California Gold Contestant Wins $120,000 On 'Big Spin 2000' Show; San Diego Resident Receives 'Hero In Education' Award.

News Editors

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2000

The California Lottery's "Big Spin(R) 2000" show airs Saturday, Nov. 18, 2000, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show won a combined total of $317,500.

San Diego resident Jeanne McNally was presented the California Lottery's "Hero in Education" award and a Senate resolution for her outstanding volunteer efforts. McNally has been volunteering for over forty years helping children in the San Diego area translating blind student's assignments into Braille and tutoring students that are learning English as a second language. California State Assemblywoman Charlene Zettel presented the Senate resolution and Emmy award winner, Fyvush Finkel, who portrays Harvey Lipschultz on Boston Public, presented the "Hero in Education" award.

California Gold is one way to get to the wheel on "Big Spin 2000". The game starts with 10 contestants whose Big Spin Scratchers(R) tickets 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 2000 prize wheel, while the other contestant wins $5,000. "I knew I'd get the triple," said Karen Thomas of Los Angeles. Thomas was this week's top California Gold winner who won the chance to spin the largest prize wheel in the world. Once at the wheel, Thomas spun a "Triple," which entitled her to another spin and the chance to win three times the amount of her next spin. Thomas's second spin landed on $40,000 which gave her a total win of $120,000. "I'm going to buy a home for my family," said Thomas. Other California Gold contestants won a combined total of $22,500.

Fantasy 5(TM) contestant Zenaida Salalaz of Rancho Cordova said she couldn't believe it when she was contacted two weeks ago that she would be one of the next Fantasy 5 contestants on the Big Spin 2000 show. "I've been excited ever since I found out," said Salalaz. Salalaz won $60,000 on the Dream Machine and said, "I promised my family, that I haven't seen in 11 years, that I would visit them next year and now I will be able to keep my promise." Another Fantasy 5 contestant Delores LeDuc's sister and proxy, Annette, played the Dream Machine for her and won $75,000. Annette is not sure what her sister, an inspector from Woodland Hills, will do with her prize money.

Faustino Castillo of Los Angeles won $40,000 as this week's Spin-Spin-Spin contestant. Castillo plans to use his prize money to pay off bills.

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 19,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52.5 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34 percent to public schools and 14 percent for administrative expenses, which included 6.8 percent for retailer commissions. Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $12 billion for public schools. The California Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget. "Big Spin(R) 2000" is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985.

NAME                           CITY              AMOUNT

Karen Thomas                    Los Angeles      $120,000
Delores LeDuc                   Woodland Hills   $ 75,000
Zenaida Salalaz                 Rancho Cordova   $ 60,000
Faustino Castillo               Los Angeles      $ 40,000
Other California Gold winners                    $ 22,500

                                TOTAL           $ 317,500

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