Most south and southwest suburbs that allow video gambling saw tax revenue generated by the machines increase last year, according to new figures from the Illinois Gaming Board. Most area communities also saw increases in the number of gambling terminals operating in their towns compared with 2015, the data show.
Statewide, 24,841 video gambling terminals were operating at the end of last year, compared with 22,135 at the end of 2015, according to the gaming board. Revenue to the state last year was $277 million, compared with $228 million in 2015.
Around the state and in the south and southwest suburbs, the amount of money put into the machines by bettors was also up. Collectively, throughout the state, customers of establishments that have the gambling terminals poured $4.2 billion into them in 2016, compared with $3.4 billion in 2015, according to the gaming board.