Illinois Lottery Giving IOUs Instead of Cash to Winners

I watched a television show where a lady said she dreamed she won the lottery, then the next day won in real life.

Ever since then I've been dreaming of hitting it big, always coming up with no luck. I still haven't won the big millions-of-dollars jackpot. I've decided with recent news, I'm going to change my winning strategy.

I'm now going to dream of winning $25,000 or less. That way I can actually get paid.

The Illinois State Lottery just can't afford to pay you any more than that. They are sending out IOU's! I'm serious!

According to the Chicago Tribune, if you win an Illinois lottery prize of $25,000 or more, the state doesn't have a budget to authorize prize payments. The Tribune goes on to say:

Under state law, the state comptroller must cut the checks for lottery winnings of more than $25,000. And lottery officials said that because lawmakers have yet to pass a budget, the comptroller’s office does not have legal authority to release the funds.

 

Prizes of $25,000 or less will still be paid at lottery claim centers across the state, and people who win $600 or less can cash in their ticket at the place where they bought it.

But the bigger winners?

 

It seems as if we will just have to set our sights a little bit lower for now, in order to collect any prize money if and when we win the lottery.