SACRAMENTO – The California Lottery’s “The Big Spin®” show airs every Saturday in 12 television markets statewide. A total of $337,500 was won by contestants who appeared on the show airing Saturday, January 17, 2004.
The “Fantasy 5 Dream Machine” contestants won a total of $225,000 on this week’s show. The first “Fantasy 5 Dream Machine” contestant was Nahid Homaei, a business owner from Irvine who won $80,000! Homaei, who purchased her ticket at Irvine Market in Irvine, said, “I plan to travel to Las Vegas and Hawaii with my winnings.” The second “Fantasy 5 Dream Machine” contestant was Christina Williams, a human resources specialist from Bell Flower who won $75,000. Williams, who bought her ticket at Eddie’s Liquor store in Santa Monica, expressed, “I’m going use my prize money to buy a house.” The third “Fantasy 5 Dream Machine” contestant was Dale Rodgers, an exterminator from Pasadena who won $70,000. Rodgers, who bought his ticket at Al’s Liquor in Monrovia, commented, “I’m going to do home improvements and open a business 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.
“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 Frank Escalante, a retiree from Whittier who won $50,000. Escalante, who bought his lucky ticket at Whittier Ranch Market in Whittier, commented, “I’m going to use my prize money to buy a house.” The second runner-up from the “Aces Round” round was Luis Garcia, a truck driver from McFarland who won $5,000.
The Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week’s show was Valerie Raedel, an office manager from Forest Falls who won $40,000. Raedel, who purchased her ticket at High Country Liquor in Yucaipa, said, “I plan to share my winnings with my family.” Raedel bought a “Big Spin” Scratchersâ ticket which revealed three “SPIN” symbols on one ticket. That lucky ticket entitled Raedel 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 |
|
Nahid Homaei |
Irvine |
$80,000 |
|
Christina Williams |
Bell Flower |
$75,000 |
|
Dale Rodgers |
Pasadena |
$70,000 |
|
Frank Escalante |
Whittier |
$50,000 |
|
Valerie Raedel |
Forest Falls |
$40,000 |
|
Other Aces High Contestants |
|
$22,500 |
|
|
TOTAL |
$337,500 |
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