Cash-strapped Illinois has begun turning off one of its most lucrative cash spigots as a casualty of an unprecedented budget stalemate.The great moments of Blue America.
As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, the Illinois Lottery stopped selling Powerball tickets, and by 9:45 p.m. Friday it will stop selling Mega Millions tickets — unless and until lawmakers and the governor cut a deal to at least let the lottery pay out prizes for those games from cash it collects.
Illinois' annual profit from Powerball and Mega Millions is historically about $90 million.
The current legislation expires midnight Friday, and without further legislative action, Illinois will be forced out of the multi-state games, at least for now. And depending on how long it takes the lottery to regain authority to pay those prizes, it could be harder to start reselling those tickets, officials said.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Illinois Lottery stops selling Powerball tickets after lawmakers fail to cut deal
The Chicago Tribune reports:
