Illinois Lottery’s online sales to end this month because politicians can’t play nice

The Illinois Lottery appears set to shutter its online operations this month due to legislative inaction.

Illinois braved the online trail in March 2012, becoming the first US state lottery to offer online draw ticket sales. But the pilot program that allowed those online sales to commence officially expires on March 25 and state legislators have yet to authorize its extension.

Republican state Rep. Ed Sullivan introduced legislation last year that would have permanently extended the pilot program but the bill failed to gain traction before legislators adjourned for the year. Sullivan has accused state Democrats of using the lottery bill as a pawn in their budget battle with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner (a fight that forced the Illinois Lottery to temporarily issue IOU’s to winning players last year).

The Chicago Tribune reported that the House Finance Committee was supposed to take up the matter on Thursday but the meeting was cancelled. Complicating matters, politicians won’t be back at their desks until April, when the new legislative session officially commences, meaning online lottery sales appear destined for a hiatus of undetermined duration.