Tuesday, January 02, 2007

For the first time in several years, the Missouri Gaming Commission has
begun expanding its list of people banned from area casinos. While the
commission's "exclusion list" was once oriented toward cheaters and
organized crime members, it will now include criminals such as two men
recently convicted of felony theft, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The two carpet installers gambled away money they had received as payment
for services they never performed. The commission voted last month to ban
them. "If a judge puts somebody on probation and there is some link to
gambling, then we will look at that and consider putting them on the
exclusion list," said Gene McNary, executive director of the state group. If
those on the list are found on the premises of any Missouri casinos, they
can immediately be charged with trespassing, a Class B misdemeanor. The
commission is also looking into strengthening the penalty attached to
violations, the newspaper said.