Contestants Win Over $205,000 On "Big Spin® 2000"

09.04.1999
Contestants Win Over $205,000 On "Big Spin® 2000"

SACRAMENTO -- The new California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday September 4, 1999 in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of 205,500.

"I always knew deep in my heart I'd get to the "Big Spin® 2000" show," said Raul Reyes, a manager from San Dimas. Reyes had bought a Scratchers® ticket that revealed three "Spin" symbols on it and brought Reyes to the California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show. Reyes spun the largest prize wheel in the world and won $75,000. As for what he plans to do with his prize money, Reyes said, "I want to buy a house for my mom to help her out with her retirement and secure my kid's college."

Larry Gavrilko, an auto body shop owner from Plymouth, had five chances to make his dream come true playing the Fantasy 5^TM Dream Machine. "Let's go for it," exclaimed Gavrilko as he played all five balls winning a total of $40,000. Gavrilko contributes his good luck to his lucky gold nugget he found twenty years ago. Gavrilko and his wife plan to take a vacation to Nevada with his prize money.

Thomas Jacobson, a retired craneman from Rialto and his 95-year-old mother waited anxiously as Jacobson played California Lottery's Fame & Fortune game. Jacobson was this week's top Fame & Fortune winner winning a total of $27,000. Jacobson plans to buy a new vehicle with his prize. Other Fame & Fortune winners were Willie Shippy, a supervisor form Long Beach winning $11,000 and Josephine Fondren, a Postal Director from Los Angeles winning $5,000 who plans to "…do a lot of shopping."

"We're going on a 'yes' shopping spree," said Rubin Ruiz, a supervisor from San Jose, "yes, go ahead, yes we'll get that." Ruiz was this week's top California Gold winner claiming a total of $25,000. Other California Gold winner's won a total of $22,500.

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 18,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34 percent to public schools, and 14 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.8 percent for retailer commissions. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $10 billion for public schools and has provided an annual average of approximately 38 percent of the Lottery's total revenues to schools. The California Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget. "Big Spin® 2000" is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.

NAME	CITY	AMOUNT
Paul Reyes	San Dimas	$ 75,000
Larry Gavrilko	Plymouth	$ 40,000
Thomas Jacobson	Rialto	$ 27,000
Ruben Ruiz	San Jose	$ 25,000
Willie Shippy	Long Beach	$ 11,000
Josephine Fondren	Los Angeles	$ 5,000
Other California Gold Winners		$ 22,500
		TOTAL $205,500

- # # # -

1999 3rd Quarter Press Releases: Article