The state of Illinois gave a $3.95 million contract to the Oliver Wyman Group of New York to help select a private manager for the state lottery. Though the move to privatize the lottery is about increasing revenue for the state, Illinois Lottery acting head Jodie Winnett said it's also "about operating the lottery in a responsible way."

The General Assembly passed a measure into law last year "to allow the Department of Revenue to conduct the Lottery through a management agreement with a private manager."