03/26/2026
Every month, thousands of dollars are quietly disappearing from our community through video gambling machines, and almost nobody talks about it. The February 2026 Illinois Gaming Board report shows something crazy: in one month alone, Elgin’s 176 machines ran over $11.8 million. After payouts, fees, and taxes, more than $1.1 million was just gone.
That’s money not going to groceries
Not going to rent
Not going to families
It slips away slowly. A few spins doesn’t feel like much, but it adds up into something way bigger than just entertainment.
Two companies running just 16 machines were tied to over $312,000 in losses in one month. And when you really look at it, it’s not random. These machines are built so the longer you stay, the more you lose.
💔 Why This Matters for Elgin
Video gambling hits people’s stability.
It hits savings
It affects mental health
It takes time away from family and real life
And the worst part is where these machines are placed. Restaurants, bars, everyday spots. You mix stress, boredom, or routine with easy access, and it becomes way easier to fall into.
While people keep losing money, only a small portion comes back to the city. The rest leaves the community.
And the damage doesn’t always look obvious.
It starts small.
Maybe $20 after dinner
Then $50 next time
Then a couple hundred on a bad week
Before someone realizes it, they’re stuck in a cycle they never expected. And worse, it doesn’t just affect them. It affects everyone around them.
Source: Illinois Gaming Board, Feb 2026 report
📍 Offices in West Dundee, Schaumburg & St. Charles
📞 English: (847) 791-4384
📞 Spanish: (815) 219-9849
✅ Private Group Support
✅ Strategies to Break the Cycles of Abuse & Addiction
✅ Real Stories. Real Change.
🌐 www.aboutbehavioralchange.org