Local and state video gaming bounces back after COVID

QUINCY — Video gaming revenue in the state of Illinois has now exceeded what it was before industry was completely shut down for six months between March 2020 and January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And Quincy and Adams County have bounced back in a big way.

Data released last month in the annual Wagering in Illinois update issued by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Quincy and Adams County now have 125 businesses operating 538 video gaming terminals. Those machines generated $24.7 million in Net Terminal Income (NTI) during Fiscal Year 2022, which the state classifies as July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

During the 12-month period from March 2019 to February 2020, the last full month before the state shut down the industry in March because of COVID, Quincy and Adams County had 89 businesses with 312 video gaming terminals. Those machines generated a little more than $14 million during that span.

Of the $24.7 million of gaming revenue generated during FY22 in Quincy and Adams County, $8.4 million was taxed with $7.2 million going to the State of Illinois, about $1 million to the City of Quincy and about $200,000 to Adams County.