SACRAMENTO - The California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" Show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $332,500 was won by contestants who appeared on the show airing Saturday, December 20, 2003.
The Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show was Dinh Chu, a social worker from San Jose who won $100,000! Chu, who purchased his ticket at Huong Lan Sandwiches in San Jose, said, "I plan to travel to Vietnam with my winnings." Chu bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Chu to a direct trip to the prize wheel.
Dinh Chu
|
The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestants won a total of $135,000 on this week's show. The first "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Michael Dueñas, a freelance writer from Baldwin Park who won $80,000. Dueñas, who purchased his ticket at BPL AM/PM in Baldwin Park, said, "I plan to go on a tropical cruise with my winnings." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Gabrielle Loy from Thousand Oaks who won $55,000. Loy, who bought her ticket at Albertson's in Thousand Oaks, expressed, "I'm going to take a vacation to Christmas Island with my prize money."
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.
Gabrielle Loy
|
"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!
The contestant that won a chance to spin the prize wheel from the "Aces High" elimination round was Carol Singer, a homemaker from Rail Road Flat who won $75,000! Singer, who bought her lucky ticket at Railroad Flat General in Rail Road Flat, commented, "I'm going to use my prize money to pay bills and open up a soup kitchen." The second runner-up from the "Aces Round" round was Carlos Coronado, a student from Daly City who won $5,000.
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 |
|
| Dinh Chu |
San Jose |
$ 100,000 |
| Michael Dueñas |
Baldwin Park |
$ 80,000 |
| Carol Singer |
Rail Road Flat |
$ 75,000 |
| Gabrielle Loy |
Thousand Oaks |
$ 55,000 |
| Other Aces High Contestants |
|
$ 22,500 |
| TOTAL |
$ 332,500 |
- # # # -