State Senator Jason Barickman/WJEZ file photo

State Senator Jason Barickman says it’s time to take a look at the number of gambling machines currently operating in Illinois. According to a new report, video gambling is more popular than ever in Illinois, with 30,000 machines operating statewide. Given that number, Barickman says it’s time for the General Assembly to take a look at the growth of the video gambling industry. Barickman says it’s hard to determine what might be done, though, because local and state leaders like the revenues generated by the machines. A report from the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability says the state’s video gaming industry is generating revenues in the billions of dollars.