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Current Quarter
2009 2nd Quarter
2009 1st Quarter
2008 4th Quarter
Press Release Archive
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11.29.2008
An Experience for Everyone on the ‘Big Spin®’ Show
 SACRAMENTO – Mercedes Norman lives in San Francisco, and is enjoying her retirement after having worked many late nights as part of the swing shift for United Airlines. She is grandmother to – by her count – 17. But she reminded California Lottery officials that with so many grandchildren it’s hard to keep track, and she may not have counted right. After being urged by her son David to play one more ball on the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine, Norman hit the button and sunk her final ball in the $40,000 slot, grossing an $85,000 prize. After the excitement subsided Norman told Lottery officials, “I’ll share the prize with my 17 grandchildren.” The grand total won by all contestants on this week’s episode of the Big Spin was $345,000.
John Beshak, who lives in Palm Springs, is no stranger to winning the California Lottery. In June of this year he won $25,000 playing Fantasy 5 Dream Mach ine. His experience paid off. This time a Fantasy 5 coupon sent him to the Dream Machine again where his prize was nearly triple the one he won earlier this year -- $70,000. That’s a total of $95,000 in California Lottery winnings this year alone! Beshak hopes to purchase a home in Palm Springs with the winnings and take a cruise to Chile.
Maria Perez is a nurse from Hayward. From the moment she stepped up to spin the wheel to the instant she walked away $40,000 richer, Perez struggled to believe the entire experience, “I told my mom and she didn’t believe me. I don’t either, myself.” A lifelong dream of Perez is to attend Mass given by the Pope at the Vatican. With this money, Perez thinks her dream will now come true.
Winner’s Summary
| Mercedes Norman |
San Francisco |
$85,000 |
| Mike Shannon |
Sacramento |
$75,000 |
| Erika Bernhardt |
Glendale |
$75,000 |
| John Beshak |
Palm Springs |
$70,000 |
| Maria Perez |
Hayward |
$40,000 |
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TOTAL |
$345,000 | For high resolution photos of Mercedes Norman, Mike Shannon, Erika Bernhardt, or John Beshak please contact (916) 324-9639 or e-mail newsroom@calottery.com.
More than 95 cents of every Lottery dollar is returned to the community in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail commissions. The California Lottery contributes at least 34 cents of every dollar that players spend on Lottery products to public education and returns more than 50 percent of sales to players in the form of prizes. Since its inception in 1985, the Lottery has contributed nearly $21 billion to California schools out of total sales of more than $56 billion. Retailers benefit too, earning $3.6 billion in compensation since 1985.
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