Illinois Lottery Can’t Pay Its Winners

A budget stalemate in the Illinois legislature has forced the state to delay payment to lottery winners.

The state hadn’t been able to pay winners of over $25,000 since July 1, USA Today reports, and on Wednesday the state lowered the threshold to $600.

“Payment delays will occur because there currently is no legal authority for the Illinois Comptroller or the Illinois Lottery to issue checks,” the Illinois Lottery said in a statement, according to USA Today. “Please note that the funding to pay winners exists, but the legal authority to issue checks does not.”

The state is wrestling over passing a budget, caught between the Republican governor and the Democratic General Assembly. Once a budget is passed, the lottery will be able to issue checks to the winners and make good on its IOU’s.