Progressive Jackpot

Fifteen contestants failed to win the progressive jackpot in the California Lottery, which rose to a record $7.385 million. Six contestants won $100,000 each in the 26th Big Spin, but none hit the six spots set aside for $1-million prizes or the three slots designating the jackpot. Altogether, 67 contestants have spun the wheel since March 22, when Rose Albrecht, 86, of Banning won a jackpot of $4.6 million. The biggest win so far was $6.380 million on March 15.

Heather Devon had a gut feeling that one particular Las Vegas slot machine would reward persistence rather than luck. So she persisted. For more than 12 hours, from early evening until well after daybreak Nov. 7, 1991, Devon played the same machine at Las Vegas' Frontier Hotel-Casino, plopping in dollar coins three at a time from a steady stream of small payoffs as she watched the progressive jackpot build.

A Los Angeles County probation officer won $1 million in the California Lottery and had to be helped to keep her feet when she almost collapsed from excitement. Barbara Ferguson of Northridge jumped up and down and screamed repeatedly when she hit one of the stops on the wheel of fortune designated for $1-million prizes. Ferguson's knees buckled momentarily, but friends who joined her on the stage helped her keep her footing. Nobody won the progressive jackpot, which increased to $9.5 million.

A Los Angeles County probation officer won $1 million in the California Lottery and had to be helped to keep her feet when she almost collapsed from excitement. Barbara Ferguson of Northridge jumped up and down and screamed repeatedly when she hit one of the stops on the wheel of fortune designated for $1-million prizes. Ferguson's knees buckled momentarily, but friends who joined her on the stage helped her keep her footing. Nobody won the progressive jackpot, which increased to $9.5 million.

A retired school teacher from Los Alamitos won $100,000 in the California Lottery's Big Spin show Saturday, but nobody claimed the progressive jackpot, which opens next week at $6.77 million. Norman Odom, 70, whose hobbies in retirement are photography and free-lance writing, was the top winner among 10 holders of lucky tickets who spun the state's wheel of fortune on the 39th Big Spin Show.

Heather Devon had a gut feeling that one particular Las Vegas slot machine would reward persistence rather than luck. So she persisted. For more than 12 hours, from early evening until well after daybreak Nov. 7, 1991, Devon played the same machine at Las Vegas' Frontier Hotel-Casino, plopping in dollar coins three at a time from a steady stream of small payoffs as she watched the progressive jackpot build.

The California Lottery's progressive jackpot increased to $6.25 million Saturday, when 20 more contestants spun the state's wheel of fortune and failed to win it. The 14th Big Spin show Saturday produced no major winners, although seven contestants won prizes of $100,000. Each of the 20 contestants taking part was guaranteed a minimum prize of $10,000. Another 20 holders of winning tickets in the lottery's Game 3 get a shot at it Saturday.

"My goodness" was the strongest thing 85-year-old Elsie Hopkins could say when she won $4.235 million in the California Lottery "Big Spin" progressive jackpot. Hopkins, a twice-widowed Louisiana native now living in San Diego, plans to "take a trip and fix up my house and do a lot of things I always wanted to do" with her winnings, to be paid in 20 annual installments of $169,400.

A retired school teacher from Los Alamitos won $100,000 in the California Lottery's Big Spin show Saturday, but nobody claimed the progressive jackpot, which opens next week at $6.77 million. Norman Odom, 70, whose hobbies in retirement are photography and free-lance writing, was the top winner among 10 holders of lucky tickets who spun the state's wheel of fortune on the 39th Big Spin Show.

A 64-year-old San Clemente woman won $50,000 in the California Lottery's "Big Spin." Irene Cocchiara, the only Orange County contestant in this week's spin, was one of 15 people who got a chance to spin the lottery wheel. Although a woman from Weed, in Northern California, won a $1-million award, nobody landed the progressive jackpot, which will begin at $9.305 million next week. The grand prize increases by $300,000 each time someone wins a smaller amount.