Illinois Lottery is not paying, but people are still playing

Nov 3, 2015, 9:13 am (35 comments)

Illinois Lottery

Joe Joost and several other city truck drivers thought they won $1 million in September.

However, they have yet to see a dime because the state comptroller has said they can't make payouts over $25,000 because the state hasn't approved a budget. In October, that payout limit was further reduced to just $600.

One state lawmaker says the Illinois Lottery is committing fraud, but Joost simply can't understand why people continue to play.

"They announce they're not paying but yet they're still selling tickets. C'mon! What are we, goofs?!" Joost says.

Lottery ticket sales have increased over the last year, according to sales records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

In September — the first full month after the lottery announced it couldn't pay big prizes — people spent more than $235 million dollars on tickets.

While that's down slightly from the previous month, it's $15 million more in sales than the same month last year.

Now one state representative has filed a bill to temporarily shut down the lottery.

"If you can't pay people, you shouldn't be selling tickets," said State rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago.

While winners wait to be paid, the lottery is cashing in. A Lottery spokesperson said that jackpot money now sitting in lottery accounts is earning interest, but that extra money won't be shared with winners.

No comment on why the lottery isn't sharing the interest earned on that money and the interest issue is the subject of several pending lawsuits.

Several billboards along the Illinois-Indiana border seek to lure players to Indiana. A new Hoosier Lottery campaign reminds people: "It pays to play in Indiana."

As for lottery winner Joe Joost, he is still playing the lottery. However, he adds: "In Indiana and Michigan. At least they still get paid."

WLS, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

noise-gate

They not paying but you still playing? ...Craazeeeeee! 

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

DUMB, DUMB, DUMB and dumber!!!!!!!!!!.

Gleno's avatarGleno

Sounds like some folks in Illinois like the idea of winning even if it means an I.O.U. in the future.

These are the player who, cannot or will not,  travel out of state but want that chance of winning.

Maybe they think this is  an opportunity to plan ahead before they can actually collect?

Thinking of...

Erzulieredeyes's avatarErzulieredeyes

Illinois sure is getting a bad rap and they deserve every bit.

I wish my State would try to award me with an I.O.U. after winning one of the BIG 2 lotteries, it would be WAR WAR III!

LO L

And the people in IL that continues to play these lotto games must be sick in the head or very slow.

 Don't care how fast or slow it takes for them to approve the budget. No one in their right minds play a game to win I.O.U'.s, except idiots.

 

A piece of paper saying they promise to pay will not make me happy and content -- Only GUARANTEED money in the bank will make my day ''rosy'' and shine bright!

Erzulieredeyes's avatarErzulieredeyes

Quote: Originally posted by Gleno on Nov 3, 2015

Sounds like some folks in Illinois like the idea of winning even if it means an I.O.U. in the future.

These are the player who, cannot or will not,  travel out of state but want that chance of winning.

Maybe they think this is  an opportunity to plan ahead before they can actually collect?

Thinking of...

I.O.U. in the future? That's what it sounds like to me! Just a matter of time of waiting it out.

I still wouldn't play until things were fully straightened out.

Wouldn't be surprised if all those I.O.U. turned up worthless because IL decides to go Bankrupt like the city of Detroit and keep all those lucky winnings. Wonder if theres any laws against that.

That's why I would always choose the lump sum, don't need anyone else holding my money for me and make me wait on it when I need it.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

A degenerate gambler is defined as someone who has to be 'in action', that is they have to have a bet riding on something, be it a lottery drawing, football score, where a roulette ball lands, etc.....

Combine that with uninformed players and there you go.

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

I hope of the courts dont demand payments NOW, they at least oprder the money moved into escrow, to be put aside for winners, before the state spends it all or goes bankrupt

psykomo's avatarpsykomo

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Nov 3, 2015

DUMB, DUMB, DUMB and dumber!!!!!!!!!!.

Feed the flock and pass the Pot (or) is it pass the Pot.......for the Illinois Lawmaker'$$$......Hello, what's the problem Dupe Alert ???

Pay them off and get the state comptroller off his ass-sets and get the lottery "rolling again".......it's about time don't U think?

                                                                      Dance  Drum   Dance

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by psykomo on Nov 3, 2015

Feed the flock and pass the Pot (or) is it pass the Pot.......for the Illinois Lawmaker'$$$......Hello, what's the problem Dupe Alert ???

Pay them off and get the state comptroller off his ass-sets and get the lottery "rolling again".......it's about time don't U think?

                                                                      Dance  Drum   Dance

I Agree!

And Ohio is voting on legalizing Pot today.

dr65's avatardr65

Incredible. I guess the thrill of the win is too much to resist prize or no prize. Is it possible

players think their dollars spent will somehow form a payout pool on the side or that their

winning ticket will slide under the radar when presented for payment? Or maybe some think

a resolution is today, tomorrow or the day after. I'd say expect the worst. This has gone on too

long already and part of what the holdup might be is how to factor in all the winners that were

denied their rightful, timely payments.

As tempting as it might be to be optimistic, right now good sense has to take priority. These

players need to stop playing. I play because I know I'll be paid and if I was going to get an IOU..

stick that, I'd be playing something else until they had the ability and brains to pay me.

People are playing for the little prizes that can be paid....let enough of them hit over the limit

ones and they'll be in a position to finally get it....maybe.

dr65's avatardr65

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Nov 3, 2015

I Agree!

And Ohio is voting on legalizing Pot today.

......

Happy, happy...Joy, joy.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Nov 3, 2015

I Agree!

And Ohio is voting on legalizing Pot today.

That's where RJ is from....right? If it passes some farmers will switch out corn for weed. It's a win-win situation for Ohio. 

Get paid's avatarGet paid

People r still playing.Unbelievable. Stand for something,ru fall for anything.

faber98

Quote: Originally posted by Get paid on Nov 3, 2015

People r still playing.Unbelievable. Stand for something,ru fall for anything.

the people that are playing cannot get to another state to play. winning an iou is better than losing. the state of illinois is not going to go bankrupt like some people fear. maybe the "city" of detroit did but a state the size of illinois is not going to go bankrupt. they will get paid if they are fortunate enough to win. not playing isn't an option for most of those still playing. you can always sell the ticket to someone for a small fee to someone who is willing to wait if you need it cashed. think outside the box here. 1. you want to play the lottery. 2. you cannot travel to another state. 3. you probably aren't going to hit a 600.00+ticket anyway. 4. if you do, no reason to get upset about not being to cash it, since you can easily find someone to buy it. 5. it would be a tax ticket anyway so selling it would be the right move for most. 6. so continue playing because most players are so old they only have so many chances left to play anyway, so abstaining from playing is ridiculous.

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