* Sun-Times…
The association that runs the popular Powerball lottery and Mega Millions games will drop Illinois at the end of June without a budget agreement.
Concern over the state of Illinois’ fiscal condition prompted that decision by the Multi-State Lottery Association, according to internal Illinois Lottery communications.
Illinois Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg on Thursday morning confirmed that the games will be dropped without a state budget. He said the association has never threatened to drop the games. […]
The state reported $99.4 million in Mega Millions sales and $208 million in Powerball sales within the 2016 budget year. It’s unclear how much revenue the state got from the sale of those tickets.
Sheesh, what an embarrassment.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Pritzker campaign…
Today, the Multi-State Lottery Association announced they voted to remove Illinois from the Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries due to Bruce Rauner’s 715-day budget crisis. In response, JB Pritzker released the following statement:
“The decision by the Multi-State Lottery Association is a clear rebuke of Bruce Rauner and the 715-day budget crisis he has unleashed on our state,” said JB Pritzker. “Rauner is a historic failure and bond ratings agencies, investors, and now U.S. lotteries are taking note. Under Bruce Rauner, Illinois has earned the reputation of being a bad investment and a state without stability or growth. This is what failed leadership looks like and the devastation will not stop until Bruce Rauner is out of office.”
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Lou Lang…
“The decision today by the Multi-State Lottery Association to remove our state from participation in these lottery games is just another example of the absolute failure by the governor to do his job and govern. Due to the impasse that he has created, other states are now recognizing the lack of leadership by the governor, and they have made the decision that Illinois under Bruce Rauner is not a reliable partner.
“Not only does this affect Illinois gamers who enjoy playing the lottery games, but this will also have enormous negative effects on our public education system. This will take away millions of dollars of state funds for our schools, which are more critical now than ever. These effects just represent a small portion of the damage that the governor has done by holding up services and programs over items that have nothing to do with our state budget.
“House Democrats have worked to meet the governor in the middle, including passing reforms to the procurement and worker’s compensation systems, and working to level the playing field for small and medium-sized businesses. Yet, the governor still refuses to come back to the negotiating table. Republicans and Democrats nationwide are reacting to the complete lack of leadership under Bruce Rauner, which is leading us on the path to become a deadbeat state.”
- Allen D - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:47 am:
That is “RICH” (pun intended)
- Lech W - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:48 am:
Now it really is a crisis !
- G'Kar - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:52 am:
If THAT threat doesn’t lead to a budget, nothing will./s
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:54 am:
There goes my retirement plan.
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:54 am:
Wasn’t winning the powerball jackpot McSweeny’s plan to increase the revenue required to balance the budget without a tax increase?
Road trip to Wisconsin?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 10:59 am:
Illinois has become USA’s Cousin Eddie
- Biscuit Head - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:00 am:
Anybody know how much annual Revenue IL received from Powerball ticket sales (that will now be disappearing)?
- Terry Salad - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:01 am:
Why is it unclear as to how much the State got from those lottery sales? The Sun Times does nothing to inform why the lack of a budget is leading to these particular games being dropped. I have guesses, but how about the Sun Times run this down?
- illini - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:02 am:
First the scratch off games are rigged and now this. Guess I’ll have to go to the Casino Queen more often!
- AC - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:04 am:
We definitely need to reform our deadbeat reputation.
- Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:04 am:
As I posted earlier on another thread, so much for Rauner’s “Tier 4″ Pension Plan.
- Christopher - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:04 am:
I’ve been trying to do my part to help the IL budget by spending $10 on lottery tickets in order to win $2 back from them LOL
- DuPage - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:06 am:
People wanting Powerball tickets near the state lines will give our neighboring states revenue that otherwise would have gone to Illinois. Another Rauner accomplishment!
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:07 am:
Runners of a suckers game know a bust out artist when they see one.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:08 am:
Powerball and Megamillions are the only lottery tickets I occasionally buy.
Wonder how many other customers the Illinois lottery loses from this. Good job Rauner
- Bad bet - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:11 am:
So will this lower education funding, wasn’t the lottery to fund education
- Cook County Commoner - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:15 am:
Does the Lottery Association think the state will raid the proceeds? Hold up payment of the net proceeds? What does it care if the the state has a budget (i.e., massive tax increases without any studies as to their impact on Illinois)?
The good thing is that I will be able to reach the counter at my local conveniece store more quickly to pay the new Cook County Beverage Tax.
Win. Win.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:22 am:
Just another reason to move to Indiana! /s
- AnonymousOne - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:25 am:
These are the things that we’ll remember the Rauner administration for. Something for the ILlinois history books. Accomplishments.
- Texas Red - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:26 am:
I guess in July I’ll be enjoying more Spotted Cow and trips to the Brat stop in WI to purchase PB and Mega.
