Powerball, Mega Millions to drop Illinois due to state’s budget crisis

Chicago Suntimes ^ | 6/15/2017 | Tina Sfondeles and Stefano Esposito

[Beave Meister]

The popular Powerball lottery and Mega Millions games will drop Illinois at the end of June without a budget agreement, Illinois Lottery officials said Thursday.

Concern over the state’s fiscal condition prompted the Multi-State Lottery Association to drop Powerball in Illinois, according to internal Illinois Lottery communications obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Mega Millions also plans to drop the state unless a budget agreement comes together, state officials confirmed. Without a budget in place, the state isn’t authorized to make payments to Mega Millions or the association.

Those decisions were reached at national lottery meetings held this week, Illinois Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg said. Illinois belongs to the Mega Millions group, and has a license to sell Powerball.

[Bellflower]

The only interest I have in PB is I would get a ticket if, and only if, The LORD told me to. Not sure that it would ever be His will, but that is my condition. I have never bought a lottery ticket. If He told me to get one then it would not be gambling. A lot of good could be done quickly with the money.

[Beave Meister]

I think you’re missing the point. It’s not that Powerball and Mega Millions is pulling their games from Illinois, IT’S WHY they’re pulling their games from Illinois. Lotteries should never run at a deficit, ever. The state of Illinois has a clause that states if they don’t have a balanced budget they do not have to pay out lottery winnings. If Illinois won’t be able to pay lottery winnings, which should never be touched in the first place, and which is a small percentage of the winnings, how are they ever going to pay the pensions, Medicare, state worker paychecks, and some school funding, which are in the billions. This state is screwed and California isn’t far behind.