ADVANCE/Contestants Win $262,500 on the Big Spin Show.

Assignment Desks/News Editors

ADVANCE...for release 4:30 p.m. Sept. 14

(ADVANCE) SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2002

California Lottery's "The Big Spin(R)" show airs Saturday, September 14, 2002, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show win a total of $262,500.

Fantasy 5 Dream Machine contestants win a total of $120,000 on this week's show. The first Dream Machine contestant appearing on this week's show is John Gregory, a retiree from San Bernardino. Gregory wins $65,000 and he explained his plans for the money, "I will use it to go to Disneyland." Gregory bought his lucky ticket at Circle K in San Bernardino. Next up at the Dream Machine is Adrienne Fox, a daycare provider from Palmdale, who wins $55,000. She also plans on a vacation as well and explains, "I'm going to Disneyworld with my winnings." Fox bought her ticket at Mobil Gas in Palmdale. Dream Machine players have up to five chances to launch one ball at a time into one of the five bins in the pinball-type game, each bin representing a cash amount. Prizes are cumulative, but only one ball may land in each bin to claim the prize amount. Players appearing on this segment qualify by mailing an entry form to the Lottery when $5 of Fantasy 5 games are purchased on one playslip.

The contestant that wins a chance to spin the prize wheel from the California Gold elimination round is Refugio Rodriguez, a landscaper from Rutherford, who wins $60,000. "I'm going use my winnings for my children's college education," said Rodriguez who purchased his ticket at USA Gasoline in Napa. The second runner-up from this California Gold round is Nancy Myers, a student clerk from Oroville, who wins $5,000.

California Gold is another way to get to the wheel on "The Big Spin" show. The game starts with 10 contestants whose Big Spin Scratchers(R) tickets each revealed three "TV SHOW" symbols on one ticket. When instructed, each player pushes down a "detonator" to reveal a prize ranging from $1,750 to $4,000. Two of those contestants will reveal gold nuggets and advance to the second round of play. Once there, they compete to see who can get the closest to 10 units of "gold nuggets" in their mining car without going over. The winner of this round goes to "The Big Spin" prize wheel, while the other contestant wins $5,000.

The Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show is Edmund Grendzinski, from Perris who wins $60,000. Grendzinski purchased his ticket at Food Connection in Riverside. Grendzinski bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers(R) ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket, that ticket entitled Grendzinski to a direct trip to the prize wheel.

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 19,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34.7 percent to public schools and 13.3 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.8 percent for retailer commissions. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $13 billion for public schools. The Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget. "The Big Spin(R)" is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.

NAME                                CITY              AMOUNT

John Gregory                        San Bernardino    $  65,000
Refugio Rodriguez                   Rutherford        $  60,000
Edmund Grendzinski                  Perris            $  60,000
Adrienne Fox                        Palmdale          $  55,000
Other California Gold Contestants                     $  22,500

                                      TOTAL           $ 262,500

Note: Additional information about the California Lottery may be found on our web site at www.calottery.com.

(End of advance for release 4:30 p.m. Sept. 14.)