39,000 gambling addicts in Missouri

Ten years after riverboat casinos debuted in Missouri, there is a new study analyzing gambling addiction in the state. Among the 39,000 problem gamblers, most are located near the clusters of casinos in the state’s urban areas. The highest rate of addiction is in the KC area. One positive finding is that many gambling addicts are taking advantage of Missouri’s self-exclusion system, where people can voluntarily get themselves banned from the casinos. The study was conducted by Harvard University for the Kansas City Port Authority.

• KC Star: Problem gamblers in Missouri total 39,000, study says.
• Complete Harvard study (PDF, Email here to get a password).
• BlogKC: Tenth anniversary of casino gambling in Missouri.