Illinois Lottery celebrated 50th anniversary on Thursday
21 July 2024(PRESS RELEASE) -- The Illinois Lottery celebrated its 50th anniversary in style on Thursday, 18 July, in Chicago River North’s Pioneer Court Plaza with a fun-filled, disco-themed event.
Ushering in a day of ‘70s nostalgia, the celebration threw it way back to 1974 with a giant, 35-foot golden disco ball to pay homage to the year the lottery got its start.
On-site, there was plenty of fun to be had, including an interactive photo booth and the Illinois Lottery “draw ball machine” that gave participants a chance to draw a number and win cash prizes up to $500. Local DJ Julius Spates, also known as “The Mad Thinker,” performed live and provided groovy, disco era tunes throughout the festivities.
The giant disco ball, the largest ever in the U.S., drew crowds of several thousand, and over 500 people won cash and prizes totalling over $10,000, including 10 players who walked away with $500 in cash each.
“The event was a huge success and full of nostalgia. Making a difference has always been at the heart of the Illinois Lottery’s mission, and we’re honored we could bring people together to celebrate five decades of Illinoisans playing, winning, and contributing back to the state. The community really showed up to make it a day to remember,” said Harold Mays, Illinois Lottery Director.