Mega Millions and Powerball are going to ditch Illinois if lawmakers can’t pass a budget

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Residents of Illinois might soon have to take a drive out of the state in order to play the popular lottery games Mega Millions and Powerball.

The Multi-State Loterry Association said in internal Illinois Lottery communications that if the state does not pass a budget agreement, it will be dropped from the games by the end of June, says the Chicago Sun-Times.

Illinois Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg confirmed to the Sun-Times that the games would be dropped from Illinois’ offerings without the passing of a new state budget.

Schaumberg said it is “another example of why the General Assembly needs to deliver a balanced budget to the governor.”

The decision comes at a time when Illinois is facing a serious budget crisis with a backlog of $14 billion in unpaid bills.

The state legislature recently missed its deadline to pass a budget during the spring session, sending budget negotiations into June for the second straight year. Last year, Illinois lawmakers opted for a short-term funding plan to keep schools open.

Following this year’s failed attempt to pass a budget, the state’s credit rating was downgraded by both S&P and Moody’s.

In a press release, Moody’s said it lowered the rating on Illinois’ general obligation bonds “amid a prolonged political impasse that has prevented progress on a growing pension deficit and an increasing backlog of unpaid bills.”

NOW WATCH: An economist explains the key issues that Trump needs to address to boost the economy

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Read more stories on Business Insider, Malaysian edition of the world’s fastest-growing business and technology news website.

✍ Sumber Pautan : ☕ Business InsiderBusiness Insider

Kredit kepada pemilik laman asal dan sekira berminat untuk meneruskan bacaan sila klik link atau copy paste ke web server : http://ift.tt/2rvVRuv

(✿◠‿◠)✌ Mukah Pages : Pautan Viral Media Sensasi Tanpa Henti. Memuat-naik beraneka jenis artikel menarik setiap detik tanpa henti dari pelbagai sumber. Selamat membaca dan jangan lupa untuk 👍 Like & 💕 Share di media sosial anda!