From The State Journal-Register – Child-support deadbeats who like to gamble could be in for a surprise when they try to cash in their winnings.

Gov. Pat Quinn has signed into law a bill that allows gambling winnings to be seized to pay past-due child support. The bill is effective immediately.

Under the bill, larger winnings that are required to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service on form W-2G can be seized to pay overdue child support owed by the gambler. Those winnings include things like $1,200 or more from a slot machine or $600 on a $2 bet on the horses.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services is supposed to provide a list of child-support deadbeats to racetracks and casinos who are supposed to check it before paying out winnings.

Several other states, including Indiana, already seize winnings from gamblers who are past due in child-support payments. Illinois already checks lottery winners to make sure they are not behind in child-support payments.