As reported by the Kansas City Star: “A plan to significantly shorten
Missouri’s lifetime self-ban from casinos for troubled gamblers failed to
win approval Wednesday from the Missouri Gaming Commission. But the idea is
not dead. “The shorthanded commission, meeting in Maryland Heights, Mo.,
voted 2-1 for a proposal to allow a minimum two-year ban before gamblers
could apply for reinstatement and admission to the state’s riverboat
casinos. “.More than 10,000 Missourians have placed themselves on the list
since it was established in 1996. Those caught violating the ban can be
arrested and prosecuted for trespassing. The ban also forces violators to
forfeit any jackpots they win. “The proposal would have given those on the
list an opportunity to switch to the two-year minimum ban. Under the plan
gamblers could petition the commission to be removed from the list if they
met certain requirements for counseling and self-education. “Missouri’s
self-exclusion program was the first in the nation and has been copied by
other states that do offer a menu of self-banning options, which is the
approach favored by the National Council on Problem Gambling.”

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