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The Illinois Lottery began operating on July
1, 1974 as part of the Illinois Department of Revenue with Ralph Batch as its
Superintendent. One month later, the first Lottery tickets -- they cost 50
cents -- went on sale at some 7,000 retailer locations statewide. On August 8,
1974, Illinois Governor Dan Walker and Lottery officials drew the first winning
ticket during the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The drawing was not
broadcast because at that time, federal law prohibited radio and television
stations from reporting on even the most basic news generated by
lotteries.
Illinois Lottery games include Lotto, Little Lotto, the Big Game,
Pick 3, Pick 4 and dozens of exciting instant games. All Illinois Lottery
profits are deposited into the state's Common School Fund to help fund K-12
public education in Illinois.
 Lottomatica’s GTECH Subsidiary Signs Two-Year Contract
Extension With The Illinois Lottery
ROME (Italy) -
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (U.S.) (October 9, 2008) --
Lottomatica S.p.A.’s wholly-owned
subsidiary GTECH Corporation announced it
has signed a two-year contract extension to continue providing online lottery
products and services to the Illinois Lottery through October 17,
2010.............Subscribers
Illinois House Panel OKs
Privatizing State Lottery
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (September
10, 2008) - A plan to privatize the Illinois lottery has reportedly cleared an
important legislative hurdle.................Subscribers Illinois Lottery Achieves
Record-Breaking Sales in FY08
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois
(September 5, 2008) – The Illinois Lottery today reported sales of $2.078
billion for fiscal year 2008 - the highest single-year sales in the
Lottery’s 34 year history. FY08 sales increased................Subscribers Illinois House Moves Closer To
Privatizing Lottery
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (September 5,
2008) -- House Democrats are reportedly taking a new look at an unpopular idea
- privatizing the Illinois
lottery....................Subscribers House Speaker Backs Leasing
State Lottery
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (September 2, 2008) --
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reportedly plans to call the chamber
back into session this month to consider leasing the Illinois
Lottery................Subscribers
Statehouse Democrats Show
New Interest in Privatizing Lottery
ILLINOIS (August 14,
2008) -- Speaker Michael J. Madigan said Wednesday that House Democrats
may reverse course and support the governor's idea of privatizing the state
lottery to pay for a statewide construction program.................Subscribers
Illinois Lottery Ticket
Sales Up, Despite Personal Spending Cuts
SPRINGFIELD,
Illinois, USA (July 25, 2008) – According to local media reports sales
figures for the Illinois Lottery were up nearly 3 percent – to about $2.08
billion - in the fiscal year that ended in June...............Subscribers
Senate Moves to Privatize
Lottery
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (May 31, 2008) -- The
Illinois Senate today moved to privatize the state lottery
and.............Subscribers
Little Chance of Both
Chambers Passing Capital Plan
CHICAGO, Illinois (May 28,
2008) -- Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie gave little hope that
construction program would pass before Saturday’s adjournment deadline.
