An Early Adopter
The Illinois Lottery launched on July 1, 1974, making it one of the first state lotteries in the modern era. Illinois was the 11th state to establish a lottery following New Hampshire's revival of state lotteries in 1964. From the beginning, proceeds were dedicated to education through the Common School Fund, a commitment that has remained constant for over five decades. In its first fiscal year, the lottery generated $129 million in ticket sales — a strong debut that signaled the appetite for lottery games in the Midwest.
Pioneering Online Sales
On March 25, 2012, Illinois made history by becoming the first U.S. lottery to sell tickets online. The initial rollout covered Mega Millions and Lotto, allowing players to purchase tickets from any device within state borders. This was a landmark moment for the American lottery industry and set the precedent that other states would eventually follow. The move was controversial at the time, with brick-and-mortar retailers worried about losing foot traffic, but it ultimately demonstrated that online and retail sales could coexist.
Private Management: A Bold Experiment
In January 2018, Illinois became one of the first states to hand day-to-day lottery operations to a private company. Camelot Illinois (now Allwyn North America), part of the global Allwyn Entertainment group, took over management under a long-term agreement with the state. The private manager handles marketing, game development, retailer relations, and technology while the state retains regulatory oversight and receives guaranteed minimum revenue transfers. This model has since attracted attention from other states considering similar arrangements.
Revenue and Education Impact
Since 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $23 billion to the state's Common School Fund. This makes the Illinois Lottery one of the largest lottery contributors to education in the country. The Common School Fund distributes money to school districts across all 102 Illinois counties based on student enrollment, meaning lottery revenue directly supports K-12 public education statewide. In recent fiscal years, the lottery has transferred approximately $800 million annually to the fund.
Television and Cultural Legacy
For decades, Illinois Lottery drawings were televised on WGN-TV in Chicago. Because WGN America was carried as a superstation on cable systems nationwide, Illinois Lottery drawings were among the most widely broadcast state lottery events in the country until the superstation feed ended in 2014. This gave the Illinois Lottery outsized national visibility compared to other state lotteries.
Key Milestones
- 1974: Illinois Lottery launches on July 1, 11th state in the modern era
- 1983: Illinois joins the first multi-state lottery game (Lotto America, predecessor to Powerball)
- 1994: Lucky Day Lotto introduced as a state-exclusive game
- 2002: Illinois begins offering Mega Millions
- 2010: Cross-selling agreement allows Powerball sales in Illinois
- 2012: First U.S. lottery to sell tickets online (March 25)
- 2018: Camelot Illinois takes over private management operations
- 2024: Allwyn North America rebrands from Camelot Illinois
The Illinois Lottery's combination of longevity, innovation, and education funding makes it one of the most significant lottery operations in the country. For a complete breakdown of every current game, see our Illinois Lottery Games Overview, or visit the Illinois lottery dashboard for live results and analysis.