As business owners continue struggling to fill the seats of their restaurants and pubs, many see the promised economic boost of video gaming machines as a must.

“When they tell you you could make $75,000 in additional money, I have no reason not to do it,” said John Macrito, owner of Corkscrew Pointe in McHenry. “Even if I make half of that, that’s more than I’m making now.”

The gambling machines cleared by the state in July 2009 have been going through a town-by-town examination during the last few months. Just which McHenry County communities will be allowing the machines is still shaking out, but many area business owners already have entered into agreements with terminal operators of the machines, even before knowing whether they’ll ultimately be able to place them.