Includes video report
CHICAGO — It's the worst case scenario for any avid lottery player — you play and win, then have to fight for your money.
One of Jack Kielczynski's retirement pastimes is playing the Illinois Lottery: Pick 3 game online. And he's been doing fairly well the last month.
As his winnings added up, the retired police officer decided to cash in on about $1,600, which dated back to April 16th. The winnings were supposed to be transferred directly into his checking account. However, an entire week went by with no such deposit.
"Nothing was coming. And I was calling, daily at that point — I got three or four supervisors I talked to," Kielczynski said.
Kielczynski said he was initially told he would see his cash in three to five business days. Once that did not happen, he says a supervisor told him there was a routing problem or glitch that was impacting 500 people.
Kielczynski started receiving some of his winnings Monday afternoon, but says he's still owed $400.
A Lottery spokesperson said that online pay-outs are handled by Northstar, a company that's been sued for how it handles Illinois Lottery winnings and games. Two governors, including Gov. Rauner, have tried terminating Northstar's contract, but have not yet found a replacement company.
VIDEO: Watch the report
It's Not Nice to Mess With Peoples Money!
This is crazy ! They take your money quickly but as soon as you win they don't want to pay you. This system is corrupt.
Oh no not illinios Again . You are either in the lottery business or out of the lottery business. If you can't pay online winners on time then suspend online sales. The reason people play online is for faster play and faster pay now what illinios is doing is faster sales and lucky if you even get paid sad sad sad
When doesn't Illinois have a problem paying its' winners?
Just a small suggestion to Illinois lottery players; if they don't pay, don't play.
American Lottery winners are such forgiving souls. But do not back them into a corner or they will be like a Mother Bear with her cubs. Watch out!
Northstar (G Tech) screws with people's money in more than just Illinois ! Texas Fun Five's scratch off winners are STILL waiting for our money from our winning tickets......It's been almost 3 years. Instead of paying us....they keep appealing in court. They are scammers!!
Jack Kielczynski is fortunate his not living in CA. His talking 2 weeks? his got Nothing to complain about.
California Lottery Winners-Handbook:
" When Do I Receive My Check(s)?
If you elected the cash option or if your prize is only offered in a single payment, it can take up to 12 weeks (from the claim date) for your check to arrive. If your prize is to be paid in installments, it can take up to 12 weeks for your first check to arrive. So please be patient! If you choose to have your check mailed to a California Lottery District Office, they will notify you when your check is ready for pick-up.
So please be patient!.. My A.
noise-gate. Why should we agree to the photo celebrity or the Press event when they do not play fair. The Lottery Commission should be ashamed of themselves for not foreseeing these problems. They should have hired extra help a long time ago.
state is run by crooksill. don't pay not surprized