SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Lottery players in Illinois won’t be able to buy Mega Millions or Powerball tickets after this week because of the state’s budget impasse.
Illinois Lottery officials say Powerball ticket sales in Illinois will be suspended at 9 p.m. on Thursday, just ahead of the drawing. Ticket sales for Mega Millions will be suspended at 9:45 p.m. on Friday.
Lawmakers are meeting at the Capitol in a special session to try and come to an agreement before the start of the July 1 fiscal year. But if there’s no budget deal before Saturday, the impasse will stretch into a third straight year.
Lottery officials say when there’s a budget, Mega Millions sales will resume. For Powerball, state officials will have to work with the Multi-State Lottery Association to figure out next steps after there’s a budget.
Officials have already said that payouts over $25,000 will be delayed. The same thing happened in 2015, resulting in lawsuits. The money was eventually approved through new legislation.