`WHEEL OF FORTUNE' CONTESTANT SEARCH KICKS OFF AT METROPOLIS

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- If you've ever found yourself thinking about all the prizes you could win if you could just be a contestant on television's "Wheel of Fortune" gameshow, here's a chance.

Wheel of Fortune, America's favorite gameshow, announced it plans to conduct a major contestant search from June 1 through June 25 at Players Riverboat Casino at Merv Griffin's Landing in Metropolis, Ill., targeting hopeful viewers in a broad geographical area that encompasses St. Louis, Paducah, Cape Girardeau, Evansville, Ind., Nashville, Tenn. Bowling Green, Ky. and Jonesboro, Ark.

"Needless to say, we're thrilled about hosting the Wheel of Fortune Contestant Search right here at Players Riverboat Casino," said Ed Fishman, chairman of Players International Inc. "Getting a chance to be associated with the most successful gameshow in television history is the promotional opportunity of a lifetime."

Securing an invitation to be an actual contestant on the show will require a combination of both skill and luck, organizers say.

All prospects will be required to solve at least five out of six word puzzles similar to those used on the television show in preliminary screening tests that will be conducted Monday through Friday from 8 am. to 4 p.m. No appointment is necessary to take the preliminary test.

Each day 15 semi-finalists will be selected at random from the pool of prospects passing the preliminary test for a chance at an audition with Wheel of Fortune producers. In all, some 300 contestants will be invited back for these scheduled auditions, which will be conducted between June 28 and June 30.