By Todd Northrop
The Illinois Lottery has resumed sales of Mega Millions and Powerball tickets now that the state's budget stalemate has concluded, lottery officials said.
The state stopped sales late last month of the popular Powerball and Mega Millions games due to its inability to contribute to the prize pool without a budget in place.
Illinois Lottery Acting Director Greg Smith announced Thursday night that sales have resumed.
"The Illinois Lottery is pleased to announce that sales of Mega Millions have resumed, and players may purchase tickets at any of the Lottery's nearly 8,000 retail partners, via our mobile app, or at IllinoisLottery.com," he said in a statement. "We appreciate the loyalty of our players and retail partners as we continue our mission to fund K-12 education."
Illinois' annual profit from Powerball and Mega Millions is historically about $90 million.
The lottery also expects that, with a budget in place, the comptroller will be able to resume paying large-prize winners.
The lottery announced in June that payments of more than $25,000 would be delayed as of July 1 until a budget was in place.
The agency said it had the money to make large payments to winners. But under Illinois law, the General Assembly must give the authority each year for the comptroller to pay the large prizes.
The Illinois House of Representatives overrode Governor Bruce Rauner's veto on increasing state income taxes and a spending plan. The state now has a budget plan for the first time since 2015.
The Democrat-controlled legislature increased the Illinois personal income tax rate from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent — a permanent increase of 32 percent.
For lottery jackpot winners who purchase their ticket in Illinois, that will mean a lot of extra money forked over to the state. The new state tax rate is incorporated in USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis for Powerball and Mega Millions.
Back in the saddle again ...
I'm glad these two draw games are back, even if the 3 year long delayed by the democrats budget is unhelpful and Income taxes permanently raised highly, because all other draws and raffles are unprotected RNG in Illinois!
The article doesn't say, so does anybody know if there is still a longer period or IOU to get paid for Mega Millions and Powerball game winnings over $25000 in Illinois?
There should not be any longer period or IOU for prize claims at this point.
Good luck to all players!
I would be through with PB and MM in Illinois . This is such BS and is what the second time this has happened? I would not trust them to pay off any winner. The same would go for this or any other state pulling this crape.
Thank you!!!
I wonder why they have a new tax rate in that state for?
I'm just happy the IL state got their two lottery games back for those who are players.GL
How long did the state not pay before? I think the inability to pay out would put a dent in sales. Again, Illinois shoots itself in the foot.
Where are all the stories about angry players buying tickets out of state and winning huge prizes on these games in the bordering states?
"The agency said it had the money to make large payments to winners. But under Illinois law, the General Assembly must give the authority each year for the comptroller to pay the large prizes."
This is a bunch of crap! There should be a separate agency that is not tied to a budget to make payments.