When video gambling in bars became legal in Illinois last Sept. 13, establishments had 61 machines up and running. Leveque's Corner Inn in St. Anne was one of them.
By the end of that month, gamblers inserted $263,616 into those machines and lost $90,071. The state's share, about 25 percent, was a modest $22,607.
Waiting in the wings, however, were thousands of other bars, taverns and gas stations looking to plug in and cash out.
The numbers jumped up exponentially and each subsequent month saw the number of machines, wages and tax revenue increase.
By January, there were 3,379 machines statewide. People had spent $32,422,646 and lost $9,780,807.
Around town, signs advertising video gaming popped up everywhere, eclipsing even the neon beer signs that have long been associated with the local tavern.
By July, the number of machines more than doubled and is likely to nearly triple by the first anniversary of legalized video gambling.
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