Lottery Winner Told to Lie

ILLINOIS – As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times: "Ron Smith was surprised to learn in August that he was banned from claiming a $995 Illinois Lottery prize because he had been working a security job with the state agency that oversees horse tracks.

"He continued to be amazed a couple of weeks later when a Lottery staffer called and asked him if he wanted to travel to Springfield and claim the cash on an apparent wink-and-nod basis. A telephone message later left at his house told him he could get the cash in Des Plaines, closer to his Will County house.

"Smith, a retired suburban police chief, declined.

"…Smith, 57, said he can't remember exactly who made him the first offer to 'bring somebody in, sign over the ticket to them and we'll pay you the money.'

"…The employee, he said, sounded like she was trying to be accommodating when it comes to dealing with gambling rules that seem to defy logic for more than 2,000 Revenue Department employees.

"…The restrictions on who can gamble where (see chart) were compounded in 2003 by Gov. Blagojevich's decision to consolidate operations of the state Racing Board and Lottery -- along with the state Liquor Control Commission -- into the Revenue Department to attempt to save millions of dollars.

"That makes the Lottery off limits to all 2,050 Revenue Department employees -- something Smith said he wasn't aware of when he took his Racing Board job July 1, though he recalled signing a pledge that stated he would not bet at state horse tracks or own a horse in Illinois…"