Online Slots News

Illinois Officials to Review Proposal on Allowing Truck Stops and VFWs to Offer Slot Machines

Legislators in the state of Illinois modified the Video Gaming Act law of the state on May 26th, 2010, permitting truck stops and VFW facilities to offer slot machines. The measure received the approval of both legislative houses of Illinois and it is widely anticipated that Governor Pat Quinn will sign the proposal into law.

Originally, in the bill that was approved in 2009, only liquor-licensed facilities, like bars and taverns, could offer slot machines their customers. Local counties are still contemplating on whether or not to join into the plan, which could give the state of Illinois more than thirty thousand slot machines outside the riverboat casinos of the state.

Janney Montgomery Scott gaming analyst Brian McGill estimated that Illinois had some eight hundred truck stops and VFW halls, which could add another 4,000 slot machines to the mix.

McGill said that it still remains to be seen whether Chicago will approve video gaming machines. He said that it is widely believed that Chicago will allow the machines, but that a decision may not come until the after the election.

McGill said that the news was a positive one for slot machine manufacturers like International Game Technology, WMS Industries and Bally Technologies, which are looking to market games into the Illinois gaming industry.

Illinois has one other gambling proposal pending into the legislature, which would permit 2,100 slot machines to be operated at Illinois' horse racing tracks.

 

Wednesday, 09 June 2010
Theo Evans