The Illinois Lottery began operations in July 1974 and is operated by Camelot Illinois today, offering players the chance to win big prizes across a wide array of games such as Powerball and Mega Millions; plus local favorite draws like Lotto, Pick 3 and Lucky Day Lotto that draw large crowds.
As well as traditional Lottery games, Illinois Lottery also provides some online-only instant-win games aimed at younger players who enjoy instant cash wins. While instant win tickets may seem appealing to these younger players, certain restrictions and conditions apply before purchasing one: in order to purchase winning tickets you must be at least 18 years old and reside within Illinois state borders; winnings from instant Ticket games may be subject to both state income taxation as well as federal income tax for non-resident aliens.
To play Illinois Lottery games, you must create an account on their official website. With your new account in hand, you can check results, purchase tickets and manage purchases. In addition to managing purchases and checking results, creating an account allows you to subscribe to our mailing list so we can inform you about upcoming events and promotions as well as provide helpful tips and FAQs on the official site.
Though its primary mission is funding public education, the Lottery also contributes to infrastructure and other causes by raising money through instant-win games that donate part of their proceeds for specific good causes; such as raising over $11 million since 2006 for Illinois veterans through Veterans Cash game, or over $7.6 million through Ticket for the Cure donations to breast cancer research initiatives.
Illinois Lottery games can be purchased at authorized retailers across Illinois with cash or credit, or you can download and install the Illinois Lottery app to play on-the-go – it is free, but requires internet connectivity – from either its official website or Apple App Store.
Before purchasing an Illinois Lottery game ticket, be sure to review prize and jackpot information. Each prize varies, while winnings over $500 may be subject to taxation. Claiming your prize within 365 days from its drawing date or it may be forfeited forever.
Purchase tickets directly through the Illinois Lottery website or at participating retailers. Their user-friendly site makes purchasing tickets convenient, providing information such as jackpot amounts, winning numbers and past results as well as detailed rules and regulations for easy reference.
Lottery winners must submit a completed winner questionnaire and their winning ticket in order to claim their prize. It is also essential that they keep it safe as we cannot be held liable for lost or stolen tickets. Please sign your ticket to verify its authenticity; and also create a backup copy just in case it gets misplaced or damaged.