2003 4th Quarter Press Releases

SACRAMENTO - The California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" Show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $352,500 was won by contestants who appeared on the show airing Saturday, December 27, 2003.

Norberto Salazar

The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestants won a total of $205,000 on this week's show. The first "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Norberto Salazar from Los Angeles who won $75,000. Salazar, who purchased his ticket at Bob and Ken's in Los Angeles, said, "I plan to buy a new car with my winnings." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Helena Ribeiro, an executive secretary from San Francisco who won $65,000. Ribeiro, who bought her ticket at Irvin Housewares & Gifts in San Francisco, expressed, "I'm going to travel with my prize money." The third "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Victor Peoples, a cook from San Jose who won $65,000. Peoples, who bought his ticket at Six to Midnite in San Jose, commented, "I'm going to buy a house with my prize money."

Helena Ribeiro

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.

"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 Martha Malone, a retiree from Victorville who won $75,000! Malone, who bought her lucky ticket at Ralph's Grocery in Victorville, commented, "I'm going to use my prize money to go on a cruise and buy a new car." The second runner-up from the "Aces Round" round was Efrain Alvarez, a construction worker from Oceanside who won $5,000.

The Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show was Rosendo Madrigal, a construction worker from Maywood who won $50,000. Madrigal, who purchased his ticket at 7-Eleven in Hacienda Heights, said, "I plan to help out my family with my winnings." Madrigal bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers® ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Madrigal 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.