SACRAMENTO – The California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" Show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $242,500 was won by contestants who appeared on the show airing Saturday, November 29, 2003.
"Aces High" is the newest game on "The Big Spin®" Show, which replaced "California Gold." Similar to "California Gold," ten contestants begin the game and two of those contestants advance to the 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, the best hand being four of a kind. The contestant with the lower hand wins $5,000 and the contestant with the higher hand goes on to spin the wheel, for a chance to win $3 million!
Ted Yamamoto
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The contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the "Aces High" elimination round was Veronica Mejia from Chula Vista who won $50,000. Mejia, who bought her lucky ticket at USA Market in Chula Vista, commented, "I'm going to buy a house with my prize money." The second runner-up from the "Aces High" round was Maurice Lewis, a janitor from Oakland who won $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 Duc Ly, a retiree from Monterey Park who won $85,000. Ly, who purchased his ticket at Luen Shing Bookstore in Monterey Park, said, "I plan to travel to China with my winnings." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Pedro Noble, a retiree from Oxnard who won $55,000. Noble, who bought his ticket at One Stop Liquor & Mart in Oxnard, expressed, "I'm going to buy a new car with my prize money." The third "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Ted Yamamoto, an attorney from Los Angeles who won $10,000 and was cheered on by his family and friends, a group that totaled about 30 people. Yamamoto bought his ticket at 7-Eleven in San Pedro.
Cynthia Schykerynec
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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 Cynthia Schykerynec from Redwood City who won $20,000. Schykerynec, who purchased her ticket at Marsh Manor Liquors in Redwood City, said, "I plan to buy a house with my winnings." Schykerynec bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Schykerynec 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.
| NAME |
CITY |
AMOUNT |
|
| Duc Ly |
Monterey Park |
$ 85,000 |
| Pedro Noble |
Oxnard |
$ 55,000 |
| Veronica Mejia |
Chula Vista |
$ 50,000 |
| Cynthia Schykerynec |
Redwood City |
$ 20,000 |
| Ted Yamamoto |
Los Angeles |
$ 10,000 |
| Other Aces High Contestants |
|
$ 22,500 |
| TOTAL |
$ 242,500 |
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