The Illinois Lottery celebrated its 50th anniversary in style on Thursday, July 18, in Chicago River North’s Pioneer Court Plaza with a fun-filled, disco-themed event.  Ushering in a day of ‘70s nostalgia, the celebration threw it way back to 1974 with a giant, 35-foot golden disco ball to pay homage to the year the lottery got its start.  On-site, there was plenty of fun to be had, including an interactive photo booth and the Illinois Lottery “draw ball machine” that gave participants a chance to draw a number and win cash prizes up to $500. Local DJ Julius Spates, also known as “The Mad Thinker,” performed live and provided groovy, disco era tunes throughout the festivities.  The giant disco ball, the largest ever in the U.S., drew crowds of several thousand, and over 500 people won cash and prizes totaling over $10,000, including 10 players who walked away with $500 in cash each. The Illinois Lottery is keeping the fun going this summer with other exciting 50th anniversary promotions, sweepstakes, and events. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.illinoislottery.com/50th-anniversary

Photo Credit: Illinois Lottery