Illinois Tests Video Gambling Network
Video gambling is coming to Illinois, last week state regulators switched on five machines to test its centralised computer system ahead of a state-wide rollout.
Video gambling is coming to Illinois, last week state regulators switched on five machines to test its centralised computer system ahead of a state-wide rollout.
According to an Illinois Gaming Board spokesman, bars, restaurants and truck stops will all introduce video gambling within the next few weeks.
Gene O’Shea said that “the central system is working, and all the machines are talking to each other, there will be a full launch as soon as (we) are confident that all the kinks have been worked out.”
The regulation process has taken years to complete but it is finally done and regulators have now approved requests for about 175 locations, each of which can have up to five machines.
It is thought that up to $534 million revenue will be made each year from at least 45,000 machines across the state.
Machines can only be placed in businesses where customers are 21 years old and above.
Gamblers must insert cash into the machines and choose from several games, and winnings are printed out on a voucher which can be redeemed for cash on the spot.
25% of the profits will go to the state and 5% to local communities. The rest will be divided between machine operators and business owners.
