Mega Millions and Powerball May Be Leaving Illinois
If you had hopes of winning the next bagillion dollar lottery jackpot, you might have to take a drive out of state.
The Illinois budget impasse is not only effecting charitable organizations and public assistance programs, it might also take a big hit on the Illinois Lottery.
The association behind Powerball and Mega Millions might remove Illinois from the list of states that can sell the games that award the largest lottery jackpots in the country. Mystateline.com reports The Multi-State Lottery Association is concerned with Illinois not being able to pay their share of the funds. Lawmakers are embarrassed and unhappy with the possibility.
According to mystateline.com, Senator Stadleman (D-Rockford) and Senator Syverson (R-Rockford) are share the same opinion on Illinois' budget problem and the possibility of losing Mega Millions and Powerball.
"It's ridiculous. It's embarrassing for the State of Illinois," said Stadelman. "The blame game and the finger-pointing, as far as why we don't have a budget, has to stop."
Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) proposed a new bill -- SB 1427 -- that legislation would separate the lottery from the budget process, which means then that if a budget wasn't passed, it wouldn't have any effect. "It continues to operate like it normally does," said Syverson.
Funds from the Illinois Lottery provide money for public schools and more, which makes the lottery kind of important. However, passing an actual budget is more important at the moment.
If those big money games were to leave the state you could go to Wisconsin (or any of these states) to purchase tickets.
[H/T Eyewitness News]
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