Illinois lottery players could lose ability to play online

Mar 4, 2016, 11:07 am (15 comments)

Illinois Lottery

A test program that allows Illinois Lottery tickets to be sold online expires March 25, and the state is likely to lose out on money for education and construction projects unless lawmakers take action.

A measure to make online lottery sales permanent has yet to move in the House, and lawmakers aren't scheduled to return to the Capitol until April 4.

In 2012, Illinois became the first state to sell lottery tickets online and gambling options expanded with the addition of a mobile app in 2014. Since launching, online ticket sales have brought in $68 million for education and construction projects, lottery spokesman Steve Rossi said.

Just how much the state stands to lose depends how long the program is inactive, though supporters say online sales bring in $10 million to $15 million a year. Lottery officials were unable to provide figures about how many people buy tickets online.

Republican Rep. Ed Sullivan, of Mundelein, who is sponsoring a bill to make online sales permanent, said the state cannot afford to lose any money as it struggles to make ends meet amid the record-setting budget impasse that's left Illinois without a full spending plan for nine months.

Despite the partisan impasse at the Capitol, the online lottery extension has bipartisan support. Democratic Rep. Lou Lang, of Skokie, a longtime gambling proponent and a top deputy of House Speaker Michael Madigan, is a co-sponsor.

Meanwhile, Democratic Senate President John Cullerton pushed legislation in 2011 to legalize the program, and this year he sent a bill to the House he hoped would be used to extend the life of the program. That measure has yet to clear the House Rules Committee, which Madigan tightly controls.

Sullivan accused Madigan of holding the issue up as another front in his battle with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner over the budget. Lang denied Madigan was blocking or stalling the legislation. "This will get resolved," Lang said.

Chicago Tribune

Comments

Bleudog101

Illinois Legislatures must think their residents have short term memory loss.  Wasn't that long ago that because of a budget fiasco winners were not paid.  The lottery should have been a separate entity so the lawmakers could not have had their hand in the till like they did.

 

I doubt on line sales will continue, that would be the right thing to do.

THRIFTY's avatarTHRIFTY

Selling lottery tickets online is the future. Lottery players chances of getting hurt are greater by going to lottery retailers to play.

MaximumMillions

Only 15M$ online revenue, that's a tiny fraction, don't understand why more people don't use it.

myturn's avatarmyturn

If you live in Illinois, and are uneasy about your state's lottery, you have another option. The Massachusetts Lottery offers a subscription service for it's Megabucks Doubler game. It is available across the whole country, you don't have to reside in Massachusetts

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by MaximumMillions on Mar 4, 2016

Only 15M$ online revenue, that's a tiny fraction, don't understand why more people don't use it.

Bet a large portion of the $15 million came from the PB run. The KY Lottery is trying to get online play, but if they restrict it to MM and PB, those sales will be even lower. If they add the five minute Keno and the other daily games, sales could be spectacular.

In Illinois I guess it depends on how many players believe there is a benefit by playing PB, MM, and Lotto online over going to their local store.

Coin Toss's avatarCoin Toss

From the OP:

A test program that allows Illinois Lottery tickets to be sold online expires March 25, and the state is likely to lose out on money for education and construction projects unless lawmakers take action.

PLEASE! A local community college just voted to lay off 55 people, some of them political science, sociology and other liberal arts professors because the school has not been paid by the state for almost nine months.

Grade and high schools are also hurting.

The lottery providing money for education is about as accurate as the NFL injury reports. For Illinois, some other "Bux for educations" states can't be trusted, either.

grwurston's avatargrwurston

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Mar 4, 2016

From the OP:

A test program that allows Illinois Lottery tickets to be sold online expires March 25, and the state is likely to lose out on money for education and construction projects unless lawmakers take action.

PLEASE! A local community college just voted to lay off 55 people, some of them political science, sociology and other liberal arts professors because the school has not been paid by the state for almost nine months.

Grade and high schools are also hurting.

The lottery providing money for education is about as accurate as the NFL injury reports. For Illinois, some other "Bux for educations" states can't be trusted, either.

...lawmakers aren't scheduled to return to the Capitol until April 4.

