Illinois Lottery ticket sales slowed by budget crisis, businesses say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The state's budget crisis is already affecting lottery winners by forcing them to wait for any jackpot over $600. Now, business owners who sell the tickets are saying they are feeling the pinch.

At the South Loop Market, there are plenty of lunch time orders, but not many lottery ticket sales.

"About 30-40 percent of our lottery sales is not even existent anymore," said Sid Hammad, owner of South Loop Market.

The lottery problems stemming from Illinois' budget impasse have already led to a lawsuit and a shakeup in lottery management. State Rep. La Shawn Ford (8th District) is sponsoring a bill that calls on the lottery to quit selling tickets until there's a budget and players can be paid their winnings. He's also started an online petition to get support for the effort.

"If you can't pay people then you shouldn't be selling tickets," Ford said.

Ford also says Illinois is also losing revenue and tax dollars to businesses in bordering states like Indiana from the sale of other items like gas, cigarettes, and snacks purchased by lottery players when they buy tickets.

Nora Niaves of the Handy Marathon in Hammond, Ind., says they first saw an increase in sales in August, when Illinois said payouts over $25,000 would have to wait. That increase has grown since the payout amount shrank again in October.

"Every game, we see a lot," Niaves said.

Illinois lottery officials have not released ticket sales data. A spokesperson declined to comment about the impact of delaying payouts, but says revenues are still going to a school fund as required by state law.

Chicagoan Thomas Johnson says if he wins, he wants to get his money.

"People who play the lottery are very afraid of playing the lottery for Chicago. And Hoosier, at least you don't have to worry about getting your money," Johnson said.

It's anyone's guess as to win the problem will be resolved. An attempt in the legislature to release money to lottery winners and others didn't make it to the floor. In the meantime, for those in Illinois who play the lottery, it's a wait-and-see game.