2003 4th Quarter Press Releases

SACRAMENTO – "The Big Spin®" Show celebrates its 18th anniversary with Hollywood flair! This popular game show is the longest running lottery show in television history, airing continuously since 1985. The show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide.

The California Lottery recently renovated its television program playing up the "Hollywood feel" of the show. The new set is brought to life with an exciting night time atmosphere, which includes dramatic lighting and set pieces that move to reveal the biggest prize wheel in the world. This is reality TV at its best…real people winning real money! The excitement of the show is the best part, watching contestants win big money to fulfill personal goals including down payments on homes, new cars, or starting college funds.

Adding to the excitement of "The Big Spin®" Show is "Aces High," the newest game, replacing "California Gold." Similar to "California Gold," ten contestants play and two advance to a second round. "Aces High" contestants will either win a dollar amount ranging from $1,750 to $4,000 or get one of two "Ace" cards. The two contestants that end up with an "Ace" card advance to the second round. The objective of the second round is to get a better hand than the opponent or four of a kind. The contestant with the lower hand wins $5,000 and the contestant with the highest hand goes on to spin the wheel, for a chance to win $3 million!

The contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the "Aces High" elimination round was Dianne Dellimagine, a homemaker from Pioneer who won $30,000. Dellimagine, who bought her lucky ticket at Sierra Trading Post in Plymouth, commented, "I'm going to use my prize money for my children's education." The second runner-up from the "Aces Round" round was Jonae Swisher, a youth activity leader from Bakersfield who won $5,000.

Tom Wilson

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant on this week's show was Tony Peoples from Aberdeen, Mississippi who won $60,000. Peoples, who purchased his ticket at Maple Liquors in Los Angeles, said, "I plan to donate my winnings to the Tony Peoples' Kidney Foundation." 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 Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show was Tom Wilson from Ontario who won $60,000. Wilson, who purchased his ticket at Eastland Food Market in Ontario, said, "I plan to take a trip to Hawaii with my winnings." Wilson bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Wilson to a direct trip to the prize wheel.

Exceeding its mandate to provide 34% of Lottery revenues to public education, in Fiscal Year 2002/2003, the California Lottery contributed $1 billion to public schools, for a third consecutive year.