Contestants Win $157,500 on The Big Spin Show.

News Editors

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2003

California Lottery's "The Big Spin(R)" show airs Saturday, March 29, 2003, in twelve television markets statewide. Contestants on this week's show win a total of $157,500.

Fantasy 5 Dream Machine contestants win a total of $65,000 on this week's show. The first contestant appearing on this week's show is Earl James, a machine operator from Perris. James wins $55,000 and he explained his plans for the money, "I will buy a new motorcycle." James bought his ticket at Market + in Perris. The second contestant is Tash Criss, a state worker from Compton, who wins $10,000. She plans to share her winnings with her family. Criss bought her ticket at Handy's Liquor in Compton.

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 Spin-Spin-Spin contestant on this week's show is Johanna Rogers, a clerk from Nice who wins $40,000. Rogers explained, "I plan to go on a cruise with my winnings." Rogers purchased her lucky ticket at Ed's Market in Nice. Rogers bought a "Big Spin" Scratchers(R) ticket which revealed three "SPIN" symbols on one ticket, that ticket entitled Rogers to a direct trip to the prize wheel.

This week's finalist at the California Gold game is Jim Swoboda, a sales representative from Modesto, who wins $30,000. "I plan to use this money to take my kids and grandkids to Hawaii," said Swoboda. Swoboda purchased his ticket at Stop Save Liquor in Modesto. The second runner-up from this California Gold round is Francis Basada, a bookkeeper from San Francisco, 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 California Lottery(R) sells its products through a network of more than 19,000 retail 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 $14 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
Earl James                         Perris                $  55,000
Johanna Rogers                     Nice                  $  40,000
Jim Swoboda                        Modesto               $  30,000
Tash Criss                         Compton               $  10,000
Other California Gold Contestants                        $  22,500
                                             TOTAL      $  157,500

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