In just the month of June, the regulars at Jesters in Waukegan lost more than $70,000 playing video poker and slot machines.
The bulk of that — about $50,000 — will be split between the bar and machine operator.
The state rakes in $18,000 of the take.
And the city of Waukegan gets $3,500.
With that kind of money laying on the table, hundreds of bars, truck stops, veterans groups and fraternal organizations are rushing to get a piece of the action since legal video gambling went live last year.
In just the first six months of this year, the amount of money taken in and the number of establishments offering video gaming have more than doubled…Please click here to read Art Golab and Tina Sfondeles’ full story in the Southtown Star.