‘Big Spin’ Gives State 3 More Millionaires

SACRAMENTO — California gained three more millionaires Saturday when two Los Angeles-area men and a woman from Hughson, Calif., each won $1 million during the California State Lottery’s weekly “Big Spin” show. But none of the 15 hopefuls who took a turn at the lottery wheel were lucky enough to break a seven-week drought and capture the grand prize of more than $10 million.

With each unsuccessful spin, the grand prize is increased, and the first player in next week’s lottery finals will have a chance to win $11.2 million--a record for any instant lottery game in North America.

‘Here to Give Money Away’

Waiting so long to pay the ultimate prize has made state lottery officials “nervous” and “anxious,” said spokesman Bob Taylor. “We’re here to give the money away. It is going to happen any time now.”

The three people who won $1 million each were Natalia Vargas, 49, who works by hand-sorting nuts in a Hughson factory; Jose Alvarez, a 31-year-old garment worker from Anaheim; and 47-year-old Dick Charles, a resident apartment manager in Van Nuys.