South and southwest suburban communities have seen a substantial jump in their cut of the tax revenue that video gambling is generating, and the numbers are expected to keep rising, albeit not indefinitely.
Along with bars, restaurants and fraternal organizations installing video terminals, companies that operate so-called gambling “cafes” are filling up vacant slots in some regional shopping centers. And as the numbers of establishments and machines grow, co-owners of businesses that operate such cafes in the Southland say there is plenty of room for more players at the table.
“It’s still a really young, growing industry.”