Today, Illinois officials are expected to name a private manager to handle the state lottery.
Officials say the lottery is a more than $2 billion business, and they hope a private manager can grow that revenue even more. The state has narrowed the field down to two international finalists--Northstar Lottery Group, a partnership of three existing companies and Camelot, a lottery operator from the United Kingdom.
The contract between the winning private group and the Illinois Lottery is expected to last for 10 years.
State lawmakers passed a measure last year allowing lottery management to be out-sourced.
The process began in the spring when the state hired a consulting firm to help find a private manager. That contract cost the state nearly $4 million.