SACRAMENTO – The California Lottery's "The Big Spin®" Show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $262,500 was won by contestants who appeared on the show airing Saturday, January 3, 2004.
Sam Brookman
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The "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestants won a total of $165,000 on this week's show. The first "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Sam Brookman, a bus driver from Chatsworth who won $80,000. Brookman, who purchased his ticket at Country Squire Market in Chatsworth, said, "I plan to travel to Canada and Las Vegas with my winnings." The second "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Marta Zarragoita, an administrative assistant from Santa Monica who won $65,000. Zarragoita, who bought her ticket at King's Liquor in Santa Monica, expressed, "I'm going use my prize money for my daughter's college education." The third "Fantasy 5 Dream Machine" contestant was Kevin Smith, a moving company employee from Wilton who won $20,000. Smith, who bought his ticket at the Wilton Store in Wilton, commented, "I'm going to go on a cruise with my prize money."
Marta Zarragoita
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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.
"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 Loretta Barella, a retiree from Los Angeles who won $75,000! Barella, who bought her lucky ticket at Sav-On/Osco Drug in Monterey Park, commented, "I'm going to use my prize money to buy a house." The second runner-up from the "Aces Round" round was Jim McClurg, a truck driver from Fresno 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 |
|
| Sam Brookman |
Chatsworth |
$ 80,000 |
| Loretta Barella |
Los Angeles |
$ 75,000 |
| Marta Zarragoitia |
Santa Monica |
$ 65,000 |
| Kevin Smith |
Wilton |
$ 20,000 |
| Other Aces High Contestants |
|
$ 22,500 |
| TOTAL |
$ 262,500 |
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