Ill. Video gambling revenues doubled in 2014

State and local revenue from video gambling more than doubled last year as the industry continued its lightning fast expansion.

According to the Illinois Gaming Board, state revenue from the machines topped $164.8 million in 2014, up from $75.1 million in 2013. Municipalities received $32.9 million, compared to $15 million the year before.

The money flowed in as gamblers poured more than $2.4 billion into the machines over the 12-month period, winning $1.7 billion of that back. Five percent of the revenue goes to cities, towns and counties, while 25 percent goes to the state…Please click here to read Kurt Erickson Lee’s story in the Times.