Casinos pay most of gambling-addict study

Since the gambling industry arrived in Missouri, more than 3,600 gambling addicts have voluntarily placed themselves on a list that effectively bans them for life from entering any of the Show Me State's casinos.

Now a three-year study will try to assess the self-banning program and its follow-up counseling. In particular, the study will attempt to learn how many of the gambling addicts manage to get back into casinos.

The $375,000 study will be funded mostly by contributions from casinos along with $75,000 in state money. Given the financial stakes for problem gamblers, it would seem appropriate if the casinos footed the whole bill.