She also said there were "significant concerns" about a long-term
lottery lease...............Subscribers
State Business Group Backs
Lottery Lease
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (May 28, 2008) -- The
Illinois Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday lent its support for a plan to expand
gambling in the state and lease most of the Illinois State Lottery to a private
company...............Subscribers
GameBeat Studios to Produce
Music for the Illinois State Lottery 2008 Summer
Campaign
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (May 27, 2008)) -- GameBeat
Studios is pleased to announce they have been awarded the contract to produce
the music for the Illinois State Lottery's 2008 summer
campaign...............Subscribers
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try and Try
Again
Blagojevich Administration Says Latest Plan is
the Best
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (May 4, 2008) -- Over the past
three weeks, Blagojevich administration officials have outlined a revamped plan
to privatize the Illinois Lottery to about three dozen lawmakers, explaining
why the latest plan is better than earlier versions.................Subscribers
Governor’s Lottery
Privatization PR Campaign Gets Underway
CHICAGO, Illinois,
USA (April 18, 2008) – Governor Rod Blagojevich is launching his 2008
public relations campaign to convince lawmakers to lease the Illinois Lottery
to a private contractor as a way to drum up billions in immediate
revenue................Subscribers Governor Not Ruling Out Gambling Expansion
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (March 18, 2008) - Governor Rod Blagojevich is
reported as saying he is still willing to talk about gambling expansion to pay
for a statewide construction program...................Subscribers
Illinois Lottery Privatization Back on the
Agenda
The Following is an Extract from Governor Rod
Blagojevich’s State of the State address...............Subscribers Governor Blagojevich Launches Nation's First Lottery Ticket to
Benefit HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education
Top
Political Figures and HIV/AIDS Survivors Unveil the Quality of Life Illinois
Lottery Game
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (February 11, 2008) --
Continuing his ongoing support for HIV/AIDS prevention and education, Governor
Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the launch of the nation’s first
instant Lottery ticket in the nation where 100 percent of net proceeds will
support the fight against HIV/AIDS...............Read the full story at: Vol.42 No.7
Holiday Spending and What it Means for the
Lotteries
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (January 17, 2008) --
Independent Lottery Research (ILR), the Chicago based Research Company which
coined ‘Joe’ and ‘Jack’ to designate core
versus non-core lottery consumers, has released its National Poll results on
Holiday spending..............Read the full story
at: Vol.42 No.4 Your Ticket to
Golden Tee Glory and Riches is Only a Scratch Away!
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (January 15, 2008) -- Golden Tee and the Illinois
Lottery have teamed up to create a Golden Tee Golf Instant Ticket where players
can win up to $25,000 in cash or their very own Golden Tee machine -
instantly!..................Subscribers
Illinois
Lottery Takes in $2 billion for the First Time
SPRINGFIELD,
Illinois, USA (December 26, 2007) -- Illinois Lottery receipts totalled more
than $2 billion in the fiscal year that ended in June................Subscribers
Millions Remain Unclaimed in
Lotteries
USA TODAY (December 6, 2007) -- More than $500
million in lottery prizes went unclaimed last year, according to a USA TODAY
analysis of lottery data. That's nearly two (2) percent of the $33 billion in
prizes awarded................Subscribers Lottery Bill Overcomes Governor’s Veto, Becomes
Law
ILLINOIS, USA (November 7, 2007) – The Legislative
measure known as the Quality of Life bill statute establishes the
Quality of Life lottery game, which would ..............Subscribers Blagojevich Administration Unveils New Veterans Cash Lottery
Ticket, Double Action
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA
(November 5, 2007) -- Tammy Duckworth, Director of the Illinois Department of
Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) joined the Illinois Lottery in Springfield today
to unveil the new Veterans Cash lottery ticket...............Subscribers Illinois Lottery launches Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program to
Help Problem Gamblers
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (October
16, 2007) -- The Illinois Lottery today launched their Voluntary Self-Exclusion
Program that allows people...........Subscribers Lawmakers Consider Plan for Unclaimed Lottery
Money
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (October 15, 2007) -- Rep.
