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 $300,000 was won by contestants who appeared on Saturday's, August 9, 2003 show.

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestants won a total of $140,000 on this week's show. The first "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Manolo Ruby, an electrician from Arleta who won $75,000. Ruby who purchased his ticket at Yummy Donuts in Arleta said, "I plan to use my winnings towards the purchase of new computers for my kids and to payoff bills." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Ken Aguolu, a federal employee from San Jose who won $65,000. Aguolu who purchased his ticket at 7-Eleven in Fremont said, "I plan to use my prize money to buy my dream home."

Manolo Ruby

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.

There were two contestants that tried to win a chance to spin the big wheel on this week's show. Dragan Gavric, a businessman from Walnut Creek was the first contestant that spun the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round and won $75,000. Gavric who bought his lucky ticket at Antelope Market in Sacramento said, "I'm going to help my family with my prize money." The second runner-up from the California Gold round was Devin Campbell, a lighting technician from Los Angeles who won $5,000.

Ken Aguolu

The second contestant that made it to the big wheel from the California Gold game was Rosa Lopez, a homemaker from Los Angeles, who won $40,000. Lopez who bought her lucky ticket at Dad's Liquor & Deli in San Clemente said, "I'm going to buy a car with my winnings." The second runner-up from this California Gold round was Noemy Gonzalez, a street vendor 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 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.