Illinois is trying to become the first state to entirely privatize the State lottery’s management as well as advertising. Today they have announced that they have two finalist who will give public presentations next week on their lottery proposals.

Northstar Lottery Group, which is a partnership between GTECH and Scientific Games, as well as Camelot Illinois are the two finalists bidding for the lucrative state contract to run the lottery. The winner will be chosen in a public hearing, in which Governor Pat Quinn will announce the selection and award the winner a 10-year contract.

“We are very excited about the potential opportunity,” said GTECH spokesman Bob Vincent on Monday.

The approach that Illinois is taking is certainly a different one. Although the state will continue to have ownership of the lottery, as well as regulatory oversight, the idea of putting the main bulk of the work under the management of a private company, is something that has yet to be done. The Illinois lottery has annual revenue of approximately $2 billion.