CHICAGO – Illinois Lottery Acting Superintendent Jodie Winnett and President of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, Greater Illinois Chapter Lynda Chott, today announced the release of a new instant ticket that will fund research aimed at developing preventative measures and treatment of MS. “It’s Double Time!” is the first instant ticket in U.S. Lottery history where 100 percent of net proceeds will be used to help people in Illinois living with MS.

“We are incredibly pleased to launch this new ticket that Gov. Blagojevich and state legislators passed through the General Assembly, and are looking forward to playing a part in finding a cure for a disease that affects so many individuals and families throughout the state,” said Acting Superintendent Winnett. Two co-sponsors of the bill include, Sen. Linda Holmes (D-42nd District) and Rep. Kevin Joyce (D- 35th District), both who have seen their families live with the challenges of MS.

“We anticipate great success with this ticket and are hopeful that it will attract new players who want to combine fun with the chance to support an important cause at the same time,” added Winnett.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable neurological disease that interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the rest of the body and stops people from moving. There are at least 400,000 Americans with MS, and every week about 200 new people are diagnosed with the disease – more than one person an hour. In Illinois there are an estimated 20,000 people and their families living with multiple sclerosis.

“The National MS Society is 100 percent committed to finding a cure for MS and supports research that will lead to a cure and more effective treatments for MS,” said Chott. “The proceeds from this Lottery ticket will move us closer to a world free of MS and we’re pleased to celebrate a big win for MS research in Illinois.”

Treatment for multiple sclerosis is expensive and often means a significant portion of a family’s income is consumed by care giving, hospital and physician costs, medication, long-term care, assistive devices and equipment. The average cost for someone living with MS is $69,118 per year.

The Illinois General Assembly will appropriate proceeds from “It’s Double Time!” tickets to the Department of Public Health and the National MS Society, which will award grants to organizations conducting MS research in Illinois. All grants funded by the ticket’s revenue will be reviewed and approved by the National MS Society’s Research Programs Advisory Committee, a panel that includes some 75 leading scientists, physicians and other professionals from virtually every field related to MS.

“It’s Double Time!” is available at Illinois Lottery retail locations. Each ticket will cost $2 and have a top prize of $20,000. It is estimated that the sale of this ticket will generate more than $1.3 million in net revenue each year.