The Illinois Lottery and Gov. Bruce Rauner released a Request for Proposal (RFP) on July 28 seeking a new private management partner that will share the lottery’s goals.
The Illinois Lottery hopes with this new private management they can increase profits to the state, broaden the responsible player base, bring in new technology and attend to public needs and concerns.
"Today, the State of Illinois is transforming the lottery by seeking a new private management contract,” Gov. Rauner said. “Under this proposal, we are eliminating historical conflicts of interest, incentivizing innovation and growth, and creating opportunities for new businesses to thrive in this industry. Our goal is to continue to provide the beloved games of the lottery while also driving value for taxpayers."
The lottery was run by a private manager contracted by the previous administration that underperformed and went around Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws. The previous administration did try to negotiate out of the contract but it would have cost taxpayers millions; this administration was able to re-negotiate and saved taxpayers money.
"This RFP is a growth opportunity for lottery retailers, and will allow a new manager to offer fresh and exciting game experiences for our players,” Illinois Lottery Acting Director Tim McDevitt said. “However, our main beneficiary will continue to be K-12 education."
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