Illinois Lottery's 50th Anniversary Marks Record Sales and Returns

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Illinois Lottery has reported another record-breaking year, with fiscal 2024 sales reaching $3.86 billion and returns to the State of Illinois totaling $883.6 million. These impressive results mark the third consecutive year of growth, driven by major multi-state jackpots and successful anniversary-themed campaigns. This year’s fiscal performance has allowed the Lottery to continue its vital support for Illinois’s Common School Fund, which benefits K-12 education, and a range of other essential state programs.

Historic Jackpot Wins Drive 2024 Sales

For the first time, fiscal 2024 saw five multi-state jackpots that each soared past $1 billion, significantly contributing to the Lottery’s impressive sales figures. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged the Lottery’s growing importance to the state, saying, “Since its inception, the Illinois Lottery has been a valuable state asset, and now 99% of proceeds go into the Common School Fund.”

Pritzker praised the Lottery for achieving its third straight year of record-setting returns, underscoring its contributions not only to education but also to causes supporting Illinois veterans and scholarships under the Illinois DREAM Fund.

Celebrations Across Illinois Highlight the Lottery’s Legacy

From May through October, the Illinois Lottery celebrated its golden anniversary by launching special initiatives and promotions to engage the public. The festivities featured a range of anniversary-themed Instant Tickets, titled “Celebration,” accompanied by second-chance drawings. Sweepstakes allowed participants to win gift cards, and events were held across Illinois, featuring lottery-branded merchandise, cash prizes, and gift cards.

A unique prize truck toured 50 retail locations statewide, culminating in a giant disco ball event in Chicago’s downtown area, where $10,000 in prizes was given out. Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays highlighted the Lottery’s positive impact over the years, stating, “For 50 years, the Lottery has been giving Illinois residents an opportunity to play, a chance to win, while making a difference at the same time.”

Record Wins for Players and Success in Digital Growth

The Lottery also shared significant wins with its players, distributing over 117 million winning tickets during fiscal 2024. Notably, 75 players won prizes of $1 million or more, while one lucky online player claimed a historic $552 million Mega Millions jackpot in June 2024—the largest online prize ever won in the U.S and the 2024 fiscal year also marked a new direction for Instant Ticket sales, boosted by the introduction of the Illinois Lottery’s first-ever $50 scratch-off ticket, launched at a time when Instant Ticket sales in many U.S. lotteries were declining.

Under the management of Allwyn North America, which has partnered with the Illinois Department of Lottery since 2018, digital sales through the Lottery’s website and app have consistently risen. In fiscal 2024 alone, digital channels generated $686 million in sales, representing a nearly 30% increase over the previous year.

Keith Horton, General Manager and General Counsel for Allwyn North America noted their focus on modernizing the Lottery and expanding its digital footprint. “With direct marketing activity to players built on data-driven and machine-learning models,” Horton said, “we continue to prepare the Illinois Lottery for the future.” Allwyn has introduced innovative game content, such as the $50 Instant Ticket and over 30 Fast Play games across various channels, catering to both retail and online players.

As fiscal year 2024 concluded on June 30, final figures for Illinois Lottery’s operating income will undergo an audit, with audited returns expected to be published later in the year. Since its inception in 1974, the Illinois Lottery has contributed over $25 billion to the state’s Common School Fund, supporting K-12 education and other specialized causes, including Illinois veteran programs and scholarship funds for Illinois DREAM recipients.

Source:

“Illinois Lottery Reports Record Results for Third Consecutive Year”, Illinois Lottery press release.