Payout situation getting worse for Illinois lottery winners

Comment #44

petelozia — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 13:49:10 GMT

Illinois unpaid lottery winners can get their tickets paid at WindyCityInvestments. Several winners have already received funds from this source.

Comment #43

ArizonaDream — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 00:24:41 GMT

I'm sure sales are down. When/where/how do they release numbers so we can see by how much

Comment #42

myturn — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 00:19:26 GMT

Players should just boycott the Illinois lottery until the issue is resolved. Play other state lotteries, in some cases you may need an instate address to participate.

Comment #41

ArizonaDream — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 17:15:04 GMT

good post ^^^^

Rep. Franks HB4295 (releasing lottery funds) was referred to the rules committee.

A new bill, HB4316, (suspending lottery sales) unless funds for winnings are also appropriated, was just introduced.

I'll bet the lawsuit by winners awaiting payment gets action before either of those bills goes anywhere.

[ I tried to post links to the actual bills, but as a new member, I'm not allowed to post links

Comment #40

Seattlejohn — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 05:50:25 GMT

Such BS. State lottery funds are kept in separate accounts from general budget funds, because state officials know if the lottery refused to or couldn't pay out, players wouldn't play. As they're seeing now, with Illinois players deciding to play in neighboring states. Per an article I recently read, a state budget audit disclosed that the payout monies are there in their accounts. For all intents purposes, what state officials (including the Governor) are doing is holding state lottery winners... [ More ]

Comment #39

CSense — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 04:19:26 GMT

Exactly. They should not get their paychecks if they're not doing their job.

Comment #38

Teddi — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 02:12:34 GMT

Sorry, but absolutely the lottery is partly to blame. I know of no successful business that has no deadline requirements. This is essentially a business enterprise handling millions of dollars which had nothing in its contract saying the state MUST pay out funds within a set period of time. They have a system set up to keep collecting funds no matter what financial upheaval the state is in, but that same system isn't set up to disburse the funds within a contractually designated timeframe.

T... [ More ]

Comment #37

Coin Toss — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 00:31:42 GMT

Inside Edition says that a lawyer says the non-payments now equal $288M

http://news.yahoo.com/families-outraged-illinois-fails-pay-210047539.html

Comment #36

savagegoose — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 23:56:50 GMT

I agree , IL players have to boycott.

Comment #35

hearsetrax — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 20:48:02 GMT

but I could see that happening

Comment #34

JADELottery — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 19:40:27 GMT

Looks like the scariest thing this Halloween is winning the Lootery in Illinoisss.

Comment #33

jjtheprince — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 18:34:43 GMT

Anyone still playing the lottery in Illinois is an idiot at this point.

A massive boycott would fix this. If lottery money quit rolling in altogether for a few months, I'm sure the bumbling idiots in Springfield would be scrambling to figure out a way to pay winners in full.

If you're in driving distance of MO, come play here.

Comment #32

Get paid — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 18:14:03 GMT

This sh*t has made national news.

Comment #31

Get paid — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 17:51:40 GMT

Now this is some bullsh*t.Every person in Illinois should stop playing the lottery immediately.Until the politicians get their sh*t together.

Comment #30

Smoke Fan — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:21:31 GMT

I live in Southeastern Illinois 10 miles west of Vincennes, IN.

No big deal to me if the Illinois lottery wants to commit fraud against it's players. I just cross the state line and play the Hoosier Lottery. And if I were to win, I would pack my rags and move to Indiana.

Comment #29

KathyIL — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:03:16 GMT

My thoughts exactly. Isn't that plagiarism? I read the exact same report on another website. Our state comptroller announced Tuesday that next month's $560 million payment to the Illinois pension system will not be made. Most people don't realize that the state employees pay a good deal of money into this retirement system. It comes out of their pay checks. I've quit playing, even scratch offs.

Comment #28

lucky6025 — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 13:53:05 GMT

I think another way to correct this problem would be for the people of Ill to write to powerball and megamillion and state how disgusted they are with this practice and going to stop playing and i am sure those two organizations can threaten to remove their games from the state of Ill meaning alot of money for state use gone.I am pretty sure its up to these two organization if the games are allowed in each state and if people are not being paid what is owed them on time and people are not going

Comment #27

Long Odds — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 13:10:47 GMT

My mistake. Thanks for the clarification.

Comment #26

lucky6025 — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:52:59 GMT

So when you get your bills to pay in Ill you can send them an IOU along with taxes and any other outgoing bills tell them will pay them when you get this straightened out. Plus I said it before when this first started its time to get these people in charge impeached out of office NOW. when these people feel money coming from their pockets things will get done.

Comment #25

ekem6078 — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 11:32:58 GMT

If you know you're not going to get paid, WHY play in the state of ILL. It should be against the law for them to even sell anymore tickets, knowing they can't paid off to the winners. You're just giving away your money lol lol

Comment #24

maximumfun — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:38:08 GMT

... sure they arent paying over 600$ now - BUT they ARE giving out mugs to the winners who come in and get an I.O.U. (as told by a co-worker who now HAS one of these mugs!!!)

What more could you ask for - a free mug

Comment #23

RedStang — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 05:49:50 GMT

The Lottery is a huge cookie jar and all the Agencies have their hands in it. They say all the $ goes to education but we know that's .

