Lottery Winners In Illinois… Not So Lucky

If you play the lottery in Illinois, be warned that you won’t get paid if you win big, at least for now.

FOX News Radio’s Jeff Monosso reports:

Ya know those huge checks lottery officials show off when someone wins the big one?

Yeah… well here in Illinois, those checks are now big fat IOUs after the state announced that anything over $600 in lottery winnings won’t be paid until the state gets its fiscal house in order… Specifically a budget stalemate between state Democrats and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner.

(Rauner) “It’s inexcusable – there’s really no good reason for it – we are doing everything within our ability to make sure the government runs.”

…Despite no budget.

But unlike the federal government, state lottery officials say they can’t just print money… That the account for writing out checks to winners is exhausted for now.

In Chicago, Jeff Monosso, FOX News Radio.