Chief of Operations & Technology
Illinois Lottery
Matt Bell started at the Illinois Lottery in December 2020 as its Chief of Operations and Technology, after an exhaustive search by the Lottery. This role was previously held by the Director and remained vacant for almost two years after the Director was appointed to lead the agency in 2018. Matt’s 25-year background in IT and state government made him a great candidate for the job, but his tenacity, curiosity, commitment and ability to address the needs of the Lottery is what led to his nomination for the Powers Award.
Matt oversees the management of Lottery Information & Technology systems, Primary Drawings, Quality Control, Facilities & Asset Management, Product Development and LAN Administration, as well as other Operation and Technology functions. The varied demands of Operations and Technology requires responsibility for and proficiency at many things concurrently. In every area of concentration, Matt has been able to lead his team through a multitude of challenges that have ultimately made the department better. From building out the group to ensure it had the right number of resources and combination of talent, to overseeing the buildout of new headquarters, from finding creative solutions to address vehicle needs amid procurement restrictions and an aging fleet, to leading the development of a strategic plan for the department – along with many other things – Matt has managed the demand with grace and a tireless commitment to the betterment of lottery.