2003 3rd Quarter Press Releases

SACRAMENTO -- The California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $267,500 was won by contestants who appeared on Saturday's, August 2, 2003 show.

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestants won a total of $190,000 on this week's show. The first "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Jim Hanly, a registered nurse from Lomita who won $95,000! Hanly who purchased his ticket at Jay's Donut in Lomita said, "I plan to use my winnings towards a trip to the Virgin Islands." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Carl Pruett Sr., a printer from La Habra who also won $95,000! Pruett who purchased his ticket at The Liquory in Whittier said, "I plan to use my prize money to go on a cruise to the Bajas."

Jim Hanly

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 contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round was Mike Dorman, a painter from Yuba City who won $30,000. Dorman who bought his lucky ticket at House of Cheer in Sacramento said, "I'm going to buy a motorcycle with my prize money." The second runner-up from the California Gold round was Jessie Becerra, a security guard from Fresno 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 Marvin Miranda, a truck driver from San Pablo who won $25,000. Miranda who bought his lucky ticket at State Market Liquor in Oakland said, "With this money, I plan to travel and payoff bills." Miranda bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Miranda 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.