Highest In Illinois Lottery’s Nearly 50-year History
CHICAGO, September 14, 2022 – The Illinois Lottery today announced its best-ever financial year with record returns to the State of Illinois of $834 million, a 7% increase over the prior year.
“The year’s record high Lottery returns provide important funding for schools, capital projects, and other essential causes throughout the state,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Lottery contributions mean more support for K-12 education in Illinois, and more resources going to programs like Special Olympics and Alzheimer’s research. These resources are an essential part of building a sustainable future for Illinois, and I’m appreciative of the Illinois Lottery’s support in helping to fund these programs.”
The Common School Fund, which helps to fund education-related expenses for K-12 education in Illinois, received its full prescribed amount of funding for financial year 2022, $775 million. The eight good causes that the Lottery supports through the sale of specialty scratch tickets will benefit from an estimated $10 million in proceeds. The Capital Projects Fund, which helps to fund infrastructure projects in Illinois, is estimated to receive the remaining proceeds of $49 million.
“While we are proud of the millions of dollars we will provide to the Capital Projects Fund this year, starting in financial year 2023 all Illinois Lottery proceeds outside of the sale of specialty scratch tickets will go to the Common School Fund,” said Illinois Lottery Director, Harold Mays. “This change will mean that almost 99% of Lottery proceeds will go to supplement education funding.”
In addition to Special Olympics Illinois and the Alzheimer’s Association, the Illinois Lottery also supports Illinois Veterans services, the fight against breast cancer, MS research, police memorials, HIV/AIDS support programs, and homelessness prevention programs through the sale of specialty scratch tickets.
Illinois Lottery players were also winners this year. The Illinois Lottery made 72 new millionaires in FY22 — 20 more than in FY21 — and $2.2 billion dollars was paid out in prizes to Illinois players. This does not include the bulk of prizes won during the recent $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot roll series, which ended with a jackpot win in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Part of the Lottery’s recent success comes from its iLottery platform that allows players to play online and through a mobile app. With Camelot Illinois as the operating partner of the Illinois Lottery, the Illinois Lottery reached another digital milestone this year with online sales of $279 million, a 64% increase over the prior year.
“Online lottery play is an integral and growing segment of the Illinois Lottery’s offering. Regular technology updates to the online platform improve the player experience and have helped drive growth over the past few years,” said Keith Horton, General Manager Camelot Illinois. “We provide convenience and choice for players to play in retail or online, which strengthens the Lottery’s ability to generate funding for education.”
Illinois Lottery retailers were also winners, with $175 million in bonuses and commissions paid in financial year 2022.
“We have over 7,000 committed retailers across the State. Our retail network is the backbone of the Lottery’s offering, providing players with a convenient, local option to purchase a ticket,” said Director Mays.
Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to responsible play, the Illinois Lottery was recently awarded the highest level of responsible gaming certification by the World Lottery Association . The Illinois Lottery is one of only nine U.S. lotteries to achieve this level, which is considered international best practice within the lottery industry.
The Lottery’s 2022 financial year runs from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The operating income figure of $833 million is still to be audited and confirmed. Audited full year lottery returns to the state will be published later in the year. For more information, please visit www.illinoislottery.com.
