SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs Saturday, February 22, 2003, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show win a total of $1,155,000.
Leo Ramdwar
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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 Leo Ramdwar, a plant manager from Los Angeles, who wins $1million! "I plan to travel all over Europe with my winnings," said Ramdwar. After his win, Ramdwar told his wife to pinch him because he could not believe it. When asked about giving advice to other players, he repeatedly said, "Just keep buying those Scratchers® and you'll win like me." Ramdwar purchased his lucky ticket at Water Gourmet in Los Angeles. The second runner-up from this California Gold round is Steven Kristich from Tiburon, who wins $5,000.
The second contestant that makes it to the big wheel from the California Gold game is Michael Jenkins, a police officer from Turlock, who wins $25,000. When asked about his plans for his prize, Jenkins replied, "I plan to buy a home." Jenkins bought his ticket at Pop-N-Cork in Turlock. The second runner-up from this California Gold round is Robert Mandel, a restaurant manager from Sacramento, 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.
Felicidad Hamilton
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The only Fantasy 5 Dream Machine contestant appearing on this week's show is Felicidad Hamilton, a hotel assistant manager from San Mateo. Hamilton wins $85,000 and she explained her plans for the money, "I plan to go on a cruise vacation." Hamilton bought her ticket at Third Avenue News in San Mateo.
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.
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 $14 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.
| NAME |
CITY |
AMOUNT |
|
| Leo Ramdwar |
Los Angeles |
$1,000,000 |
| Felicidad Hamilton |
San Mateo |
$85,000 |
| Michael Jenkins |
Turlock |
$25,000 |
| Other California Gold Contestants |
|
$45,000 |
| TOTAL |
$1,155,000 |
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