The Illinois Lottery believes its check-writing account will be exhausted as of October 15 and it does not have the legal authority to replenish its funds, according to a statement from the lottery.
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The Illinois lottery began giving IOUs to big prizewinners in July, but the delay previously applied only to winnings over $25,000. “Please note that the funding to pay winners exists, but the legal authority to issue checks does not”. The suit is attempting to force the lottery to release prizes over $25,000 with interest and prevent the lottery from paying administrative and operational costs until winnings are released.
Rossi said players with winning tickets worth $600 and up eventually will be paid once the stalemate is over.
No word on when that will be, since the state has yet to pass a budget. The lawsuit alleges dozens await more than $288 million in prizes. It quotes Homer Glen resident Rhonda Rasche, who’d won $50,000 on a Crossword ticket, exclaiming “This is wonderful!”
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Meanwhile, Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger said Wednesday a $560 million payment due to Illinois’ pension system will also be delayed. Lottery officials have said that state law prohibited larger payouts because the legislature must authorize the state comptroller to cut the checks. But the impasse has led to an immediate cash shortage, altering the way her office will dole out payments to the system.
