work but not as much as one would hope. To stay active during Covid I was performing silly skits on Tik Tok and had some people tuned in. After Covid, I was in a casino, threw money into a machine called Dragon Link that I was passing, and hit a jackpot of $1,500. (Back in the day, anything over $1,200 was considered a “hand pay”. It’s since been increased to $2,000). One of the people I was with filmed it and I put the whole unedited thing – the hit and my very real and authentic reaction on social media.
It went viral in a day! I was shocked. A friend of mine told me that there were social media influencers out there who did this and showed me a few he was following at the time. We kicked around whether or not this could become “a thing” during the time I was reading scripts and considering projects. He assured me that with a video going viral so immediately as it did, it certainly could. We kicked around names for a cute moniker and decided upon “Goddess of Slots” because I “dominated” the slot machine. Also, I love fashion and makeup and all the girly feminine, goddess-like stuff. In addition, I’ve always been very “pro women” and feel that every woman has a goddess within her.
The ironic thing is, I did it all to stay active in the acting space, not thinking I’d make a career in the gambling space. I have surpassed the number of followers and the success of those influencers he originally followed and now not only am I dominating slot machines, but I’m also dominating this niche too. I am an artist with the spirit of an entrepreneur, so I’m always trying to figure out how to get whatever I’m doing to the next level.
Just to come full circle, a director that happened to follow me in the gaming space contacted me to become a part of his T.V. series, “Un$uited” and although it’s about Poker and is backed by the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour, I come in as the character I created, the Goddess of Slots. We are already in talks for Season 2 filming, and I can’t express how excited I am about it all. In addition to that, my amazing team of managers and agents in Hollywood have presented a number of other film and T.V. opportunities and brand deals.
Do people recognize you in the casinos?
Yes! More and more they come up and ask to take a picture or just want to chat about their success in the casino and about their life, which I always encourage. It used to be that people were shy, but as someone who worked as a therapist and social worker in a “previous life”, I always encourage people to come and say hello. I enjoy hearing people’s stories. Of course, if they recognize me, I provide them with a “lucky lanyard”, which always makes people happy. We take a picture with both my phone and theirs. They post on their social media and I post on mine. People get a thrill out of seeing themselves on my social media.
We heard you give out ‘lucky lanyards’ to people at the casino?
I DO! The “lucky lanyard” has become a “thing”! I hand them out and people put their player’s card on them and become part of “The Goddess Gang”. I’m constantly hearing stories of people winning once they attached heir players to the lanyard, which they put into the machine when they gamble and can wear around their neck when they go from machine to machine. I have witnessed the magic of the “goddess effect/lucky lanyard” firsthand on more than one occasion. It has involved speaking with people telling me they are having a rough night. I give them the lanyard and tell them that I firmly believe their night will turn around. Then I tell them to “go win!” I witnessed a woman hit the jackpot of over $50K not long after she attached the lanyard. I’ve had people take the lanyard, go gamble and then physically find me in the casino to thank me and tell me that I helped them turn their luck around and that their night got better. This brings me more joy than I can verbalize!
How does it feel to be a part of the digital age?
What a time we live in!!! I think creators have more accessibility to a larger audience than ever before. We can meet people that we might never have had access to in the past. Just look at how I ended up getting cast in the TV series! What are the chances that director would have found me? What are the chances I could build an audience of fans across the entire world like I have? It really is amazing! Of course, with pleasure comes pain, and there are detractors and rude people who think they have the right to tell you who you should be and how you should live your life, or dress or act. You have to have a thick skin and learn about two incredible buttons: “block” and “delete”. There ARE cyber bullies out there who have nothing better to do than try to tear down others and as long as you recognize that YOU have the power over what appears on YOUR social media, you are able to remain in control. I think I have a thick skin based upon all the auditions and rejections I’ve received over the years, too. I just put my head down and push forward.
Tell us about your new TV series “Unsuited” (out this fall). Do you play yourself?
I don’t play myself, Lorraine Ziff, however, I do play the character I created, the “Goddess of Slots”. It’s fun and I’m glad I’m able to introduce the character to the series. The story is about a guy who is supposed to take over the family business, but he wants to become a professional poker player, instead. The problem is that he’s terrible and has no idea what he is doing. Its wacky and zany and fun. It’s created by Ken Redford and written and directed by Tom Baldinger. The actors in it are very funny and very talented. Most are award winning too! It stars Michael Satow, Tony Denison, Dan Loria, Sean Kanan, Carolyn Hennesy, Kimberlin Brown and Tom Arnold. My character is introduced in the last two episodes, and I will play a much more prominent role in Season 2.
You’re filming “Three Sheets to the Wind” this month in Tennessee with Martin Kove. Can you tell us anything about this dark comedy without giving anything away?