- Oneman - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:26 am:
When the lottery ticket guy says no mas, you have truly reached rock bottom…
- RNUG - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:30 am:
== Does the Lottery Association think the state will raid the proceeds? Hold up payment of the net proceeds? What does it care if the the state has a budget (i.e., massive tax increases without any studies as to their impact on Illinois)? ==
I think the issue is Illinois has no authorization / appropriation to pay lottery winners above a very small amount.
- Suburbanon - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:30 am:
Remove state income tax on lottery winnings - like California does - and make Powerball and MegaMillions a “money maker” for state. I’ll bet sales will go up and it can help fill the budget hole. (snark snark)
- Northsider - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:31 am:
“This is what failed leadership looks like and the devastation will not stop until Bruce Rauner is out of office.”
Pretty good response from Pritzker.
- Chuckee Baby - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:34 am:
For many Illinois citizens, this news will completely shock/stun them, and finally believe that the State of Illinois has big financial problems. I would expect IL Lottery sales to go into a serious dive, even in the unaffected Illinois games and scratch offs.
The Credit Rating Agency Downgrades shock other people, just a smaller group than the previous group of people.
- Rocky Rosi - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:38 am:
There is a bright spot with this news. My mother can now save money by not playing the lottery.
- All Bets Are Off - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:40 am:
If this doesn’t twist Rauner’s arm into saying Uncle, nothing will. I know the guys wants bankruptcy so someone can make money on the “pennies-on-the-dollar” back end, but Jesus, Lottery has *always* been free cash for the state. This is what you get when you run government like a business. Thanks Repubs! We’re getting what we paid for.
- Gruntled University Employee - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:47 am:
===When the lottery ticket guy says no mas, you have truly reached rock bottom… ===
I so much wish I could believe that.
- Boone's is back - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:50 am:
This my finally rouse the rubes
- Cook County Commoner - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:52 am:
RNUG -I think the issue is Illinois has no authorization / appropriation to pay lottery winners above a very small amount.
Thanks for that. I thought a stopgap compromise was in place. Are folks still suing to collect their winnings?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 11:53 am:
Some serious good work by the Pritzker Comm Crew here.
It’s the bread and butter message, it Trumps just about anything, even POTUS if you ingrane it like Rauner did.
Bruce Rauner fails.
That CrisisCreatinRauner Twitter is interesting…
- Anon - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:09 pm:
I will not let Bruce take away my last dream. Crossing the IN border to keep the dream alive!
- Flynn's mom - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:21 pm:
This might be the straw that breaks the camels back.
- Texas Red - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:29 pm:
Pritzker is good at transference
- Illinois O'Malley - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:40 pm:
@Texas, don’t forget about the Spot burger joint on ur PB and spotted cow runs, right down 50 in Kenosha
- Arock - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:56 pm:
Tell all the lottery players that now they can just give their lottery money straight to the State as that is the main purpose of the lottery is a revenue generator for the State. Look at it for what it is a voluntary tax payment to the State with a minor chance of a refund.
- Worth It - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 12:58 pm:
This is like being cutoff by your drug dealer. Pretty pathetic.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
Fortunately, we still have video gaming in our Porta-potties.
- Texas Red - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 2:32 pm:
I had to laugh at Lou “Casio King” Lang’s comments. I’m sure his buddies in the Casio lobby are crying crocodile tears for the loss of PB and Mega.
- eire 17 - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 2:34 pm:
a gambling entity just said we are a bad bet–think about that
- Texas Red - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 2:35 pm:
sorry Casino
- Amalia - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 2:55 pm:
and the spiral downward just keeps getting worse. this is why people play the lotto!
- BigLou - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 3:19 pm:
So how is this going to affect quickie marts that see steady business for these two games and increase business when the prizes get big. A lot of these places that sell these tickets sell products to people as impulse buys when they are getting tickets. This may really hurt Cook County retailers who are already going to see a drop in soda sales thanks to the soda tax.
- Illinois Native - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 3:25 pm:
I see the end of Mega Millions and Powerball in Illinois as a possible positive for the horse breeders and the race tracks of the state.
- Dr X - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 3:39 pm:
Finally, the lottery people acknowledge that term limits must be passed. Winnin’.
- Barracuda - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 6:03 pm:
My goodness— the crisis thickens. Especially now that EBT card beneficiaries will not be able to use their new found exemption from the soda tax and the savings therefrom to buy some Powerball tickets.
- GLG - Thursday, Jun 15, 17 @ 7:06 pm:
The Illinois Lottery!!!
It’s for the kids!!
A fools game if there ever was!
Will the Chicago Democrats be chartering busses to take their voters to Wisconson and Indiana so they can get therir fix??
- TKMH - Friday, Jun 16, 17 @ 11:31 am:
Rauner always seemed like a scratch-off guy anyway.