The opening up of the US state of Illinois to gaming machines is ready to go and is held up only by bureaucracy, according to InterGame sources.
The use of video poker or slots in the US state has the potential to reach sales of 45,000, located in bars, restaurants, social clubs and truck stops. The state would expect to receive around $600m in taxes each year from the games.
The Illinois Gaming Board has issued licences, but one of the conditions is that the supplier must be based in Illinois or must have operated in the state for at least four years.
Some amusement machine operators in the state have switched the direction of their business to take advantage of the gaming potential, but despite legalising gaming a year ago, the state’s gaming authorities have not moved quickly enough with the paperwork for any of the machines to be installed. All of the major manufacturers of machines from outside of the state have appointed distributors to handle their equipment and those suppliers have gone through the licensing process.
"Everyone is now waiting," said one supplier. "All of the amusement operators have stopped buying games in favour of holding on to their money to open up new gaming locations. It will cost upwards of $65,000 to set up each location with new online machines."
