2003 2nd Quarter Press Releases

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $307,500 was won by contestants who appeared on Saturday's, June 14, 2003 show.

Linda Haigler

The Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show was Linda Haigler, an interior designer from Canyon Country who won $100,000! Haigler who bought her lucky ticket at Canyon Liquor in Canyon Country said, "With this money, I plan to buy a house." Haigler bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Haigler to a direct trip to the prize wheel.

Delores Medina

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestants won a total of $145,000 on this week's show. The first "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Delores Medina, a homemaker from Hesperia who won $75,000. Medina who purchased her ticket at Circle K in Hesperia said, "I plan to travel and help my kids with my winnings." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Jonathon Carpenter, a manager from Clearlake who won $70,000. Carpenter plans to share his winnings with his family. Carpenter purchased his ticket at Priced Rite in Clearlake.

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" players have up to five chances to launch a ball into one of the five bins in the pinball-type game. Each bin represents 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 contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round was Willie Shubin, a retiree from Victorville who won $40,000. Shubin bought his lucky ticket at Cadillac Bowl in Moreno Valley.

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 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 find 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 retail locations statewide. The Lottery provides 51.9 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34.9 percent to public schools and 13.2 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.