SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "Big Spin® 2000" show airs Saturday, October 7, 2000, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a combined total of $1,347,500.
"I can't explain how I'm feeling right now," said Pomona truck driver, Fredrick Gaddis, who won $1 million on the Big Spin 2000 television show playing the California Gold game. "I'm just so happy," said Gaddis. "I'm planning to take a trip to Hawaii with my family with this prize money." After playing the California Gold segment of the game, Gaddis went on to spin the wheel and win $1 million. Other California Gold contestants won a combined total of $22,500.
Cynthia Ferlisi bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers ticket that revealed three "SPIN" symbols on it. That ticket entitled the Baldwin Park resident to spin the largest prize wheel in the world. Ferlisi spun the wheel the first time and the ball dropped on to the triple spoke. Ferlisi's second spin landed on $40,000 and after tripling the prize, Ferlisi won a total prize of $120,000. Ferlisi said, "I plan to use the money to pay off some of my bills."
Fantasy 5TM contestants won a combined total of $205,000. Anthony Tramontano of Vallejo was the top winner with $95,000. However, this wasn't Tramontano's first time up at the Fantasy 5TM Dream Machine. In 1996, Tramontano won $75,000. "I'm going to pay off some bills and take a vacation," said Tramontano.
Georgia Huyette of Pacific Palisades and Ruth Meier of Nevada City each won $55,000 on the Dream Machine. Huyette plans to buy a new car and Meier plans to vacation with her prize money.
The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 18,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52.5 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34 percent to public schools and 14 percent for administrative expenses, which include 6.9 percent for retailer commissions, 3.6 percent for operating expenses, and 3 percent for game costs. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $12 billion for public schools. The "Big Spin® 2000" television show is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.
| NAME |
CITY |
AMOUNT |
| Fredrick Gaddis |
Pomona |
$ 1,000,000 |
| Cynthia Ferlisi |
Baldwin Park |
$ 120,000 |
| Anthony Tramontano |
Vallejo |
$ 95,000 |
| Ruth Meier |
Nevada City |
$ 55,000 |
| Georgia Huyette |
Pacific Palisades |
$ 55,000 |
| Other California Gold winners |
|
$ 22,500 |
| |
TOTAL $1,347,500 |
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