D.C. Lottery To Stop Paying Players Due To Shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The D.C. Lottery's slogan is "Lots of people win." But until the federal shutdown is over, nobody wins.
The lottery says starting Saturday, it will no longer cash winning tickets. Tickets will be available for purchase, but they won't be honored until the shutdown ends.
The District of Columbia is barred from spending local tax dollars without approval by Congress, and the city government has been using emergency funds to continue functioning during the shutdown. The lottery is funded entirely by revenue from ticket buyers, but lottery director Buddy Roogow says a review of the law has found that the lottery isn't authorized to pay players or vendors without congressional authorization.
Roogow says he's sure some players will be unhappy, and he's "very concerned" about the impact on sales.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
