California Lottery Unveils "Way Better" Big Spin Show; New Fall Line-up Features $5 Million More in Big Spin and Weekly Grand Prizes.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 1998--The California Lottery's weekly television game show "The Big Spin(R)" celebrates the Lottery's 13th Anniversary with a brand new look.

Beginning Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, the longest running lottery game show in the nation will feature its two most popular Scratchers(R) themes, The Big Spin & Weekly Grand, under the "Way Better" program adding $5 million in combined prize payouts for players. Contestants will now be able to win up to $3 million with the addition of a new "TRIPLE" spoke placed on the prize wheel.

"We wanted to add an element of excitement to the show by making changes that give our players new ways to win more prizes and give our viewers a more exciting show," said Susan Kossack, Broadcast Manager. The new tone of "The Big Spin" show will be evident with new music, graphics and set design changes.

"The Big Spin" show features a new selection device to propel contestants who come to the "California Countdown" game on to spin the largest prize wheel in the world, replacing the old Scooter selection device. The new California Countdown game is a selection game in which nine contestants will win prizes varying from $1,750 to $5,000. The final contestant wins the opportunity to spin the prize wheel for a possibility at a $3 million grand prize. The new wheel will still feature 100 slots, ranging from $20,000 to $1 million. The new "TRIPLE" spoke triples the amount of the player's next spin giving players the opportunity to win a top prize of up to $3 million.

The California Countdown game is a new game featuring an oversized map of California and a set of three surfboards. The set pieces help in the final selection of the contestant who gets a chance to spin the prize wheel. The map and the surfboards have two dollar amounts ($4,000 and $5,000) and a "wheel" symbol. The finalist with the wheel symbol goes on to spin the wheel.

The "Way Better" Weekly Grand Scratchers ticket, featured in the Lottery's new fall line-up, gives players more chances to win higher prizes. Top prize winners of the Weekly Grand game win $1000 a week for 20 years for a total prize of $1,040,000.

The new "Big Spin" Scratchers will still send a player directly to the wheel with three "SPIN" symbols printed on one ticket. Players that scratch three "TV SHOW" symbols will play the California Countdown game in order to win a chance to spin the wheel and win up to $3 million. All Big Spin prizes $1 million or more will continue to be paid out to winners over 20 years in 20 equal payments.

As a part of the new fall line-up, the California Lottery recently debuted Jackie Taylor, as SuperLotto/Big Spin Show announcer replacing Rich Hardaway who retired after a 13 year stint as the SuperLotto announcer. Taylor teams up with co-hosts Maiquel Alejo and nationally acclaimed actor/comedian Jack Gallagher to entertain viewers of the longest running Lottery game show in the country. Taylor plans to incorporate the announcer responsibilities with her current responsibilities as "The Big Spin" show floor director.

Note: Additional information about the California Lottery may be found on the Web at http://www.calottery.com.