Public Accountability Report

The Illinois Lottery was established in 1974 to promote and sell lottery tickets to benefit K-12 public education throughout the state as well as various good causes. The department is organized to provide for administering and overseeing the operations of the Illinois Lottery with the assistance of a private manager under a private management agreement operating in accordance with the Illinois Lottery Law (20 ILCS 1605). The department’s mission is to maximize revenue to the state to benefit K-12 public education and specialty causes in an ethical and responsible manner while ensuring all Lottery operations adhere to the highest standards of security and public accountability. The department and private manager collaborate to develop, market, and conduct Lottery games in a socially responsible manner that grows by expanding the retailer and player base, and focuses attention on the various good causes the Lottery supports. Currently, the department raises funds and awareness to benefit ten specialty causes through the Joint Special Instant Scratch-off game in which the net proceeds are transferred to the specified fund within the Lottery Law for the given purpose. All remaining department proceeds after deducting costs for prize payments, retailer bonuses, and costs related to administering the Lottery, including all amounts due to the private manager, are then transferred to the Common School Fund in accordance with Section 9.3 of the Illinois Lottery Law. As of June 30, 2024, the department has raised over $24.9 billion for schools, over $624.5 million for capital projects, and over $97.8 million for specialty causes.

The department has approximately 7,000 retailers operating across the state selling instant and draw-based games. The department has also developed an iLottery platform on which draw-based games are sold.