2003 3rd Quarter Press Releases

SACRAMENTO -- California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $137,500 was won by contestants who appeared on Saturday's, July 26, 2003 show.

Patricia Welsh

The contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round was Patricia Welsh, a foster parent from Palmdale who won $50,000. Welsh who bought her lucky ticket at Four Point Liquor Market in Palmdale said, "I'm going to travel and help my church with my prize money." The second runner-up from the California Gold round was Julie Valdez-Terry, a bartender from Hollister 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.

Cesar Santiago

The Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show was Cesar Santiago, a painter from Stockton who won $40,000. Santiago who bought his lucky ticket at Mas Amigos Market in Stockton said, "I plan to pay off bills with this money." Santiago bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Santiago to a direct trip to the prize wheel.

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant appearing on this week's show was Marc Raine, a real estate transactions coordinator from Anaheim Hills who won $25,000. Raine who purchased his ticket at Grape Press in Anaheim Hills said, "I plan to open my own business 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.

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.