CHICAGO – Video gambling went live in 65 Illinois bars and restaurants on Tuesday, more than three years after lawmakers approved it as a way to help raise billions to help fix schools and roads.

The Illinois Gaming Board has licensed a total of 341 businesses and fraternal and veteran organizations – though not all have their terminals installed yet – and is processing more than 2,200 other applications, gambling officials said.

"The IGB's staff has done a tremendous job to ... bring this new industry to Illinois," board Chairman Aaron Jaffe said in a written statement. All sites and operators must undergo a background check.