Dream Machine Contestants Win $370,000

04.22.2000
Dream Machine Contestants Win $370,000

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday, April 22, 2000 in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a total of $417,500.

Fantasy 5 contestants won big bucks on the Big Spin® 2000 Dream Machine. Hilda B. Soto of Long Beach said, "I'm going to share my prize money with my mother and take my husband and son on vacation." Soto won $95,000 playing the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine.

Long Beach resident San Siv is only 18 years old and had just started playing Fantasy 5 Scratchers. Siv won $95,000 and plans to buy a house with the prize money she won.

Danville retail manager for the Coast Guard, William Rihel, said he has a wedding coming up for his youngest daughter in July. Rihel plans to use his $75,000 prize money for his daughter and give presents to his other four children. He also plans to take his wife to Hawaii.

Robert W. Armstrong, Jr., a home inspector from San Diego won $30,000 playing the Dream Machine and plans to help his son open up a business. He also plans to vacation to Alaska and Scotland.

Pedro Zepeda of Los Angeles will use his $75,000 Fantasy 5 prize money to help his children get the eye surgeries they need.

El Cajon resident Stacey A. McDonnell was this week's top California Gold winner. McDonnell won $25,000 and said, "I want to help my mom and dad and take a vacation to Italy." Other California Gold contestants won $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 $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
Hilda B. Soto	Long Beach	$95,000
San Siv	Long Beach	$95,000
Pedro Zepeda	Los Angeles	$75,000
Bill Rihel	Danville	$75,000
Robert W. Armstrong, Jr.	San Diego	$30,000
Stacey A. McDonnell	El Cajon	$25,000
Other California Gold Winners		$22,500
		TOTAL $417,500

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2000 2nd Quarter Press Releases: Article