Retailers suffer from Illinois lottery system upgrade



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CHICAGO – The transition from the Illinois lottery to a new central gaming system has posed problems for some retailers, including overpayments to winners.

The ticket validation problem was discovered on February 20 and resolved on the same day, said Illinois Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg, who did not know how much extra money had been awarded.

Stores that have paid incorrect winnings may be reimbursed upon submitting a written error report to the Central Lottery Office in Springfield, said Bill Fleischli, Executive Vice President of Illinois. Petroleum Marketers Association and the Illinois Association of Convenience Stores.

Most retailers only cash winning tickets priced below $ 600, the lottery specified. Winners must otherwise claim prizes in a prize center or contact the lottery directly by mail or telephone.

Some retailers also indicated that they were not able to sell scratch tickets via ATMs, Fleischli said. The problem will only be solved when the machines are replaced, but retailers can sell the tickets through an employee, he said.

Many stores in the Chicago area have received updated machines, but downtown sites are still waiting, Fleischli said. Illinois Lottery officials plan to have the machines replaced by April, he added.

"Some of our members have expressed a concern and I have expressed it in the lottery," Fleischli said. "They work as hard as they can to get these machines up and running."

The problems came as the lottery installed new equipment and launched a new website and app.

"This is one of the biggest technology and business transitions ever undertaken by an American lottery, and we are confident that it will significantly enhance the lottery experience for players and businesses when it is fully implemented," said Schaumburg.

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