By Todd Northrop
CHICAGO, IL — Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner Thursday night signed a bill giving the Illinois Lottery legal authority to continue all prize payouts if a budget deal is not reached.
"By passing SB 2047, Governor Rauner and the General Assembly are ensuring that the Illinois Lottery can continue its mission of supporting K-12 education, capital projects and select charitable causes throughout Illinois," said Acting Director Tim McDevitt.
On December 7, 2015, Governor Rauner signed SB 2039 which provided the legal authority for the Lottery to pay its winners in absence of a budget. But that bill had a sunset clause, expiring the authority to pay winners on June 30th.
Last night's bill signing allows all valid claims to continue to be honored.
Winning tickets can be claimed at any of the five Illinois Lottery Claim Centers located in Chicago, Des Plaines, Rockford, Fairview Heights, and Springfield.
Prizes $600 and under can continue to be claimed at any Lottery retailer across Illinois.
I believe it when I see it. No empty promises.
Good I'm glad to read this! Though the most important thing this ensures is that the gambling lottery winner gets paid their prize efficiently.
Thank You, Todd, for the update and good news. This will definitely help lottery winners and players.
That goes for me too. Thanks.
Now, should I ever get kidnapped and whisked off to IL, at least I can know I will get paid, if I should play.
Oh OK then. That's a sigh of relief right there.
Glad to hear the Governor has put peoples mind at ease about getting paid. Signing a bill is quite different from just issuing an I.O.U. or a promise.
Well done, Governor!