A new report shows that Illinois' fledgling video gambling industry brought in more than $346,000 in revenue for the state in October.
The Illinois Gaming Board's monthly report shows that the state's October take came from nearly $18 million in wagers at 714 machines across Illinois. Local governments where the gambling is offered got nearly $70,000.
Lawmakers approved video gambling in 2009 to help fund a $31 billion construction program to fix schools, roads, bridges and other projects, but it didn't get under way until this year. In September, the first month for which reports are available, the state took in $22,607 from 61 active machines. Gambling officials say there could be as many as 75,000 machines statewide within a year.
When it was approved, officials estimated that video gaming would raise about $375 million a year for the state. Updated projections have not been released.
