IGT, SciGames probed over Illinois lottery mess

Gaming technology provider IGT and Scientific Games are now in hot water after state lawmakers learned that the Illinois Lottery’s scratch-off game didn’t award all of their grand prizes.

Both legislative parties in Illinois launched a probed on Northstar Lottery Group – which IGT and Scientific Games owns – after daily newspaper Chicago Tribune published an exclusive story on how the privately managed state lottery seemed to have swindled its players.

Last year, Gov. Bruce Rauner gave Northstar the boot, terminating its contract as of Dec. 31, 2016, for failing to meet revenue promises.

The Tribune reported that state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie. Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills), Rep. Terry Link (D-Waukegan), and Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) called for hearings on how games like the colorfully dubbed “The Good Life” and “Freezing Your Bucks Off” were managed.