Comment #22

Coin Toss — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 04:31:45 GMT

And Illinois is still pimping the Halloween raffle.

That should not be allowed. Hopefully they won't sell enough tickets.

Comment #21

Tinker — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 03:03:15 GMT

Why is the Lottery even tied to the State Budget? That is stupid.

Comment #20

butch2030 — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 02:59:48 GMT

You don't have to stop playing, just go to a border state, and play their Lottery...............

Comment #19

butch2030 — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 02:55:10 GMT

It is making the news on all the TV channels here in IL. I for one went to WI this afternoon to buy my Mega Millions tickets there. Purchased tickets for the next 8 drawings which will cover me until Nov 15. After that, I will head back for another 8 drawings. Illinois new name should be called The Titanic State. It's not the Illinois Lottery that's doing this; its the Representatives in the State House. By the time they agree on a budget, it will all ready be too late. They will not have the fu... [ More ]

Comment #18

Romancandle — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 01:15:10 GMT

Wow and yet they continue to operate business as usual in terms of sales and promotions... No disclaimers anywhere.

Wow.

Comment #17

Tony Numbers — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 00:55:44 GMT

Leading is easy. Following is the hard part. That's why you won't get the masses to stop playing outright. Mabye 70 percent are addicted and can't stop. I know I'd stop if they told me I won't get paid if I win.

Comment #16

Coin Toss — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 00:43:11 GMT

From the OP:

If I was the one selling raffle tickets and I didn't pay, I would be sued or in jail or both, Rhonda Rasche, one of the winners who filed the suit, said in a recent interview.

Bingo

Comment #15

Todd — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 00:36:39 GMT

No, it's not recycled, you didn't read the story. As stated in the story, previously winners of $25,000 or more couldn't get a payout. Now it's everyone $600 or greater. Things are getting worse. The headline even states that.

Comment #14

marcie — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 00:22:08 GMT

What ... that is Crazy somebody going in the Pot I hope that doesn't happen in Ohio although we have had some crooked officials from the Ohio Lottery trying to Cash a winning Jackpot but he got busted..

Comment #13

DELotteryPlyr — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 23:01:57 GMT

so, the money is coming in FROM the players BUT only $600 or less gets paid??? WOW!! The funds in the accounts which receive/hold the lottery funds must be BUSTING from not paying any of it out!!

And wonder what the fall out might be? Nothing? will the players just go back to playing when its is cleared up

Comment #12

dr65 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 23:01:44 GMT

The state needs to stop selling lottery altogether.

I would be livid if I couldn't collect a $1,000 winner....not collecting over $600

is PATHETIC.

There are going to be a lot of angry people. I wonder what notifications

they are posting at terminals...do most people know they won't be paid over $600??

I highly doubt it. If a state sinks to the level of...OR fails miserably like this one did...

selling but not paying winners .first of $25k and over, now of $600 and up, they... [ More ]

Comment #11

Stack47 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 23:00:09 GMT

And there is no point in playing if they can't collect their winnings period.

Comment #10

Technics — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:53:36 GMT

Best answer, they always seem to understand the loss when it happens. People can simply stop playing for a period of time. Problem solved.

Comment #9

mypiemaster — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:49:51 GMT

So why are state officials still getting their paychecks

Comment #8

sully16 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:45:03 GMT

States surrounding Illinois

Wisconsin

Iowa

Missouri

Kentucky

Indiana

Those close enough can go play in those states.

Comment #7

Gleno — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:33:53 GMT

10/15/15

The State of IL is getting nasty, suspending payments over $600.00

Their lottery income must be hurting , just a little

Comment #6

Drenick1 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:09:45 GMT

You bring up a good point. Retailers better be careful about paying out winners because there is a good chance they will not get reimbursed. I have a feeling even if they withheld lottery ticket sales proceeds as ransom for winning ticket payouts that the state would quickly come down on them. What what I have been told most retailers keep 5% of ticket sales and send the balance to the state lottery commission.

Comment #5

savagegoose — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:59:00 GMT

you do know its only limited to $600, because that's the amount the stores have to payout! if i was stores i wouldnt pay any prizes, and say send it to state lotto, i cAnt get nay money out of them even the $2 ones

Comment #4

MADDOG10 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:57:37 GMT

Simple, just stop playing the Lottery for a week and see how quick the State reacts...

Comment #3

Long Odds — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:53:00 GMT

Why is this story being recycled? No updated information, just the original story.

Comment #2

Drenick1 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:51:59 GMT

This debacle will not end well. I have a feeling this is only the beginning for the financially crisis Illinois is currently experiencing.

Comment #1

JordanT1021 — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 20:45:25 GMT

just shut it down...

and what happened?

poor managment of funds

Payout situation getting worse for Illinois lottery winners

Lottery Post — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 20:32:35 GMT

Suspends lottery payouts for winners of $600 or more

Feeling like you've hit the jackpot through the Illinois Lottery? Well, think again.

State officials announced Wednesday that winners who are due to receive more than $600 won't get their money until the state's ongoing budget impasse is resolved. Players who win up to $600 can still collect their winnings at local retailers.

In a statement, the Illinois Lottery said that its account for writing out checks to winners would be exhaust... [ More ]