2002 3rd Quarter Press Releases: Article

SACRAMENTO — California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs Saturday, September 28, 2002, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show win a total of $265,000.

Fantasy 5 Dream Machine contestants win a total of $130,000 on this week's show. The first contestant appearing on this week's show is Betty Dumolt, a retiree from Kelseyville. Dumolt wins $70,000 and she explained her plans for the money, "I plan to have a big family reunion." Dumolt bought her lucky ticket at Mt. Konocti Gas & Mart in Kelseyville. Next up at the Dream Machine is Victor Wildenauer, a pipe fitter from Bakersfield who bought his ticket at 7-Eleven in Bakersfield wins $65,000. "I'll use this money to buy a new roof on my house," said Wildenauer. Dream Machine players have up to five chances to launch one ball at a time into one of the five bins in the pinball-type game, each bin representing a cash amount. Prizes are cumulative, but only one ball may land in each bin to claim the prize amount. Players appearing on this segment qualify by mailing an entry form to the Lottery when $5 of Fantasy 5 games are purchased on one playslip.

There are two contestants that try to win a chance to spin the big wheel on this week's show. The first contestant that wins a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round is Luis Sandoval from Downey, who wins $50,000. "I plan to have eye surgery and visit my mother in El Salvador with my winnings," said Sandoval. Sandoval purchased his lucky ticket at Benny's Liquor in Azusa. The second runner-up from this California Gold round is Isabel Miranda, a homemaker from San Carlos, who wins $5,000.

The second contestant that makes it to the big wheel from the California Gold game is Irma Lacy, a cook from Oakland who wins $40,000. When asked what her plans where to do with her prize, Lacy replied, "I plan to buy a house." The second runner-up from this California Gold round is Gerardo Escamilla, a security guard from Los Angeles, who wins $5,000.

California Gold is another way to get to the wheel on "The Big Spin" show. The game starts with 10 contestants whose Big Spin Scratchers® tickets each revealed three "TV SHOW" symbols on one ticket. When instructed, each player pushes down a "detonator" to reveal a prize ranging from $1,750 to $4,000. Two of those contestants will reveal gold nuggets and advance to the second round of play. Once there, they compete to see who can get the closest to 10 units of "gold nuggets" in their mining car without going over. The winner of this round goes to "The Big Spin" prize wheel, while the other contestant wins $5,000.

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 18,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52.7 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34.1 percent to public schools and 13.2 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.9 percent for retailer commissions. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $13 billion for public schools. The Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget. "The Big Spin®" is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.