Great-Grandmother From Los Angeles Wins $100,000.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 1998--This week's taping of the California Lottery's "The Big Spin(R)" Show gave contestants a total of $245,000.

The show is scheduled to air on October 24, 1998, in 12 television markets statewide.

Eighty year-old Ella M. Faust is one of 20 children. "I want to buy a ticket," Faust told family members. She had a feeling it would be her lucky day. Faust went to Blue Bird Liquors, in Los Angeles, with $10 to buy a pint of milk, orange juice and Scratchers(R) with her remaining $3.

She'd never bought "Big Spin" tickets, but the gentleman in front of her bought $5 worth and she had a strong feeling she should play the same game. Her first Scratchers ticket had "TICKET" on it, she was exhilarated; the second gave her "SPIN-SPIN-SPIN".

"No one could believe I was going to the show until I got confirmation from the Lottery, but I never lost faith," said Faust. Faust spun the wheel and won $100,000. She plans to use her winnings to remodel her home.

The next "SPIN-SPIN-SPIN" contestant was Inez Rodriguez, a homemaker from Corcoran. Rodriguez had never felt lucky before, that is until now. Rodriguez spun the biggest prize wheel in the world to win $25,000.

Rodriguez will use her winnings to go on vacation.

On the Winner's Circle segment of the show, Scooter found its way to Silva M. Nourian, a receptionist from Menifee. On the day of Nourian's wedding, her mother bought three tickets. One for Nourian, one for her sister and one for herself. Nourian's ticket had three "TV SHOW" symbols on it.

"I was so excited, but I had to wait until after the wedding to tell my husband the great news," said Nourian. Nourian spun the wheel winning $20,000. "Now we'll have money to furnish our new home," said Nourian.

Two years ago Patsy Chavez, a director of purchasing from Sylmar, went to "The Big Spin" show, not as a contestant, but to watch her brother at the Scooter table. Now it was her turn to spin the wheel. "I guess luck runs in the family. I never felt lucky before until the day I bought the ticket," said Chavez. Chavez spun the wheel to win $30,000.

Last up at the wheel was Celestina C. Jovel, a housekeeper from Los Angeles. Jovel won $25,000 and plans to visit her family with her winnings.

Nourian, Chavez & Jovel all won their way to the Winner's Circle by purchasing a Big Spin Scratchers ticket that revealed three "TV SHOW" symbols. Once at the Winner's Circle, players have a chance to be randomly selected to spin the Big Spin prize wheel.

The California Lottery sells its products through a network of nearly 19,000 outlets statewide. The Lottery provides 52 of its revenues to players as prizes, 34 percent to public schools, and 14 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.8 percent for retailer commissions.

Since 1985, the Lottery has raised more than $9.8 billion for public schools and has provided an annual average of approximately 38 percent of the Lottery's total revenues to schools. The California Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget.

"The Big Spin" Show is the longest running Lottery game show in the country, airing continuously since 1985. The show airs in 12 television markets statewide. -0-

NAME                   CITY                               AMOUNT
Ella M. Faust          Los Angeles                     $   100,000
Inez Rodriguez         Corcoran                        $    25,000
Silva M. Nourian       Menifee                         $    20,000
Patsy A. Chavez        Sylmar                          $    30,000
Celestina C. Jovel     Los Angeles                     $    25,000
Scooter Players                                        $    40,500

                                              TOTAL    $   240,500

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