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* WGN…
The Illinois lottery, celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, has enduring appeal for one reason, if you ask longtime host of the live drawing, Linda Kollmeyer: “Dreams do come true with the Illinois lottery.” […]
The first Illinois Lottery drawing happened on July 1, 1974.
The first drawing on WGN was in 1975 – with Ray Rayner hosting, standing with former governor Dan Walker.
That first year, the lottery sold 100 million tickets – garnering nearly $130 million in sales. […]
Profits initially went to the state’s general fund. But in 1985, state lawmakers decided those profits should be specifically set aside for education.
Today the Illinois Lottery generates $3 billion a year, nearly a third of which goes to the Illinois common school fund.
* The Question: How often do you buy Lottery tickets? Also, let us know how you’ve fared over the years.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:25 am
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I have purchased exactly one ticket in the last 50 years. I didn’t win.
Comment by very old soil Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:34 am
Almost never, except for scratchers as stocking stuffers for Christmas.
My wife buys whenever the draw gets high enough.
Comment by TJ Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:35 am
I bought a few when I turned 18 just because I could (didn’t win). Haven’t bought any more in 31 years.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:36 am
I will buy 10 bucks worth of Mega Millions or Power Ball tickets once the lump sum after tax payment is over 100 or 150 million or so. I know they are negative ROI, but I’m paying for the chance to fantasize for a day.
Honestly your ROI is better playing basically any casino game or the bar slots, but I’d much rather have the one in a bajillion chance of life changing money. Makes for better fantasies.
Comment by Homebody Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:38 am
I buy for fun and out of FOMO when you see the big jackpots in the news. Obviously, I have not faired well. Like so many things, the lottery is a harmless vice when done in moderation, but can be a problem if you abuse it.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:38 am
Every few months when the jackpots are in excess of $500,000,000.
So far we have won less than $50 total.
Comment by Retired SURS Employee Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:38 am
Can someone tell Mayor Johnson to ask the lottery for the money he’s owed?
Comment by HarveyGuy Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:38 am
Every now and then I’ll buy some fast play tickets on the IL lottery app - highest jackpot I’ve won is $100.
Comment by Ex Journo Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:49 am
I have purchased none with money out of my wallet. I have received tickets for presents before and have won five dollars or less a few times. When I cash them in I just got more tickets and never won. My wife once won $50.00 off of a present gift.
Comment by no relation Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:52 am
we were on a pace that saw weekly purchases. About $20 a week — scratchers, those instants that come out of the vending machines. More when the weekly games got to a billion. On a 2 month respite to pile up cash for betting on buggies at the Fair.
Winnings have been mixed. Video poker more dependable.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:54 am
Only buy them when jackpots are massive, and only had tiny winnings.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:02 pm
I buy scratch-offs for my wife and kids at Christmas
as stocking stuffers. Most tickets are worth nothing or the wins are limited to $1 or $2. My wife once won $100, and one of the kids won $40.
Comment by Oldtimer Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:04 pm
No more than $5 a month. I might break even over the year.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:13 pm
I’ll purchase a scratcher once in a while and a couple tickets whenever the jackpot gets to be really high but I am far from a regular purchaser. I’ll also join in a lottery pool at work but we only do those when the jackpot is huge.
Comment by Aaron B Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:15 pm
50 years of preying on the gambling habits of those least able to afford it. Add up all that money blown and what could it have been generating in savings accounts, index funds or 529 plans. I think its shameful.
Comment by Count Floyd Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:16 pm
I get a dollar scratch off every time I go to the grocery store. I’d say it is just under breaking even after all these years. I make a big show out of playing it and everyone in the house rolls their eyes.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:39 pm
Maybe 5-10 times a year on the high end when the jackpot is over $100 million. Never won more than $10.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:40 pm
I worked at a liquor store in college that made more money on lotto than on liquor, and I hear it is now doing the same with gambling.
I determined that the Illinois Lottery is a cruel tax on the poor and the desperate.
It was just my experience but from it, I am not a fan and obviously never bought a ticket.
Comment by Lurker Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:53 pm
When the games are over 500 million, I will buy one ticket. One dollar to dream about what you could do with that type of money.
Comment by Nagidam Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:57 pm
I bought one once when the jackpot was a few hundred million. Won a few bucks.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:57 pm
“been generating in savings accounts”
And quit eating avocado on your toast so you can afford to buy a house.
Comment by BobIsMyUncle Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 12:59 pm
To the question, I’ve been part of work pools buying lottery tickets more often than I’ve every personally bought one. I’ve never one anything, but the dreams are fun.
Comment by BobIsMyUncle Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 1:03 pm
I only buy the sweepstakes around St. Patrick’s Day. My wife is variable, she has kept track and her ROI is 5%
Comment by Proud Sucker Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 1:10 pm
I’ve purchased two.
The results comported with the statistics.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 1:28 pm
I spend a buck or two when the prize is over 500 million - why bother with winning any less …. What’s a guy going to do with 50-70 million?
Comment by We’ll See Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 1:51 pm
We buy when jackpots are good as well as gifts for the family at Christmas. In addition, my wife enjoys crosswords so I will buy the scratch-off crosswords tickets for her instead of flowers. She enjoys those and it gets me on the good side. We have won several times, once $1000 but I’m sure we have paid more than loss. Also, most times we win, we buy more with the winnings.
Comment by Snowman 61 Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 2:06 pm
I’ve taken a few shots at the big billions…still dreaming.
I wish they had a lottery where one could win something more precious than money…time.
Comment by Dotnonymous x Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 2:09 pm
I buy maybe twice a year if the jackpots get huge. The $ is worth the dream.
Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 2:35 pm
Never.
It would be far more helpful if the lottery was required to provide ALL the stories of lottery winners.
Many of them end up in far worse conditions just 5 years after winning, than if they never played at all.
Even worse off, are those who play regularly for decades and never win. The same amount of money they spent on lottery over 30 years at just $25/wk would give someone over a quarter of a million dollars.
Nearly one-third of lottery winners eventually go bankrupt within three to five years, **which is more likely than the average American**, according to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.
Cigarette taxes take in a lot of money too, and that’s great - if you ignore all the health problems from smoking.
States with lotteries should require financial literacy tests in high school, with examples just like the one above.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 2:44 pm
Roughly 20 years ago won a $150K….as part a large group at work. It cane out to around $10K per person after taxes. Saved it for about 2 years and then put it towards home repairs, and not the Mustang I wanted.
Comment by Product of the '60's Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 4:00 pm
I got a lottery ticket once and didn’t mean to. It was something that Shell offered people at the time for the premium car wash. The person working there handed it to me and I sat in my car the whole time looking at it and thinking to myself that I had no idea what to do with the ticket. Literally had to ask family to learn the different ways of checking the numbers, that’s how uninvolved with the lottery I am.
Comment by Blitz Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 4:48 pm
The lottery was passed as part of the RTA deal.
It was estimated to bring in about $60 the first year, which was the apporximate General Fund subsidy to the RTA.
Comment by cal skinner Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 5:36 pm
I buy a few for Christmas stocking stuffers for family. And when the payoff gets to the ridiculous can’t spend it in my lifetime numbers, I’ll but a few if I remember to do so at the grocery store or gas station. Think on one of the monster payout ones I won $12.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 9:14 pm
Once or twice a year.
I’ve won some small dollar (like $10) payouts.
Comment by Odysseus Monday, Jul 29, 24 @ 11:57 pm