It has taken Illinois three years to bring video gambling into effect after the legislature make it legal. (Photo courtesy flickr)

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO - The Illinois Gaming Board says video poker machines have been activated at 65 bars, restaurants and other locations throughout Illinois.

The board released a statement yesterday announcing the long-anticipated start of video gaming. It says it's processing license applications for more than 2,200 other establishments, including fraternal organizations and truck stops. Each site must undergo a background check.

The manager of Chino's Pizzeria in the Chicago suburb of Justice says the restaurant's three machines came on around 11:30 a.m. yesterday.

Jeff Glover says he'd just finished mopping when he saw the machines lit up as actual games, instead of with the ``out of service'' message.

The state approved video gambling in 2009 to help fund a $31 billion construction program to fix schools, roads and other transportation projects.