Penn National Gaming is seeking additional slot routes in Illinois. The company already purchased Prairie State Gaming there, which operates 1,100 terminals at about 270 locations. Penn National President Tim Wilmott said, “We bought about five percent of the Illinois market, which I think is about a billion-dollar market at its current run rate. We certainly want to get a bigger platform there and then look at other jurisdictions.”
In Illinois, thousands of slot cafes have opened throughout the state, with terminals primarily located at bars and restaurants, truck stops and fraternal organizations. The cafes have had a significant impact on casino revenue.
Wilmott noted in Illinois, Penn is “aggressively talking to all the major operators. We’re going to get something done this year. I just can’t tell you when, but we are going to get there because we like this business.” He added expanding Penn’s slot route businesses depends on a finding a “willing seller” and negotiating an “appropriate price.”
