More Missourians seeking help for problem gambling

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- More problem gamblers are calling a hotline and asking to be permanently banned from the state's casinos, as efforts to educate the public about the programs expand.

The number of calls to the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling's hotline last year jumped 64 percent, to 2,846. That was the largest annual increase since the service began in 1995.

There were 1,738 calls to the gambling hotline in 2000 and 1,034 in 1999.

Also, a record 1,397 applicants sought to bar themselves from casinos in Missouri for life under threat of arrest for trespassing. There were 1,094 gamblers who agreed to that action in 2000 and 595 in 1999.

Research studies have shown that the number of problem gamblers remains fairly stable at around 5 percent of the total population.

Melissa Stephens, problem gambling programs administrator for the Missouri Gaming Commission, said the increases appear to be driven by better public education and more publicity about how people can get help.

"We have expanded our outreach" with more advertising, a speakers bureau that meets with community groups, new programs that focus on youth and college-age gamblers and other initiatives, she said.