"Big Spin® 2000" Contestants Win More Than $487,000

04.15.2000
"Big Spin® 2000" Contestants Win More Than $487,000

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday, April 15, 2000 in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of $487,500. "I have a couple of graduations coming up so this prize is coming at a perfect time," said contestant Jose Sanchez of Calexico. Sanchez, an educational coordinator, has one daughter graduating from high school and his other daughter from college. Sanchez plans to use part of his $150,000 he won playing Big Spin 2000 newest game, 'High Roller,' to celebrate with his daughters' graduations. Ezekiel Tarango, a truck driver from Sanger won $5,000. Oakland resident, Telesia Salt was this week's top California Gold winner. Salt won $100,000 spinning the largest prize wheel in the world. Salt plans to make a donation to her church and take a vacation with some of the prize money. Other California Gold contestants won a total of $22,500.

Fantasy 5 contestants won a total of $180,000 on this week's show. Long Beach resident Lilia Manzo said, "I always knew that I would make it to the Big Spin 2000 show someday." Manzo was this week's top winner with $85,000 and plans to use her prize money as a down payment on a house and to take her mom and grandfather on a vacation.

Fantasy 5 winner John Atwood of Fullerton won $65,000. "I want to take my wife on a vacation to Hawaii and help my daughter out," said Atwood.

Virzell Iverson of Los Angeles won $30,000 at his turn up at the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine. Iverson, a retired accountant, said she wants to take her husband on a Caribbean cruise for his birthday.

Corcoran resident Gina Medina got 3 "Spin" symbols on her "Big Spin 2000" Scratchers ticket. That ticket got Medina a direct trip to the show where she won $30,000 spinning the largest prize wheel in the world. Medina, who is a medical assistant, said she would use her prize money to put a down payment on a house and to take her children to Disneyland.

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
Jose L. Sanchez	Calexico	$150,000
Telesia M. Salt	Oakland	$100,000
Lilia Manzo	Long Beach	$85,000
John Atwood	Fullerton	$65,000
Virzell Iverson	Los Angeles	$30,000
Gina C. Medina	Corcoran	$30,000
Ezekiel Tarango	Sanger	$5,000
Other California Gold Winners		$22,500
		TOTAL $487,500

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2000 2nd Quarter Press Releases: Article