Illinois Lotto Players Can't Collect Prizes Over $600 From Cash-Strapped State

Illinois Lottery made it even harder for its players on Wednesday to collect prizes.

They say anyone with a winning ticket worth $600 or more will face delays collecting prizes until the state's long-running budget problem ends.

Since July, the state has not been making timely payments to players who have won $25,000 or more.

It has triggered a class-action lawsuit in federal court last month (September 2015) against Republican Governor Bruce Rauner's administration.

"We don't have the legislative authority to replenish our check-writing account," Lottery spokesman Steve Rossi told Reuters.

Rossi said players with winning tickets worth $600 and up eventually will be paid once the stalemate is over. The new payout policy takes effect Friday.

He said the agency has not contemplated suspending any of its betting games while the budget fight continues.

SOURCE: cnbc