Angelo Saviano has sponsored a bill to let lottery players create online
accounts to buy tickets.......Subscribers Illinois' Newest Millionaire Revealed During Million Dollar
Summer Finale
OREGON, Illinois, USA (September 24, 2007) --
The Illinois Lottery televised its "Million Dollar Summer" finale game
show this weekend and determined Illinois' newest
millionaire...................Subscribers House Rejects Governor's Plan To Privatize
Lottery
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (July 6, 2007) -- House
Speaker Michael Madigan, who is chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party, led
the House in rejecting a major part of Governor Blagojevich's budget
proposal............................Subscribers It’s A Scorcher! Lottery’s Second ‘Millionaire
Raffle’ Heats Up the Summer
CHICAGO, Illinois,
USA (June 14, 2007) -- Illinois Lottery players have a chance to win big this
summer with the second installment of the “Millionaire
Raffle.” This limited-time game will create four new millionaires this
summer.........................Subscribers Governor Asks Lawmakers to Revisit Lottery Privatization
Plan
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (June 7, 2007) -- Governor
Rod Blagojevich reportedly tried to breathe new life into the idea of selling
or leasing the state lottery on Wednesday as he entered a second day of
bipartisan budget negotiations.............................Subscriptions New Veterans Cash Lottery Ticket Unveiled
MACHESNEY PARK, Illinois, USA (May 22, 2007) -- As the nation prepares to
honor veterans this coming Memorial Day Weekend, Tammy Duckworth, Director of
the Illinois Department of Veterans.............................Subscribers Illinois Launches Biggest Second-Chance Promotion in Lottery
History
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (May 15, 2007) -- The
Illinois Lottery has launched a record-setting promotion called
“Million Dollar Summer,” with more than $300 million in total
available cash prizes.................................Read the full story at: Vol.39 No.8
Funeral Held For Lottery Chief
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (April 5, 2007) – Friends and family packed the
Cosmopolitan Community Church on Chicago's South Side on Thursday for the
funeral of Carolyn Adams, the
superintendent of the Illinois State Lottery........................Subscribers State Mourns Passing of Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn
Adams
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (March 26, 2007) --
Carolyn Adams, 44, Superintendent of the
Illinois Lottery since May 2003, passed away Monday morning in Chicago
following a private struggle with breast cancer Illinois Lottery Gives Bears Fans Something to Cheer About on
St. Patrick’s Day
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (February 5,
2007) -- Even though the Chicago Bears didn’t win the Super Bowl, the
residents of Illinois still have something good to cheer about. That’s
because, today, the Illinois Lottery is releasing .....................Read the full story at: Vol.38 No.7
Another US State Seeks Bidders for State
Lottery
ILLINOIS, USA (January 22, 2007) – Illinois is
seeking companies interested in bidding on the potential Concession of the
State Lottery. The state is also considering a public offering of the
lottery or a securitization...........................Subscribers
Illinois
Lottery Shows Chicago Cubs Fans What it Looks Like to be ‘Set For
Life’
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (October 2, 2006) --
Chicago Cubs fans experienced a win they never expected when Christy Davis won
$100,000 a year for the rest of her life in the Illinois Lottery’s
“Set for Life” grand finale event ...........................Read the full story at: Vol.36 No.14
Lottery Privatization Raised
Again
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (September 11, 2006) –
Governor Rod Blagojevich has apparently not given-up on his plan to privatize
the state lottery........Subscribers Governor Seeking Advice on Possible Lottery
Sale
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (July 19, 2006) – The
governor’s office is reportedly hiring a consultant to prepare for the
sale or lease of the Illinois State Lottery, even though the General Assembly
has not signed off on the plan..........Subscribers
Governor's Office Admits it Has No Formal
Report on Lottery Privatization Plan
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois,
USA (May 31, 2006) – Republicans have called on the governor to
..........Subscribers
Lottery Privatization Plan Short on
Detail
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (May 30, 2006) -- Since
Governor Blagojevich announced recently that he plans to sell or lease the
state lottery ........Subscribers Plan to Sell Lottery Faces Obstacles
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (May 24, 2006) -- Governor Rod Blagojevich
outlined a plan on Tuesday to either sell or lease the state’s lottery.
