$2 Million "Extravaganza 2000" Winner Announced

01.29.2000
$2 Million "Extravaganza 2000" Winner Announced

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday January 29, 2000 in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of $247,500.

California Lottery's newest way to win $2 Million, "Extravaganza 2000" Scratchers® game, debuts on this week's show. The winner will receive $2,000 per week for the next 20 years, which totals over $2 Million dollars.

To qualify for the drawing, players purchase $3 Extravaganza 2000 Scratchers and match any of "Your Years" to any "Winning Year", and win the corresponding prize. If the winning prize reveals "entry" on the ticket, players are eligible to enter the drawing for over $2 Million dollars. Extravaganza 2000's first $2 Million dollar winner will be announced on this week's show.

This week's Fantasy 5^TM contestants won a total of $135,000. Barbara Rubio, proxy for her father Gilbert Rubio of Lathrop was the top winner. "My dad had a dream I was going to the show and I had a dream I was going to go also," said Rubio. Rubio won $95,000 and the pair plan to spend the prize money on family.

Patrick Cooney, of Sun Valley won $30,000 at his turn up at the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine. "I'm going to share it with my friends," said Cooney.

"I've got 11 grandkids and I'm going to help them out," said Mike Marsh, a district manager of an auto parts store from Vallejo. Marsh also played the Dream Machine and won $10,000.

California Gold contestants won a total of $62,500. Holly Herrera, a homemaker from Escondido won $40,000 and plans to use her prize money as a down payment on a house. "This is like a dream," said Herrera.

Celso Mejia, a landscaper from Van Nuys, had a Scratchers® ticket with three "Spin" symbols on it. That ticket entitled Mejia to spin the largest prize wheel in the world on California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show. Mejia spun the wheel and won $50,000. Mejia would like to buy a new home with his prize money.

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 $11 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
Gilbert Rubio	Lathrop	$95,000
Celso Mejia	Van Nuys	$50,000
Holly Herrera	Escondido	$40,000
Patrick Cooney	Sun Valley	$30,000
Mike Marsh	Vallejo	$10,000
Other California Gold Winners		$22,500
		TOTAL $247,500

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2000 1st Quarter Press Releases: Article