As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Illinois Lottery is also celebrating another record-breaking year of revenue and returning to the state of Illinois.

The Illinois Lottery reported revenue of $3.86 billion and lottery proceeds of $883.6 million, both above last year. Fiscal year 2024 was notable for having five multi-state jackpots over $1 billion for the first time in the lottery's history. These five major jackpots played a prominent role in the lottery's 2024 outcome, marking the third consecutive year of record sales and returns in support of the Common School Fund and other charitable causes.

“The Illinois Lottery has been a valuable state asset since its inception, and now 99% of revenues go to the Common School Fund,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “This year, we are proud to celebrate both the lottery’s golden anniversary and another record year of net receipts benefiting our K-12 students and other good causes such as supporting Illinois veterans and awards of scholarships for the Illinois DREAM Fund.”

From May through October of this year, the Illinois Lottery celebrated its 50th anniversary by introducing a family of instant tickets called Celebration with second-chance drawings.

The Illinois Lottery also held sweepstakes where players could win gift cards and held events throughout the state offering lottery-branded merchandise, gift cards and cash prizes. Other promotional activities included a tour of 50 lottery locations across the state with their prize cart and a massive disco ball event in downtown Chicago that gave away $10,000 in prizes. The celebration was attended by lottery players and retailers alike to recognize and thank their continued participation.

“For 50 years, the lottery has provided Illinoisans the opportunity to play, win and make a difference at the same time,” said Harold Mays, Illinois lottery director. “As we reflect on the lottery's rich history and the impact it has had, we are particularly proud to announce another year of record returns to the state of Illinois to fund K-12 public education and the specific causes we support to improve Illinois.”

Illinois Lottery players won big during the period with over 117 million winning tickets sold, including 75 players who won prizes of $1 million or more and one online player who won $552 million on Mega in June 2024 Millions won – making it the largest lottery prize ever won online in the US

Instant ticket sales saw a boost in 2024 with the introduction of the Illinois Lottery's first $50 scratch-off ticket, at a time when most U.S. lotteries experienced a decline in instant ticket sales.

Since 2018, Allwyn North America has been the operating partner of the Illinois Lottery and works closely with the Department of Lottery to deliver these results. Powered by Allwyn's state-of-the-art iLottery platform, online players and sales through the lottery's website and app have grown year over year, generating $686 million in revenue in fiscal year 2024, an increase of nearly a third over the previous year Previous year.

“We remain focused on modernizing the Illinois Lottery, with an emphasis on improving the retail experience and expanding the lottery’s digital presence,” said Keith Horton, general manager and general counsel of Allwyn North America. “We continue with direct marketing activities to players powered by data-driven and machine learning models, inspired by engaging gaming content with the first $50 Instant Ticket and over 30 fast-play games at retail, online and through Scan-N-Play. “Prepare the Illinois Lottery for the Future.”

The lottery's 2024 fiscal year runs from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. Operating profit of $883.6 million remains to be audited and confirmed. Full year audited lottery returns to the state will be released later in the year. For more information, visit www.illinoislottery.com.

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