Illinois Lottery ends live drawings tonight

[chad1m]

After 40 years, the Illinois Lottery is ceasing drawing with live hosts, starting a new system with computer-generated numbers tomorrow. Many of the lottery drawings, and its game shows like Illinois Instant Riches, were broadcast across the country thanks to WGN America. Linda Kollmeyer, lottery lady since 1989 and co-host of the aforementioned Riches, will preside over the final drawing.

WGN, long-time host for the drawings, has a video feature on their website from this evening's news with clips from drawings and shows over the years.

http://wgntv.com/2015/09/30/a-look-back-as-we-say-goodbye-to-the-wgn-lottery-drawing/

[weaklink75]

Maybe with the money they're saving by going all-digital they can start paying off some of the IOU's they've been giving out...

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/31/illinois-lottery-winners-receive-iou-amid-lack-of-budget.html

[Strikerz04]

They played her off because her farewell speech went too long (and most of Chicago had a collective groan)

(She was brought on for a full interview just now - a proper send off)

[Sodboy13]

In a state that's had two of its last three governors incarcerated, a lottery that refuses to pay out its largest winners switches to an off-air, behind-closed-doors computerized drawing system. Why wouldn't you play, I ask you?

[clemon79]

In a state that's had two of its last three governors incarcerated, a lottery that refuses to pay out its largest winners switches to an off-air, behind-closed-doors computerized drawing system. Why wouldn't you play, I ask you?

Play early and play often!

[Strikerz04]

In a state that's had two of its last three governors incarcerated, a lottery that refuses to pay out its largest winners switches to an off-air, behind-closed-doors computerized drawing system. Why wouldn't you play, I ask you?

Play early and play often!

Or go over the state line to the Shell on Indianapolis Blvd.

/Because cheap gas.

[Sodboy13]

In a state that's had two of its last three governors incarcerated, a lottery that refuses to pay out its largest winners switches to an off-air, behind-closed-doors computerized drawing system. Why wouldn't you play, I ask you?

Play early and play often!

Or go over the state line to the Shell on Indianapolis Blvd.

/Because cheap gas.

Also, I needs mah smokes!

[johnnya2k3]

Other states may follow suit sometime soon (or already have) with daily lottery drawings going all-digital and online only.

The two multi-state ones, Mega Millions and Powerball, will still be televised; the Georgia Lottery may do away with their live drawings from WSB-TV and move the Mega Millions one (which they own) to either Georgia Public Broadcasting or Turner Studios. (Powerball's, by the way, was done at the Iowa Teleproduction Center in Des Moines for years but moved to Florida in 2008)

By the way, in the '80s WBZ in Boston produced the Massachusetts Lottery drawings, and your host? A young Tom Bergeron!

[PYLdude]

(Powerball's, by the way, is done at the Iowa Teleproduction Center in Des Moines)

Not since 2008, it isn't. It moved to Florida.

[weaklink75]

And now if you win more than $600 you get an IOU...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/10/14/illinois_lottery_short_on_cash_starts_paying_ious.html

(too bad Illinois isn't part of the MMC group anymore- they could use Monopoly money)

[Kevin Prather]

One of the Illinois lottery winners said it best. If the roles were reversed, and it was a citizen who owed the state money, the state wouldn't take an IOU. They'd come get their money.