The weather is warming up, and so is the Illinois lottery. The largest Lotto jackpot in almost three years is waiting to be won by a lucky individual. The grand prize is over $16 million.
On Thursday night, the jackpot will be at least $16.1 million. This is the biggest Illinois lottery prize of 2023. Soon, it could surpass the previous record-high jackpot in the Land of Lincoln, which was a $16.5 million payday in June 2020, according to lottery officials.
The Lotto jackpot had a couple of winners in April, but none since. This has helped the game reach its current $16.1 million grand prize.
The first winner was a $1 million Lotto 2 ticket on September 2, and the second was a $1 million Lotto 1 ticket on September 13. According to the Illinois Lottery, the first winning slip was purchased online, while the other was bought at a BP gas station in Maple Forest.
Learn how to try the luck by using Illinois Estrazione
Illinois Lotto tickets cost $2, and an Extra Shot can be purchased for an additional $1. This allows you to increase your non-jackpot prize winnings. Tickets can be purchased online or at any participating retailer.
To play, you must select six numbers ranging from 1 to 50, or you can choose to have a randomized entry. Matching all six numbers scores the jackpot, and having the Extra Shot correct earns you a minimum of $5.
Lotto tickets can only be purchased in the Land of Lincoln. Draws take place on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday at 9:22 p.m. Ticket sales cut-off each day at 9:15 p.m.
The odds of winning the Illinois Lotto jackpot are 1 in 15,890,700.
Exactly where does The state of illinois Lottery cash go?
Naturally, if a fortunate Illinoisan wins the record-setting Lotto jackpot, they won’t receive the full $16.1 million jackpot. They’ll receive a portion of the winnings as the rest goes to taxes.
According to the Illinois Lottery, 25 cents of every dollar spent on the lottery is allocated to public education, capital projects, and other special causes. Thanks to this system, over $24 billion in revenue has been generated for Illinoisans since 1985.
In terms of winning tickets, the lucky individuals who hit the big jackpot receive 65% of the grand prize. Then, 25% is allocated to the aforementioned causes. The remaining 10% is divided equally to cover retailer commissions, advertising bonuses, and other expenses such as operating costs.