Illinois officials will pick the first $1 million winner in its COVID-19 vaccine lottery on July 8. Three $150,000 college scholarship winners also will be drawn that day.
The $10 million vaccine promotionin Illinois, called “All In For The Win,” is designed to thank people who already have received at least one dose of vaccine and as an incentive for people who have not gotten a shot to get one, according to Gov. JB Pritzker.
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“It’s our way of saying to those who haven’t been vaccinated, ‘Please join us,’” the governor said in mid-June. “Vaccines are incredibly effective, and they keep you protected, but they also make your community safer. It’s great that your grandma or grandpa has been vaccinated, but you can make them even safer by getting vaccinated, too.”
The Illinois Lottery will handle the drawings, which will continue throughout the summer. All Illinois residents who have been vaccinated are automatically entered to win.
The prize money will be paid from federal grants Illinois has received to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
How many people will getAll In For The Win prizes?
The $1 million drawing on July 8 will be among three $1 million jackpots and 40 $100,000 cash prizes. After July 8, three winners of $100,000 cash prizes will be chosen every Monday between July 12 and Aug. 16 from a statewide pool.
On Aug. 12, 22 winners from regional drawings will be picked. Two winners will be drawn from each of the 11 regions in Pritzker’s Restore Illinois reopening plan.
Two $1 million cash prizes will be drawn Aug. 26 from a statewide pool.
Three $150,000 scholarship winners will be drawn from a statewide pool July 8.
More:Illinois begins vaccination lottery, on track to meet Biden's COVID vaccination goal
On Aug. 26, 17Illinois students ages 12 to 17, one from each Restore Illinois region and six additional students from a statewide pool, will receive $150,000 scholarships. The students can use the scholarships at public and private four- and two-year colleges, vocational and technical schools across the United States and some schools abroad.
Scholarship awards must be used before a student turns 26, and can’t be used for K-12 educational expenses.
What are the All In For The Win eligibility requirements?
You must be an Illinois resident 18 or older to receive cash prizes and between 12 and 17 for scholarship awards.
You must have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Illinois, except for vaccines administered at certain federal facilities. People who received vaccine at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities will be included in the lottery.
Eligibility doesn’t depend on immigration status.
People who are incarcerated in Illinois Department of Correctionsfacilities who have been vaccinated are eligible for the lottery.
Employees of the governor’s office, lieutenant governor’s office, Illinois Lottery, designated employees of the Illinois Department of Public Health and employees of designated state vendors aren’t eligible to win.
How many people are entered in All In For The Win?
About 7.5 million Illinoisans have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. That represents 59% of the state's total population.
Among the population 18 and older, 7.06 million Illinoisans, or 71.7% of the adult population, have received at least one dose.
About 440,000 Illinoisans between 12 and 17 have received at least one dose.
Entries for people who get their first shot after July 1 will be added to the pool for drawings.
Winners who don’t wish to accept a prize may decline when they are contacted by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Winners can choose to remain anonymous. For winners from communities with populations of 20,000 or more, the locations of winners’ hometowns will be published. For winners from smaller communities, only the winners’ home counties will be published.
Are taxes applied to winnings?
Taxes will automatically be deducted from winnings. Outstanding obligations to the state and child support commitments will be deducted from prizes if winners owe any such debts.
What have other states done with vaccine incentives?
Illinois isn’t the only state to offer incentives. Illinois’ promotions have included thousands of free tickets to Six Flags and free target rounds at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta. It’s unclear how successful these incentives have been in leading to more vaccinations.
The Associated Press reported recently that Ohio’s vaccine lottery, worth millions in incentives, came to a close in June while the state struggled to meet 50% vaccinated despite early success.
More:Ohio COVID-19 lottery ends with mixed results
Incentive programs also fell short of their goals in West Virginia and Colorado, while other states including Oregon and California have seen some success.
West Virginia included pickup trucks and hunting rifles in its giveaways.
Contact Dean Olsen: dolsen@gannett.com; (217) 836-1068; twitter.com/DeanOlsenSJR.
