2003 3rd Quarter Press Releases

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $397,500 was won by contestants who appeared on Saturday's, July 19, 2003 show.

George Estrada

The contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round was George Estrada, an analyst from Tracy who won $225,000! Estrada who bought his lucky ticket at Pacific Bell Sundries in San Ramon said, "I’m going to use my prize money for my children’s education." The second runner-up from the California Gold round was Karen Walker from Los Angeles 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 "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestants won a total of $150,000 on this week’s show. The first "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Rick Petitfils, a customer service representative from Calabasas Hills who won $65,000. Petitfils who purchased his ticket at Save-on/Osco Drug in Agoura Hills said, "I plan to use my winnings towards retirement and my children’s education." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Joan Jackson, a retiree from Oakland who won $60,000. Jackson who purchased her ticket at Village Bottle in San Leandro said, "I plan to use my prize money to go on vacation to Hawaii." Next up at the "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" was Kenneth Brandt, a carpenter from El Dorado Hills who won $25,000. Brandt who bought his ticket at Vineyard Liquors in Cameron Park said, "I will use my prize money to take a vacation."

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.

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.