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SPRINGFIELD — It’s another casualty of the stalemate in Springfield. No budget means no lottery payouts over $250,000.

With lawmakers in Springfield still not budging on a budget agreement, big lottery winners, like Danny Chasteen, are out of luck for now. Instead of paying off his bills with the $250,000 he won last month, Chasteen got an ‘I-O-U.”

“Monday night they called me and said ‘we cannot pay your lottery winnings out because of Illinois’ budget,’” Chasteen said. “Well they need to get it together!”

The Illinois Lottery issued a full statement Friday afternoon:

“Due to the ongoing budget situation in Springfield, some lottery winner payments have been delayed.  All winners will be paid in full as soon as the Lottery and the Illinois Comptroller have the legislative authority to do so. Currently, winners may claim prizes under $600 at any of our 8,000 retail locations, and prizes under $25,000 may be claimed at any Lottery claims center, found at illinoislottery.com.”

When will we have a budget in place?” asks State Rep. Jack Franks. “Maybe never.”

Franks plans on introducing a bill next week that would bring in much needed revenue by closing loopholes and revamping the lottery.

 

Source: WGNTV