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Details of new Illinois Lottery manager deal kept secretNews Story
As the Illinois Lottery edges closer to finalizing a massive deal with a new private manager, the state and the firm have chosen to keep many of the details secret despite past pledges of transparency. The deal includes a tiered incentive system in which the new firm, Camelot Illinois, would be paid bonuses for exceeding various profit levels, documents show. But the proposed dollar amounts are not included. That was among the few bits of information in the heavily redacted records the sta
Oct 4, 2017, 9:01 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery awards management contract to CamelotNews Story
By Todd Northrop Ending a years-long process of replacing its current management company, the Illinois Lottery today awarded its private management contract to Camelot Illinois, LLC essentially the same company that operates the United Kingdom's lottery. The Lottery's Notice of Award was posted to the Illinois Procurement Bulletin after the State of Illinois Chief Procurement Office of General Services certified the procurement rules for selecting the private manager were correctly followe
Sep 22, 2017, 7:51 pm - Lottery News

Illinois couple claims $393 million Mega Millions lottery jackpotNews Story
Largest lottery jackpot ever claimed in Illinois By Todd Northrop At the same time the latest Powerball jackpot run was stealing headlines, an Illinois couple was at Illinois Lottery headquarters, claiming the largest lottery jackpot ever won in the state. Palos Heights resident Patricia Busking became the winner of the largest prize in Illinois Lottery history when the second line of numbers on her $5 Quick Pick ticket matched all six numbers in the Friday, August 11, Mega Millions dra
Aug 28, 2017, 7:29 am - Lottery News

$393 million Mega Millions jackpot won on ticket sold in IllinoisNews Story
By Todd Northrop One winning ticket sold in Illinois beat the odds and matched all the numbers drawn in Friday's Mega Millions drawing to win a massive $393 million jackpot. The numbers that single lottery ticket from Illinois matched in Friday's drawing were 23, 33, 53, 56, and 58, with Mega Ball number 6. The Megaplier was 5. The winning ticket was purchased at Nick's Barbecue in Palos Heights. The lucky ticket holder will be the sole recipient of the fifth-largest Mega Millions ja
Aug 12, 2017, 8:52 am - Lottery News

Lottery winner's cyanide poisoning death remains unsolved five years laterNews Story
Urooj Khan couldn't believe his luck in spring 2012 when he scratched off a second lottery ticket at a 7-Eleven near his home on Chicago's Far North Side and realized he had won $1 million. When he accepted an oversized promotional check from Illinois Lottery representatives with his wife and teenage daughter at his side, he spoke of how his winnings would help him grow his dry-cleaning business. But weeks later, before he had collected the actual winnings, Khan died unexpectedly at 46.
Jul 25, 2017, 8:21 am - Lottery News

Illinois lost $4 million by halting Powerball, Mega Millions salesNews Story
llinois lost nearly $4 million by shutting down Powerball and Mega Millions ticket sales because of the state budget impasse, a lottery official said Friday. Lottery chief of staff Jayme Odom said the state lost about $2.4 million in revenue from Powerball and $1.5 million from Mega Millions during the ticket-sales hiatus. She said it's unclear whether sales have recovered since they were reintroduced Thursday night. Late last month, the lottery announced it would halt sales of Powerball a
Jul 10, 2017, 8:40 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery resumes selling Mega Millions, Powerball ticketsNews Story
By Todd Northrop The Illinois Lottery has resumed sales of Mega Millions and Powerball tickets now that the state's budget stalemate has concluded, lottery officials said. The state stopped sales late last month of the popular Powerball and Mega Millions games due to its inability to contribute to the prize pool without a budget in place. Illinois Lottery Acting Director Greg Smith announced Thursday night that sales have resumed. The Illinois Lottery is pleased to announce that sal
Jul 7, 2017, 10:42 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery to again delay large payouts due to budget woesNews Story
Powerball and Mega Millions going bye-bye too Illinois Lottery players should prepare for a bit of deja vu with a twist if Illinois leaders don't pass a budget by Friday night. Not only will the popular Powerball and Mega Millions tickets be off the shelf, but also any big winners of any of the other draw or instant games will have to wait to collect their cash. The Illinois Lottery announced Tuesday that, without a budget or any special legislation, it won't be able to pay anyone winni
Jun 27, 2017, 7:40 pm - Lottery News

Chicago woman wins $250K from her first-ever lottery ticketNews Story
A Chicago woman won $250,000 from her first-ever lottery ticket, which she wasn't even planning to buy. La Ongkwan Pinyapap instantly won the top prize after scratching a 25X The Money ticket, the Illinois Lottery said Wednesday in a statement. This is the very first lottery ticket I have ever played! she said. My friend was buying a ticket, so I thought I should try one, too. We couldn't believe it when I won! Pinyapap bought her ticket at the BP gas station on W. Fullerton Ave. in
Jun 26, 2017, 6:32 am - Lottery News

Illinois lottery players may lose Powerball and Mega Millions at the end of JuneNews Story
Legislation's refusal to deliver balanced budget threatens to cut off popular multi-state games The association that runs the popular Powerball lottery and Mega Millions games will drop Illinois at the end of June without a budget agreement. Concern over the state of Illinois' fiscal condition prompted that decision by the Multi-State Lottery Association, according to internal Illinois Lottery communications. Illinois Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg on Thursday morning confirmed that
Jun 15, 2017, 3:52 pm - Lottery News