DARIEN, IL – Darien collected nearly $285,000 in video gambling money last year, excluding December.

That number is 9 percent above the income during the entire year of 2021, which was almost $260,000.

Overall, though, 2022’s income was nearly 30 percent higher than 2019’s, according to state numbers.

In Illinois, 5 percent of video gambling proceeds go to local governments.

Eleven restaurants and bars in Darien have video gambling machines. The top five city tax generators in 2022, excluding December, were Stella’s ($63,527), Dotty’s ($50,634), Zazzo’s Pizza ($35,306), Q Bar ($30,306) and Darien VFW ($26,623).

Darien has used sources such as video gambling money to help keep its property tax levy the same for more than a decade. In 2020, gambling tax collections plunged in Darien, with the city getting $136,324. Because of the pandemic, the state suspended video gambling for five months that year.

Many suburbs do not allow video gambling. They include Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, La Grange, Western Springs and Elmhurst.

Here’s what Darien collected in video gambling money over the last decade:

2022 $283,624*
2021 $259,894
2020 $136,324
2019 $219,586
2018 $186,456
2017 $157,906
2016 $141,869
2015 $120,315
2014 $42,558
2013 $2,032

* December 2022 not yet reported.

Source: Illinois Gaming Board

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January 9, 2023 at 03:49PM