RIVERBOAT RESULTS

The latest figures from Missouri's riverboat casinos indicate a trend that lends a good deal of credence to the state gaming commission's cautious approach to licensing more gambling spots along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Several months ago the gaming commission said it wouldn't authorize any more riverboat licenses until it had some feel for the saturation level of gambling in the state.

November's riverboat reports, the latest figures available, show declines, both in the number of gamblers going to the boats and in the gross profits recorded by the casinos.

There are no ready explanations. Some say November is traditionally an off month for gamblers, even though a year before the new riverboats were booming. Others suggest gamblers are being lured to casinos in other states by higher loss limits. This argument contends that too many gamblers see Missouri's $300-per-visit loss limit as too restrictive -- although most gamblers surely go to casinos in the hopes of winning, not losing.

These figures no doubt will be scrutinized by gaming commission analysts and the commissioners themselves as they consider their next move on additional requests for riverboat licenses. There are several applications pending, and there are more applications to be submitted -- including Boyd Gaming Corp.'s plans for a riverboat in Cape Girardeau. All of these proposals are in limbo until a decision is reached on how much gambling the state can profitably support.

Meanwhile, the state is recognizing the need for trained counselors to work with people who have gambling compulsions and other casino-related problems. Missouri's first group of trained psychologists and social workers has been certified, and the General Assembly will be asked to fund additional training early next year.

The news from the riverboats isn't all bleak, of course. Millions of dollars have been added to state and local coffers from the gambling operations. The questions for the future are how big and how consistent this revenue stream will be as governmental units become accustomed to it.