Under the proposed plan, the state would ......Subscribers Governor Floats Lottery Options
ILLINOIS,
USA (May 23, 20060 – Governor Rod Blagojevich reportedly outlined a plan
on Tuesday that would see the state lottery either leased or sold to private
enterprise..........Subscribers Illinois Veterans Cash In With New Lottery Game
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (May 10, 2006) -- Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
today announced that just three months after going on sale, the state’s
first lottery ticket to benefit Illinois veterans and their families has
generated more...........Read the full story at:
Vol.35 No.6 Lottery to Air
Gambling Helpline Number on Daily Drawings
CHICAGO,
Illinois, USA (April 21, 2006) – The Illinois Lottery will reportedly
begin airing a toll-free number and information about getting help for gambling
problems during its daily drawings on........Subscribers Lottery Introduces System for Visually Impaired
Retailers
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (March 23, 2006) -- The
Illinois Lottery is reportedly introducing a new system for visually impaired
retailers as part of its ongoing retailer recruitment
initiative.............Subscribers Lottery Criticized Over Talent Fee
CHICAGO,
Illinois, USA (March 20, 2006) -- Some Illinois lawmakers have reportedly
criticized the state lottery for the fees it pays talent to promote its lottery
games.................................Subscribers Santa Skips Joe’s Houses This Year: “Joe
Lottery” Becomes “Joe Scrooge”
CHICAGO,
Illinois, USA (February 7, 2006) – Independent Lottery Research has found
that consumers’ lukewarm spending this past holiday season did not bode
well for holiday lottery ticket sales.........Subscribers Scientific Games Awarded $19.5 Million Illinois Lottery Instant
Ticket Contract
NEW YORK, USA (January 17, 2006) --
Scientific Games Corporation signed a
three year contract with the Illinois Lottery for the supply of instant ticket
games and related services.......Read the full
story at: Vol.34 No.3
Joint Venture
Helps Lotteries Scratch Below the Surface to Reach Broader
Audience
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (October 13, 2005) – A
new Chicago-based firm is helping state lotteries develop innovative approaches
to increase lottery ticket sales and profits in an ethically and socially
responsible manner..........................Subscribers Lottery Scraps Football Promotion After NFL
Complains
ILLINOIS, USA (October 18, 2005) -- The Illinois
Lottery has withdrawn a football-related promotion after the National Football
League reportedly complained that it didn't give its
approval..................................Subscribers Governor Signs Legislation to Create New Lottery
Game
ILLINOIS, USA (September 7, 2005) – A new
Illinois State Lottery game featuring scratch-off tickets for instant winning
will be introduced............................Subscribers Lottery Dinner Draws Criticism
ILLINOIS,
USA (July 19, 2005) -- The Illinois Lottery has reportedly scrapped plans for
its online systems vendor to host a dinner for agency employees during a
training session in Springfield this week............................Subscribers
Governor Signs "Cure" Lottery Game Into
Law
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (July 7, 2005) -- The Illinois
Lottery next year will offer an instant scratch-off game to raise money for
breast cancer research............................Subscribers Lottery Closes 2005 Fiscal Year with Record
Sales
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (July 4, 2005) -- The Illinois
Lottery recently ended its 2005 fiscal year by setting records in both sales
and education contributions.........................Subscribers Audit Clears Lottery's Advertising Agency
ILLINOIS, USA (June 24, 2005) -- Governor Rod Blagojevich's administration
said that a special audit of the Illinois Lottery's ad agency found that there
was "No evidence of misuse or waste of the Department of Revenue's funds
regarding media purchasing"...........................Subscribers Lawmakers Approve Lottery Games for Veterans, Cancer
Research
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (June 1, 2005) - Illinoisans
could soon be gambling to support veterans and fight
cancer.........................Subscribers RFP Seeks Public Relations Firm for Lottery
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (May 20, 2005) -- The Illinois Department of Revenue
has reportedly released a Request-for-Proposals (RFP) to engage a public
relations (PR) firm for the state lottery. ..........................Subscribers
Attorney General to Review Lottery Ad Deal
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (May 18, 2005) -- Attorney
General Lisa Madigan is reported as saying she wants to know more about the
advertising contract for the state lottery that was the subject of a critical
audit earlier this month..............................Subscribers Governor Backs Away from Support of Lottery's Advertising
Firm
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (May. 7, 2005) - Governor
Rod Blagojevich has reportedly backed away from his prior support of a Chicago
advertising firm, saying the company had better prove it placed $5.1 million in
ads promoting the Illinois State Lottery...............................Subscribers Auditor Says Revenue Department Should Improve Monitoring of
Lottery Ad Contract
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (may 4, 2005) --
An audit today says the state Revenue Department should improve monitoring of a
lottery advertising contract............................Subscribers Illinois Lottery Launches Record Setting $150 Million Summer
Promotion
CHICAGO, Illinois (April 22, 2005) --This summer
the Illinois Lottery has eight hot new games with more than $150 million in
available prizes for its new summer promotion "Road to Riches."
