Illinois Lottery ticket sales dropped to the lowest point yet this year in October, the same month lottery officials announced they were delaying payouts over $600 because of the state budget impasse, according to data obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. Sales for most tickets, including instant games and Powerball, declined about $21 million – with October sales at roughly $215 million compared to September’s approximately $236 million.

Illinois Lottery ticket sales dropped to the lowest point yet this year in October, the same month lottery officials announced they were delaying payouts over $600 because of the state budget impasse, according to data obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. Sales for most tickets, including instant games and Powerball, declined about $21 million – with October sales at roughly $215 million compared to September’s approximately $236 million.