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Illinois Lottery is not paying, but people are still playingNews Story
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 st
Nov 3, 2015, 9:13 am - Lottery News

Illinois border states report increased lottery salesNews Story
With Illinois delaying payouts of more than $600 because of its budget mess, neighboring states are salivating at the chance to boost their own lottery sales. Businesses near borders, particularly in Indiana, Kentucky and Iowa, say they've already noticed a difference. The Lottery problems stemming from Illinois' budget impasse have led to a lawsuit and come amid questions about Illinois revenues and a shake-up in lottery management. Many gas stations, smoke shops and convenience stores in
Oct 27, 2015, 9:54 am - Lottery News

'Daily Show' knocks Illinois for shortchanging lottery winners during budget battleNews Story
Includes video report The ongoing budget impasse in Illinois was under the heat of the national spotlight this week when the 'Daily Show' took a jab at the state for its treatment of lottery winners during the stalemate. One of the show's correspondents Jordan Klepper headed to central Illinois to speak with Danny Chasteen and Susan Rick, who have won $250,000 in the Illinois lottery, but have yet to receive their winnings. The lottery is not paying individuals who have won more than $600
Oct 25, 2015, 9:36 am - Lottery News

Illinois lottery players crossing border to play in other statesNews Story
Players lose confidence as budget stalemate halts winner payouts Randall Lobello of Bensenville said he still plans to buy lottery tickets, despite the Illinois Lottery's announcement Wednesday that even more winners will be getting IOUs. He'll just play in another state, one where winnings would be paid out immediately. I do a lot of traveling; I would just jump to the border and go to Wisconsin, said Lobello, 47. I used to buy lottery tickets in Illinois, but I'm not purchasing them
Oct 17, 2015, 9:17 am - Lottery News

Payout situation getting worse for Illinois lottery winnersNews Story
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
Oct 15, 2015, 4:32 pm - Lottery News

ILLINOIS LOTTERY MOVES TO COMPUTERIZED DRAWINGSNews Story
By Todd Northrop If the Illinois Lottery issued stocks, now would be the time to sell. Despite widespread player sentiment that is strongly against computerized drawings, the Illinois Lottery stated Friday that it is dropping real lottery ball drawings, and moving to the despised computerized draws. Computerized drawings are conducted by having a computer system that picks the winning numbers using a Random Number Generator, or RNG . Players generally dislike the fact that it is imposs
Sep 25, 2015, 2:15 pm - Lottery News

Illinois fires lottery operator NorthstarNews Story
Will continue to operate lottery for more than a year The nation's first private company to manage a state lottery was fired Friday by the Illinois Governor after years of failing to make the lofty revenue targets it promised. In a news release Friday, Gov. Bruce Rauner announced that his office had reached a termination agreement with Northstar Lottery Group that will remove the firm as private manager as of Jan. 1, 2017, or until a replacement is chosen. The agreement also stipulated
Sep 19, 2015, 10:48 am - Lottery News

Illinois lottery winners file class-action lawsuit against stateNews Story
Includes video report Rhonda Rasche had a great plan for the $50,000 she won from a scratch-off Illinois Lottery ticket. She wanted to help her best friend cope with the loss of her mother. I wanted to take her and her sister on a trip because they were doing at-home hospice for her, and it was pretty tough on all of them emotionally [and] physically, said Rasche, 48, of Homer Glen. She never made that trip. Instead, Rasche became one of two plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit file
Sep 10, 2015, 8:59 am - Lottery News

Illinois Lottery not paying big winners because state legislature won't pass budgetNews Story
After years of struggling financially, Susan Rick thought things were looking up when her boyfriend won $250,000 from the Illinois Lottery last month. She could stop working seven days a week, maybe fix up the house and take a trip to Minnesota to visit her daughter. But because Illinois lawmakers have not passed a budget, she and her boyfriend, Danny Chasteen, got an IOU from the lottery instead. For the first time, we were finally gonna get a break, said Rick, who lives in Oglesby. And
Aug 28, 2015, 4:51 pm - Lottery News

Illinois woman wins $15 million on instant lottery ticketNews Story
A Hanover Park, Illinois, woman recently won $15 million playing a World Class Millions Illinois Lottery ticket, according to an Illinois Lottery news release. Michelle Baymon, of Hanover Park, bought one of three existing $15 million prize winning tickets and chose to take a lump sum of $9 million, as it requires less withholding, the release stated. According to the release, she now plans to buy a house, a new car, invest some of the money and donate to a charity. Baymon was home when
Aug 12, 2015, 9:40 am - Lottery News