So how long have they been on vacation?  You can bet they're getting their paychecks.   But if they haven't been able to pass a
budget for 9 months, then they haven't been doing their jobs even when they show up anyway. November is coming Illinois...

Romancandle's avatarRomancandle

Quote: Originally posted by Coin Toss on Mar 4, 2016

From the OP:

A test program that allows Illinois Lottery tickets to be sold online expires March 25, and the state is likely to lose out on money for education and construction projects unless lawmakers take action.

PLEASE! A local community college just voted to lay off 55 people, some of them political science, sociology and other liberal arts professors because the school has not been paid by the state for almost nine months.

Grade and high schools are also hurting.

The lottery providing money for education is about as accurate as the NFL injury reports. For Illinois, some other "Bux for educations" states can't be trusted, either.

Disgusting and ridiculous... the bar keeps getting lower... will have to start digging a deeper hole just to keep up Puke

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Mar 4, 2016

Bet a large portion of the $15 million came from the PB run. The KY Lottery is trying to get online play, but if they restrict it to MM and PB, those sales will be even lower. If they add the five minute Keno and the other daily games, sales could be spectacular.

In Illinois I guess it depends on how many players believe there is a benefit by playing PB, MM, and Lotto online over going to their local store.

In Illinois, I believe several of the gamblers who have been participating in any of the on-line subscription/purchase games have been doing so with a charge card that has some sort of rewards points or dollars associated with it.  Thus, even if they don't receive any winnings from the Illinois Lottery Headquarters, they can win a bit through their charge card's rewards program [this would only work with the gambler who plays all draws of a particular game, anyhow, though].

Type

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by myturn on Mar 4, 2016

If you live in Illinois, and are uneasy about your state's lottery, you have another option. The Massachusetts Lottery offers a subscription service for it's Megabucks Doubler game. It is available across the whole country, you don't have to reside in Massachusetts

Thumbs up to you myturn.  I love the Massachusetts lottery and still get to play here in KY, my adopted state.  Occasionally a check will turn up in my P. O. Box from them.  Like I said before, you can't beat their prices when they have the sale on Season tickets.  No other state offers what boils down to seven weeks free when the sale is on.  Usually it runs mid November to January 2nd.  Keep abreast of the dates by going to their website.  Incidentally they had a summer Season ticket sale sans Powerball since the matrix was in the midst of being changed.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$
IL. is about to call a special session to deal with this issue. They have been collecting 
a pay checks  for 9 month now. IL. schools are suffering for it. They give winners IOU.
I Agree! with the person who said NOV. is coming Election Day vote these people out! Dock their pay checks now. Make them pay for all their own services out their pockets, gas, 
drivers, lunch, dinner, any thing the taxpayers have been providing for them as 
fringe Benefits with their job. They are going to drag this out until almost elect
time then pretend to do something about everything.
itpmguru's avataritpmguru

Quote: Originally posted by cbr$ on Mar 5, 2016

IL. is about to call a special session to deal with this issue. They have been collecting 
a pay checks  for 9 month now. IL. schools are suffering for it. They give winners IOU.
I Agree! with the person who said NOV. is coming Election Day vote these people out! Dock their pay checks now. Make them pay for all their own services out their pockets, gas, 
drivers, lunch, dinner, any thing the taxpayers have been providing for them as 
fringe Benefits with their job. They are going to drag this out until almost elect
time then pretend to do something about everything.

I Agree! and I would not buy a lottery tix in that state, even if they offered a 2 for 1 deal because all you will end up with (for now) is an IOU.

ArizonaDream's avatarArizonaDream

Quote: Originally posted by itpmguru on Mar 5, 2016

I Agree! and I would not buy a lottery tix in that state, even if they offered a 2 for 1 deal because all you will end up with (for now) is an IOU.

I think you missed this -

Deal struck, Illinois Lottery winners to be paid

https://www.lotterypost.com/news/296690

xstreamgaming15's avatarxstreamgaming15

I wish California lottery had an on-line subscription for pwrball,mega, and super lotto. When there's a monster jackpot sometimes I forget to buy a ticket and get one at the last hour. I hope some day the nylottery app lets none residents play powerball, mega millions, ca$h 4 life and lotto outside New York.

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