Companies Try to Win Big With Lotto

10-year deal would be the first in the country

A pair of gaming companies could strike it rich if they're picked for a first-of-its-kind contract to manage the Illinois Lottery.

Northstar Lottery Group and Camelot Illinois are the two finalists vying for the right to administer the get-rich-quick program.

Once a winner is chosen, Illinois will become the first state in the nation to completely privatize its lottery. They've farmed out the administration as a way to help boost revenue and attract new gamers.

Sue Hofer, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, says Northstar Lottery Group is a partnership between lottery giants GTECH and Scientific Games.

Camelot Illinois is a subsidiary of the Canadian company Camelot Group. It runs the United Kingdom's lottery. Hofer would not comment about the other companies vying for the contract.

The contract would be for ten years, but the value of the deal is not known and will not be known until the final details are complete. The state would retain ownership and regulatory oversight.

Northstar and Camelot will present their plans to the public September 8th. Governor Pat Quinn must choose a winner by September 15th.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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