.............................Read the full story
at: Vol.31 No.5 Illinois Lottery
Launches Record Setting $150 Million Summer Promotion
ILLINOIS (April 21, 2005) -- Robin Leach of 'Lifestyles of the Rich
& Famous' to Host Grand Finale of the Largest Promotion in Illinois
Lottery History.....................Read the full
story at: Vol.31 No.4 Lottery Bill
Passes Illinois Senate
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (April
18, 2005) -- The Illinois Senate passed a bill last week that would require the
Illinois Lottery to publish an annual report within seven months after the end
of their fiscal year............................Subscribers
Technical Difficulties With Live Draw
Broadcast Offers Players Extra Chance to Win
ILLINOIS, USA
(April 17, 2005) -- Technical difficulties with the Illinois State Lottery's
Friday broadcast could turn into a nice payoff for some Pick Four ticket
holders...........................Subscribers Illinois Lottery Launches New Monday Lotto Drawing and $20
Instant Ticket
CHICAGO, Illinois (April 1, 2005) -- Lotto
players will have an extra chance to become a millionaire. The Illinois Lottery
is adding a Monday Lotto drawing on top of the existing drawings on Wednesday
and Saturday, and it will also be launching a brand new $20 instant
ticket/........................Subscribers Senator Annoyed at Lottery's Late Filing
ILLINOIS, USA (March 22, 2005) --The Illinois Lottery would be required to
publish its annual report three months after the end of it's fiscal year, under
a bill making its way through the Illinois
Senate.............................Subscribers Illinois Legislator Promotes Online Lottery
Sales
ILLINOIS, USA (March 8, 2005) – State Senator
John Cullerton has proposed a bill to make Illinois Lottery tickets available
for sale on the Internet..........................Subscribers Illinois Lottery Increases Lotto Draws
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (March 2, 2005) -- The number of weekly Illinois
Lottery drawings will increase to 38 with the addition of a Monday Lotto
game..........................Subscribers
Illinois Lottery's "Shamrock Shuffle"
Double Draw! One green Ball, Two Chances to Win!
ILLINOIS,
USA (February 2005) -- For every Pick 3 drawing from March 1 though March 22,
the Illinois Lottery will hold a special Promotional Drawing with white and
green balls. If the green ball is selected, the Lottery will hold a second Pick
3 drawing and will pay out on both sets of
numbers!.................................Subscribers Lawmakers Want State Lottery to Help Fight Breast
Cancer
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, USA (February 2, 2005) --
Illinois lawmakers want the state Lottery to help fight breast
cancer.............................Subscribers Largest Unclaimed Prize in Illinois Lottery History
Expires
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (February 1, 2005) -- A full
year after the initial drawing on January 31, 2004, the largest unclaimed
jackpot ($14 million) in Illinois Lottery history officially expired last night
at 12 midnight............................Subscribers New State Lottery Game To Benefit Veterans
CHICAGO, Illinois, USA (January 30, 2005) -- Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn
has a plan to help Illinois' veterans through the sale of lottery
tickets.............................Subscribers Lottery Ad Firm Faces State Inquiry
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (January 31, 2005) -- As reported the state's
Inspector General is investigating R.J. Dale Advertising & Public
Relations, the Chicago company hired to oversee the Illinois State Lottery's
advertising account...........................Subscribers 
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