Gregory Smith, Acting Executive Director of the Illinois Lottery, has been selected as the new permanent President and CEO of the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC). His appointment will be effective July 20, 2018.

This decision is the result of a lengthy search beginning in March of 2017, and delayed several times by developments within the Lottery and on the Board. Nevertheless, over 80 candidates from 17 states and the District of Columbia and one foreign country applied. Extensive candidate reviews were conducted as were preliminary screening interviews, and approximately a dozen in-person interviews were conducted by the Search Committee itself.

Since 2012 Greg has served as Executive Director of two state lotteries, the Vermont Lottery Commission and the Illinois State Lottery. During his four years at the Vermont Lottery, he grew sales and profits by more than 20%. While leading the Vermont Lottery, he was asked to serve on the finance and executive committee of the Multi-State Lottery Association board, through a challenging leadership transition.

This exposure, coupled with his accomplishments at the Vermont Lottery, led him to receive an offer to serve as the Acting Director of the Illinois Lottery. Interested in working for a larger lottery and learning more about the privatization process, he accepted the position. As Director of the Illinois Lottery, he has led a management and technology transition while restructuring Illinois’ privatized $2.8 billion lottery system. He now serves on the national board of the Mega Millions Group.