The Illinois lottery has been around since 1974. The first games available in 1975 were instant win games. Since then, the state has added a number of instant win, draw, and scratch-off games. Illinois was the first state to offer residents the ability to buy lottery tickets online in 2012. Today, they offer instant win games that raise money for specific causes such as veterans, people living with HIV/AIDS, and cancer and multiple sclerosis research.
Revenue generated from other games helps to fund public schools and state infrastructure.