2003 2nd Quarter Press Releases

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $217,500 was won by contestants who appeared on Saturday’s, June 28, 2003 show.

Gregoria Brewer

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant appearing on this week’s show was Gregoria Brewer, a homemaker from Vacaville who won $95,000! Brewer who purchased her ticket at Vacaville Food & Liquor in Vacaville said, "I plan to travel to the Philippines with my winnings."

Contestants on the "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" game 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. Contestants appearing on this segment qualify by mailing an entry form to the Lottery after purchasing $5 of Fantasy 5 games on one playslip.

Teresa Barretta

The contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round was Teresa Barretta, a marketing consultant from Castro Valley who won $60,000. Barretta who bought her lucky ticket at Stop N Save in Castro Valley said, "I’m going to travel and pamper myself at a spa with my prize money." The second runner-up from the California Gold round was Rosa Maciel, a cashier from Modesto who won $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 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 Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week’s show was Maria Galvan-Sanchez, a social service worker from San Diego who won $40,000. Sanchez who bought her lucky ticket at Eagle Market in San Diego said, "With this money, I plan to travel to Costa Rica." Sanchez bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Sanchez to a direct trip to the prize wheel.

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®" television show is the longest running lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.