CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois lottery winners who weren't paid because of the state's budget impasse have filed a lawsuit contending they are owed interest accrued during the months winning tickets weren't honored.

Thomas Zimmerman, attorney for the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court, told the Chicago Tribune he estimates interest accrued on withheld lottery winnings to be about $1.5 million.

Lottery officials didn't return a request Friday for comment.

Illinois stopped paying out winnings of more than $25,000 on July 1. A lawsuit was filed by lottery winners in September. In October, Illinois halted all payments on winnings of more than $600 .

Payments resumed in December after Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Democrats agreed to release $3.1 billion for municipal 911 centers and lottery winners.

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