Lawmakers OK lottery games for veterans, cancer research

Thursday, June 2, 2005 | 9:32 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinoisans could soon be gambling to support veterans and fight cancer.

State lawmakers voted Tuesday to create scratch-off lottery games to raise money for veterans programs and breast-cancer research.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn proposed the veterans game based on a similar lottery program in West Virginia. He says it could generate _$10 million a year to help soldiers dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, health insurance troubles and homelessness.

Meanwhile, supporters of the "Ticket for the Cure" hope their game will provide _$3 million a year for cancer research.

Some lawmakers who opposed the new lottery tickets worried that people would buy the new games instead of others that support education in Illinois, which could end up meaning less money for schools.

archive