Yes! It’s a heist comedy written and directed by Jared Stanton and lots of fun! I’m excited to work with Martin Kove (Karate Kid, Cobra Kai, Cagney and Lacy) as we have worked together in the past and understand one another’s acting style. He plays this comical Dirty Harry type Sheriff who is incredibly full of himself, and I play a relentless reporter constantly questioning his every move. We film in Nashville, TN.
Tell us about your incredible car collection.
Cars to me are equal parts history and art. I love learning the story behind the vehicle – when it was manufactured and how it played its part in the timeline of life. Of course, their lines and design are so beautiful too. I attend car auctions to look for cars that have something extra special about them. The F430 red Ferrari sits next to a 1957 mint green T-Bird and a 1957 Venetian Red Corvette. They are all different yet all beautiful with their own story to tell. The Dodge Vipers (I have 3), are each rare based upon the year, make and model that they came into existence. For example, the blue with white striped 1997 Rt 10Roadster is so rare that many dealers were unaware of its existence. There’s a 1931 Ford Model A Cabriolet with the rumble seat and rare slant windshield feature and a 1931 Buick McLaughlin – the kind the gangsters used back in the day. There are others too, many from the 1950’s era. The collection starts with vehicles from 1931 and go to present day, with cars representing every decade.
Tell us about your previous careers before becoming gambling royalty?
I am always pushing myself to be everything I feel I have the capacity to be. As the first in my family to graduate college and earn a master’s degree, I am a lover of knowledge. As someone with an entrepreneurial spirit, I am always trying to figure out the best way to take whatever I am doing to the next level. In college, I had several majors and several specializations: theatre, communications, journalism and English. I took many public relations and speech/debate classes as well. The thought was if I could write well and communicate well, I could be successful in whatever I ended up doing.
I attended many auditions in NYC as a young person, but my father felt I needed more direction and stability, rather than just constantly running into NYC for auditions. I took the LSATS and did well enough to be able to attend law school in either NY or CA. Always having wanted to go to CA, I chose to attend law school there. I continued to attend auditions and hone my craft, with acting classes. I worked on many tv shows and movies. To make extra money, I took on a job as a paralegal. Before long, working as a paralegal became my business. Instead of working for one lawyer, I figured I could work for a bunch of firms, answering interrogatories and summarizing depositions. I decided to freelance – and eventually hired other paralegals to work for me.
Family situations brought me back to the tri-state area where I brought my business. By this time though, I was ready for a new challenge. I went back to school at Fordham University in NY to obtain my Master’s of Social Work (MSW), where I had specializations with children and families. I graduated with a perfect 4.0 and then worked in a school with kids from kindergarten to seniors in high school. I also worked privately as a therapist. Once again, a family situation (family illness that I needed to help with), pulled me from that career. I started buying real estate to fix and rent out. Investing in income producing properties became my next focus. All the while, I continued to take acting and voice classes. I own a life insurance business and continue to pursue my acting to this day. I worked as a story editor in Hollywood and had a hand in bettering scripts as a story editor. My acting turned in to getting involved with producing and I became an executive producer on a number of films.
I’m most proud of “Six Gun Savior”, written by Frank Zance and directed by Kirk Murray. It was a supernatural western where not only did I act (I was death in the embodiment of a redheaded female who offered people the choice of revenge in exchange for their soul) but also employed 400 other actors. It was a huge production and has a cult following even now. I had the good fortune to work with Martin Kove (who was The Mentor and pursed me to obtain my powers) and Eric Roberts (who played the Devil), as well as many other talented actors. Every time I step on to a movie or tv set, I’m reminded of my first professional love. More can be discovered about the projects I was involved with by visiting imdb.me/Lorraineziff
As I explained earlier, Covid kept me active with my skills (silly skits, dancing and singing) and the lift of the Covid ban and a freak jackpot that went viral demonstrated how the “Goddess of Slots” character came to be. Of course, acting has continued to be a part of my life as well.
You’re a third-degree black belt in TaeKwonDo . What made you want to study martial arts?
As a kid, we had no funds for things like TaeKwonDo, but I passed a dojo every day in my neighborhood, and vowed that one day, I would study and learn. Once I was able to afford to take classes, I did exactly that. I studied for over 26 years. While in CA, I started with TangSooDo, and when I moved to NJ, my training became much more focused. I studied Kendo, Hapkido and got to the point of working 1:1 with my teacher (known as “Master”). I competed in tournaments and medaled in Forms. I continue to run through drills to this day – blocks, punches and kicks. It keeps me sharp, both mentally and physically.
What’s next for The Goddess?
I have a number of things in the works including several films and T.V. projects, as well as work with some on-line casinos (I recently represented Draft Kings, Casinos.com and Fanatics). In addition, I have upcoming events such as more “meet and greets” and slot tournaments in several brick-and-mortar casinos. I also have some other casino and luxury lifestyle events that we are currently developing. People are constantly reaching out to my manager, Gary Ousdahl at Advanced Management, with new and exciting opportunities!
To learn more about “The Goddess of Slots,” visit her official website.
