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Illinois Gov. wants to privatize state lotteryNews Story
Controversial plan is designed to capture funds for education up-front, but is it worth the gamble? Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich today will unveil an election-year school funding plan that calls for leasing the state lottery for the next decade to a private firm in return for $10 billion in upfront cash. Schools would get at least $1 billion a year for the next four years from such a deal, with the remaining $6 billion going into an education trust fund governed by a board
May 23, 2006, 2:38 pm - Lottery News

Lottery scammer busted by Border PatrolNews Story
A woman accused in Illinois and Florida scams and featured on the TV show America's Most Wanted was arrested in El Paso, Texas, a report said Wednesday. Maria Gomez, 49, was among 16 illegal aliens U.S. Border Patrol agents detained when they were spotted crossing a river near the U.S.-Mexican border. The high-profile arrest occurred Monday evening when Border Patrol agents witnessed a group of people crossing the river four miles from the Zaragoza Bridge, trying to sneak into the Unite
Apr 26, 2006, 6:50 pm - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery hires Bernie MacNews Story
Add comedian Bernie Mac to the list of people who've hit the lottery jackpot. Mac is receiving $500,000 for about 2-1/2 days of work endorsing a new state lottery game in what lottery officials are calling a phenomenal deal because of the success of his television show. But Mac's six-figure paycheck is drawing criticism from state lawmakers who would like to see the money spent elsewhere. For nearly $23,000 an hour, Mac will lend his name and likeness for two TV ads, two radio ads and
Mar 20, 2006, 7:26 am - Lottery News

Illinois lottery winner gets 30-month prison sentenceNews Story
A man who won an Illinois lottery jackpot less than a year ago was sentenced to 30 months in prison Friday on gun and drug charges, federal officials said. Eric Wagner, 33, of Freeport, pleaded guilty last year to selling a firearm to a felon in 2004 and illegally distributing marijuana in 2004 and 2005. A federal judge in Rockford also fined Wagner $35,000, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release. Wagner and eight others purchased a winning Lotto ticket at a Freeport superma
Feb 4, 2006, 7:15 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery exploring Internet sales againNews Story
Could keno be out and Internet lottery in?A proposal from last spring to authorize Internet sales of Illinois lottery tickets popped up again Thursday, a week after Gov. Rod Blagojevich unveiled a controversial initiative to include keno in the lottery as a way to finance school construction bonds.A Blagojevich spokeswoman said the governor was not backing off the keno proposal but seemed to hedge her bets. We are willing to consider other ideas from the General Assembly, Rebecca Rausch said.Th
Jan 20, 2006, 10:57 am - Lottery News

$20 million Illinois Lotto ticket sold at convenience storeNews Story
Someone is much richer this week after buying a winning Illinois Lottery ticket and hopefully they know it.A grand-prize Lotto ticket worth $20 million was sold Saturday at a downtown Chicago convenience store, with the ticket unclaimed as of Sunday night, according to an Illinois Lottery spokesman. It looks like there is one grand-prize winner, said Courtney Hill, noting that the ticket that matched the number sequence 11-18-29-40-49-50 was sold in the White Hen at 600 N. McClurg Ct.The
Jan 16, 2006, 7:06 am - Lottery News

Illinois launches $2 lottery tickets to benefit breast cancer researchNews Story
Lottery tickets that devote all profits to breast cancer research and awareness hit stores Monday, with supporters saying the pink ribbon scratch-offs will net $3 million a year for the cause.Four thousand of the $2 tickets will make their way to Illinois retailers by the end of the week, lottery spokesman Courtney Hill said. Players can win up to $20,000 on each ticket. Chances of winning, including breaking even, are 1 in 4.59.Profits go to a Ticket for the Cure fund. The General Assembly ap
Jan 10, 2006, 9:27 am - Lottery News

Woman who stole $175,000 lottery ticket avoids jail timeNews Story
Dora Leal dodged a potential 15-year prison sentence Monday and was given probation and community service for her theft of a $175,000 winning lottery ticket from a group of Chicago traders.Last month a Cook County jury found Leal guilty of stealing the Mega Millions lottery ticket in December, 2003.She was a runner at the Chicago Board Options Exchange, where 16 people had pooled money to purchase lottery tickets, said prosecutor Lori Rosen. Leal was sent to a convenience store with the tickets
Jan 10, 2006, 6:36 am - Lottery News

$6 million in Illinois lottery prizes unclaimedNews Story
If you are a regular player of the Illinois Lottery's Mega Millions or Little Lotto games, your winning ticket may be right under your nose. Or in a coat pocket in the hall closet. Or being used as a bookmark in a novel.More than $6 million in prize money sits unclaimed the largest being a $900,000 Little Lotto jackpot drawn Oct. 2. The winning ticket was purchased at Dempster Mobil, 4002 Dempster in Skokie, with the numbers 3-14-22-24-34.While all of this year's Lotto and instant tickets have
Dec 26, 2005, 8:11 am - Lottery News

Woman found guilty of stealing winning lottery ticketNews Story
On the day she allegedly stole a $175,000 winning lottery ticket, Dora Leal was a confused, emotional wreck, mourning the loss of her baby dog Pablo, Leal testified in a Cook County courtroom Tuesday.In fact, Leal's attorney would later tell jurors, Leal was so shaky that had she been working in a nitroglycerine factory, she could have blown up the whole town. If that was a plea for sympathy or an explanation for why Leal didn't realize she held a winning lottery ticket, jurors didn't buy it.
Dec 14, 2005, 7:12 am - Lottery News