"Big Spin® 2000" Contestants Celebrate New Year With $387,500

01.01.2000
"Big Spin® 2000" Contestants Celebrate New Year With $387,500

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday, January 1, 2000 in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of $387,500.

"I’m going to take a vacation with my whole family, we need one," said this week’s top California Gold winner Jose Peregrino of San Diego. Peregrino spun the largest prize wheel in the world and won $100,000. Other California Gold contestants won a total of $22,500.

Manuel Michel, a landscaper from San Jose had a winning Scratchers® ticket with three “SPIN” symbols on it. This won him a direct trip to the prize wheel where he won $75,000. When asked what he will do with his prize money, Michel said, "I’m going to spend it on my girl and my little boy."

"I’m going to put a down payment on a condo," said Lisa Cianciarulo of Newark. Newark was this week’s top Fantasy 5^TM winner who won $55,000. "We want to take a trip to Italy and visit family," said Gertrude Dimascio, a homemaker from South El Monte. Dimascio won $50,000 playing the Fantasy 5^TM Dream Machine.

Marie Brown, a pre-school teacher from Pittsburg, went to the store with her husband and while there, bought a High Roller Scratchers®. She put the ticket away, went shopping with her daughter and then went out to dinner. Brown forgot about her Scratchers® ticket and didn’t realize she would be a contestant on the new High Roller game until she got home. Brown, won $80,000 and said, "The main thing I want to do with my prize money is buy a house." High Roller contestant Earlene Lane of Long Beach won $5,000.

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 $10.9 billion for public 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
Jose Peregrino	San Diego	$100,000
Marie Brown	Pittsburg	$80,000
Manuel Michel	San Jose	$75,000
Lisa Cianciarulo	Newark	$55,000
Gertrude Dimascio	South El Monte	$50,000
Earlene Lane	Long Beach	$5,000
Other California Gold Winners		$22,500
		TOTAL $387,500

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