"Our winners will be paid," Illinois Lottery Superintendent B.R. Lane said. After nearly three months of withholding payments due to the state budget impasse, the Illinois Lottery said it's not if winners will get their cash -- but when.
The Illinois Lottery saw a significant drop in ticket sales from September to October, which coincides with the state budget stalemate.
"Because they're not sure when they'll be paid, our players are buying fewer tickets. It's really that simple," Lane said.
Ticket sales data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows ticket sales are down to $26 million, their lowest level in nearly two years, since the August announcement prizes over $600 wound be paid immediately.
This week Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner indicated he would support a bill to release lottery winnings, but Democratic leaders hit the brakes. Now a deal may not happen until January at the earliest. (See Democrats hold up lottery payouts after Illinois Gov. compromises, Lottery Post, Nov. 11, 2015.)
So, why is the lottery still operating? If other organizations held a raffle and didn't pay, there could be legal trouble.
"We need to make a distinction here. Our winners will be paid," Lane said. "Once we get the go ahead from a legal perspective they will be paid. That is very different from someone selling a ticket and not having revenue to support that."
In October 2015, almost $215 million worth of tickets were purchased. The Illinois Lottery does not indicate that winners won't get paid in advertising or at stores where tickets are sold.
"This has been a pretty significant issue from a media stand point, so a lot of people know," Lane said.
Some winners are now suing the Illinois Lottery. They want their payouts and plus their share of the interest the state is earning on money still in the bank.
The lottery continues to transfer money into the common school fund: $233 million since the budget stalemate began in July.
The winners will be paid sometime in the New Year. Voters should take notice of this and vote accordingly next November of 2016. Both Democrats and Republicans are to blame for this debacle.
Why would anyone play a lottery that is not paying out the prizes?
Lottery funds itself--why was it caught up in the budget mess at all?
"That is very different from someone selling a ticket and not having revenue to support that".
Uhhhh, that is exactly what Illinois lottery is doing. Selling tickets and not having revenue to support the tickets, and not paying.
Dang, what a mess. I feel sorry for people in Illinois wanting to play the lottery, but they should just save their money.
Well, well, well, looks like the Masses are flexing their Monetary Muscles.
In my view, IL Lottery not prominently disclosing lack of payment strongly suggests corruption. Many knowledgeable players are staying away and not playing; going out of state. However, as the IL Lottery surely knows, many players are addicted and will continue to play despite winners not being paid. Crazy stuff, but that's what gambling does to many...
Odds are, unless ticket sales drop 50%+, IL Lottery will keep players in the dark, and continue selling. Ignorance is bliss in IL. It's amazing how IL Lottery can pay their MM / PB share timely, transfer funds to the common school fund, and yet not payout players. Again, this reeks of corruption.
At this point, considering all the media attention, anyone still playing IL Lottery deserves no sympathy. There are many alternative options, including other state lotteries, casinos, horse racing, etc. For those who can't travel far, Massachusetts Lottery sells their in-state Megabucks Doubler game subscription over the phone to out of state players; debit and credit cards accepted.
following these news stories give us the impression the illinois political gene pool is dominated primarily by petty grasping money grubbers.
we wouldn't be surprised if one day someone goes to play the Lotto and all that's printed on the ticket is "Thank you for playing the Illinois Lottery."
Without a Budget why is the State Operating at all?
I should start a lottery to guess when the IL. lottery will pay their winners.
They're moving towards honesty and partial disclosure now? Ticket sales down?
By whose admission?
Not too long ago I read a story here saying ticket sales were up from prior months.
How is putting off payments not like having no funds to pay? It's all the same to
players who have nothing but a useless IOU...they can't collect over a certain amount
and no matter what the reason is, they do not have the prize due them.
Try selling something and not delivering as promised...go to jail or face other consequences.
When this whole thing blows over, people responsible won't be getting anything but
underserved pats on the back and congratulations for fixing the mess. People will forget,
they always do and they'll be thanking any God they can when it appears everything is back to
normal and they are being paid.
I wouldn't trust any 'fix' for a long time...this is an absolute mess. Illinois might just be
back in the news with another catastrophe. Honestly...how do you fix months of non-payments?
Rob from Peter to pay Paul? Every person responsible for delaying this thing and not working
at 200% to solve it should be fired, or put in prison.
IL residents finally waking up. The lawmakers salary should be temporarily not be paid till they approve the budget. Bet that would motivate them to approve it immediately.
owww thats not going to help the IL state budget any
The only way there will a response by the legislature is if people boycott the IL lottery. If sales dropped 80+% and funding for schools dried up, you would see how fast they would get this done. But while they are still getting reasonable ticket sales, there is no rush.
From the OP:
""We need to make a distinction here. Our winners will be paid," Lane said. "Once we get the go ahead from a legal perspective they will be paid. That is very different from someone selling a ticket and not having revenue to support that.""
Call me silly but I think from a legal perspective the state should pay winners as soon as they present the winning tickets.
Illinois:
3-7-8 7-6-4
5-4-4-4 8-5-5-0
Maybe these are telephone numbers cause they sure aren't winning numbers.
They're still at it.
5444 would pay $600 boxed in PA for a 50 cent wager.
Nothing in Illinois but a lousy IOU?
Oh, wait...maybe...you would get payment...unless they changed it to a lower amount by now.
Friday 11/13/15
Serves them right to mess with lottery funds and keeping folks from claiming their prizes that are over $600.00.
Hope the citizens of Illinois think about re-electing these politicians who hold up lottery payouts.
Shame on them!
Good Job,my fellow lotto players,don,t fall for the okie dok.
When everything Goes right it still takes 6 to 8 weeks to get paid off a winning IL lottery ticket over $600
From this, it is apparent the STATE OF ILLINOIS is up to same old Bull#$#*.
Question? When are you in a State that has corrupt politicians??? Ans. When you're in ILLINOIS.
Attorney Thomas Zimmerman said the state's withholdings of winnings is illegal.
"The Illinois Lottery Act requires a priority of payments. The first priority is that prizewinners get paid. They get paid first. After they're paid, then the money can be used to fund the operations of the lottery," Zimmerman said. "The state is using the money to fund the operation of the lottery and not paying the prizewinners, and that's a violation of the law."
So, quad 999's hit today, what to players get ? I.O.U?
Winning Combinations
This may be forced abstinence. Some players who are addicted to the lottery may be going through a withdrawal cold turkey. They may not come back to the lottery ever again. Lost customers!
That's a good thing.
I don't think they feel too badly about it ....that is right now. PB and Mega are pretty low. Now, if one or both were around $500mil, a lot of people would be taking road trips in any-which way.
My friend got paid on Illinois lotto ticket with funding from WindyCityInvestments and now has plenty of cash for Christmas shopping.
WHY SHOULD ANYWON PLAY ILLINOIS LOTTERY NOW?????????????????????????????????????
The Repug's have bank ruptured the state and the Gov want pay the little people their winnings and now ILLINOIS is in line
for a Washington bailout from the federal gov BUT, don't forget the "BUT" always out there somewhere. Do you remember our
Puerto Rica friends who are home to the oldest lottery in AMERICA? Their Gov is in Washington DC today 12/1/2015 to be
the "first" in line>>>>>>>before Illinois to git their BIG $70 BILLION BAILOUT>>>>>>>>>>before the great state of Illinois !!!
So once again Illinois Repugs let their neighbors to the south go to Washington and hit the Puerto Rican lottery for BIG WON
of $70 BILLION DOLLAR'$$$$$$$$$$ and remember now their Washington Repubs have controled Washington for years!!!
LIFE just can't git NO BUTTER than the Illinois "LOTTERY"