IN THE NEWS

PEORIA — City Council members had plenty of questions about a proposal to increase fees on video gaming machines within Peoria. 5th District Councilman Denis Cyr criticized the proposed increase, which would double fees from $500 to $1,000 for each machine, noting the...

Look for fast action to raise the minimum wage, legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use and boost child welfare and early school funding. Passing a new state budget will be a slog, with a much-needed capital program wrapped into that process. And while...

A discussion on limiting the number of video gaming licenses in Harvard that was tabled in August is back on the city’s Zoning, Planning and Ordinance Committee’s agenda for a Wednesday meeting. Harvard has 80 video gambling machines across 17 establishments. The idea...

MOLINE — Video gaming establishments in the city face new restrictions that will limit the amount of advertising outside of their businesses. An amendment to the ordinance passed on a 7-0 vote. Alderman Quentin Rodriguez was absent. The changes include: Effective now,...

You can make that eight states where sports bets can be made legally, once Rhode Island officially gets into the game Monday. Twin River Casino, in Lincoln, will launch its sportsbook at 3 p.m. Monday, the facility confirmed in a press advisory. More from Twin River:...

Video gambling has seen significant growth in Illinois, with revenues increasing by more than 75 percent in just the last 3 years, a new state report concludes. The report released last month by the state’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability found...

Hoping to close any loopholes that may be exploited, the Oak Park board of trustees on Nov. 19 voted to ban electronic sweepstakes machines from operating within its village. In 2009, the village approved an ordinance that banned video gaming, however, recent reports...

Full meals used to be on the menu at La Cabana Mexican Restaurant in Melrose Park, but now the small storefront sells only steak tacos. These days, many people come not to eat, but to gamble. Customers will typically spend two to four hours at a time at one of the...