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Video Gaming Plateaus, Faces Restrictions

As of last month, there were more than 19,000 video gaming terminals across Illinois. But it appears things are leveling off after three years of growth. Still, the machines are a major revenue generator for the state and local governments. In fact, the state’s share from video gaming recently passed $276 million.

Credit Illinois Gaming Board
Video Gaming Terminal Tax Distribution (January 2012 - February 2015)

There are more than 400 machines in Rockford alone. The City Council is keeping an eye on a measure in Springfield that would allow municipalities and counties to limit new machines and their locations. Another proposalwould require businesses to reach a certain percentage of food and beverage sales before they could get a gaming license. The intent is to limit pop-up parlors that focus more on gaming and less on serving customers. DeKalb-area Representative Bob Pritchard:

Credit Illinois Gaming Board

“Gaming of any sort is a form of recreation and should be allowed under a free economy, but we should not overly encourage it or make it so easy that people that are vulnerable and don’t have resources that they can lose would be risking them and losing them and therefore creating more demand for public services to help their financial situation.”

Credit Illinois Gaming Board
Statewide Allocation Summary

Speaking earlier this month in DeKalb, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner said he is not a fan of gaming, but says he’ll work on a bipartisan basis to figure out a workable plan. 

“I personally don’t gamble. I am not a fan of gaming, but it’s here and it’s not going away, and states around us do it. I believe in local control of these kinds of issues."

Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" from the Illinois Associated Press and recipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.
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