The Illinois General Assembly passed the Video Gaming Act in 2009 and the first terminals in the state were switched on in September 2012. By August 31, 2017, the state had collected nearly billion, and another 0 million in video gambling tax has been distributed to municipalities.
In the same period, the number of video terminals in DeKalb County has grown to 285. Video gambling revenue has totaled $8.1 million for the state, and municipalities within the county have collected more than $1.6 million, according to the Illinois Gaming Board. Bettors in DeKalb County wagered a total of $11.6 million and have lost net terminal income of $914,000, with 30 percent going to the state and 70 percent split between the machine operator and the business.
DeKalb City Manager Anne Marie Gaura said the city will take in about $205,000 this year from the terminals, a 30 percent increase over last year. The revenue goes into the city’s general fund, which funds general operations, including police, fire and public works.
According to the Illinois Gaming Board, no municipality in DeKalb County has banned video gambling, but 10 have passed ordinances regulating the terminals.
Derick Ibarra, a partner in a business that operates video cafés in DeKalb and Sycamore, said, “It’s grown quicker than expected.” He added, “People always grow tolerant. Now no one bats an eye.”
