HIV awareness game launched by Illinois lottery

The Illinois Lottery has launched a new game, designed to raise money for HIV/Aids awareness and prevention schemes in the US state, it has been reported.

According to local newspaper the St Louis Post-Dispatch, the game is called Red Ribbon Cash and will cost $2 per ticket. There will be four top prizes, each of $20,000 (£10,175).

It is hoped that the lottery ticket will raise $3 million (£1.53 million) annually, with all the proceeds to be distributed to various HIV/Aids programs in the state.

Govenor Rod Blagojevich commented: "With so many Illinoisans afflicted with this terrible disease, we must continue to create opportunities that raise awareness and to fund prevention and treatment options.

"The dollars raise from this ticket will provide grants for HIV/Aids prevention and education in communities across the state, especially in communities that have been hardest hit with the disease."

According to research from the Illinois department of public health, black men in the state are seven times more likely and black women 21 times more likely than their white peers to be infected with HIV/Aids.