SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs Saturday, April 19, 2003, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show win a total of $194,000.
Theresa Pasqualino
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The Fantasy 5 contestant appearing on this week’s show is Theresa Pasqualino, an administrative assistant from Tarzana. Pasqualino wins $55,000 and plans to go back to school to get a master’s degree with her winnings. Pasqualino bought her ticket at Continental Liquor in Northridge. This was Pasqualino’s fourth appearance on "The Big Spin" show playing the Fantasy 5 Dream Machine. The first time, Pasqualino won $85,000 in October 2000. The second time, in October 2002, she pocketed $40,000 and the third time, in December 2002, she won $70,000. Pasqualino tied Melani Arias from San Rafael for the most appearances on "The Big Spin" show.
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.
"Weekly Payday Raceway" contestant, Paul Kleinschmidt, a writer from San Diego, will progress to the final round of play for a chance to win $2,000 a week for 20 years; winning a total grand prize of over $2 million. Kleinschmidt purchased his lucky ticket at Cottage Liquor in San Diego. On this week’s show, six contestants competed in the first preliminary round of the game moving simulated racecars along a racetrack. Of the six, one contestant, Kleinschmidt, moved on to the final round of play. Other "Weekly Payday Raceway" contestants won a combined total of $17,500 with prizes ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.
Armando Chairez
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The contestant that wins a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round is Armando Chairez, a truck driver from Ontario, who wins $100,000. "I will help my family with my winnings," said Chairez. Chairez purchased his winning ticket at USA Gasoline in Santa Ana. The second runner-up from this California Gold round is Penny Nesbit, a claims adjuster from Antioch, who wins $5,000.
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, 34.7 percent to public schools and 13.3 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.8 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 |
|
| Armando Chairez |
Ontario |
$100,000 |
| Theresa Pasqualino |
Tarzana |
$55,000 |
| Other California Gold Contestants |
|
$22,500 |
| Other Weekly Payday Raceway Contestants |
|
$17,500 |
| TOTAL |
$194,000 |
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