Why Prop A is Dangerous for Missouri

By Joseph Day

November’s ballot will contain a highly deceptive and dangerous proposition that will represent one of the largest gambling expansion efforts Missouri has seen in years.

Proposition A seeks to remove Missouri’s unique gambling law, known as the $500 loss limit, which limits the amount of money a patron can buy in for in a two hour period. This unique gambling law is the last remnant of the original gambling deal the people of Missouri approved in 1994.

Prop A is lead by two casinos and they are selling this gambling expansion effort as a means of increasing money for schools. But just like 1994, this proposition is dishonest about school funding.

Prop A funds could be offset by money removed from the general education fund just like 1994. The casinos claim that the proposition has measures to safeguard the money such as mandatory audits. Unfortunately, these safeguards represent the same failed attempts seen in 1994. The Columbia Tribune, on September 10th, quoted Missouri State House Representatives and the State Auditor, as they confirmed Prop A could not stop a recurring shell game.

Even if a shell game could be prevented, the money raised by Prop A only represents a 1.1% increase in the educational budget and only provides a $1.76 per month per student increase. Moreover, according to a report submitted to the Joint Committee on Education Members by the Missouri Senate Minority Caucus on May 12, HALF of Missouri schools will not receive any money at all and an unbelievable 81% of the money collected will not be distributed.

With more deception and dishonesty about school funding, why would anyone want to support Prop A? Supporters claim that at least some money could make its way to schools so there is no harm in supporting the proposition. However, Prop A is highly dangerous for Missourians and must be outright rejected.

First, Prop A removes key law enforcement tools needed to keep Missouri safe. Removal of the loss limit means that terrorists, organized crime members and drug dealers can now launder their money in Missouri casinos because it’s too difficult to launder money $500 at a time. A vote for Prop A is a vote to invite these criminal elements into Missouri, which places everyone in danger.

Also, Missouri casinos use a mandatory ‘players card’ to enforce the loss limit. Prop A removes this mandatory requirement as well as all other mandatory identification. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says these player cards and mandatory identification efforts are critical to solving crimes. Because of these player cards, the Highway Patrol has been able to prevent and solve heinous crimes such as murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and more. A vote for Prop A removes these key law enforcement tools and places Missourians in danger.

Proposition A’s removal of mandatory players cards and identification procedures is also dangerous to one of the most vulnerable groups in Missouri; those with compulsive and pathological gambling disorders.

There are currently over 12,000 people on the Missouri Disassociated Persons List (DAP). These people voluntarily chose to exclude themselves from casinos because in most cases they are compulsive and addicted gamblers. It’s obvious these people are unable to simply stop gambling at the casino or they would not have gone through the lengthy and exhaustive process of putting themselves on this self-exclusion list.

This list is enforceable because each patron must show identification and obtain a players card to enter a Missouri casino. If a person is on the DAP, then the computer systems the casinos use to monitor boarding and chip buy-ins tied to the players card will alert casino employees. This system keeps over 12,000 people from entering the casino and gambling.

To date, no one has proposed any legislation aimed at removing the loss limit that would actually safe guard this system and Proposition A is no different. Once gamblers are allowed to enter the casino floor and purchase chips without having to swipe a players card, there will be absolutely no check on the DAP. If the loss limit is removed 12,000 compulsive and problem gamblers will have instant access to the casinos and will relive the tragedies that compulsive gambling brings.

A new study published in the September 2008 issue of Psychology and Aging, published by the American Psychological Association, has examined why people placed themselves on Missouri’s self-ban lists and the results are quite shocking. The study explained, “Younger, middle-aged and older adults all gave as the primary reasons gaining control, needing help and hitting rock bottom. However, nearly 14 percent of older adults surveyed – a higher proportion than any other group – indicated they sought help because they wanted to prevent themselves from committing suicide.”

Prop A is dangerous for Missourians as it will clearly open the door for problem and pathological gamblers to simply walk into the casino and by their own admission, this could lead to a significant number of Missourians losing their lives to suicide.

Finally, Prop A represents a highly predatory act which seeks to exploit Missouri families and school children in order to advance a massive gambling agenda. The casinos claim that Prop A will generate $100 million dollars in revenue, but fail to explain that $500 million must be lost by Missouri families in order to gain such revenue.

This half a billion dollar massive expansion of gambling effort comes at a time when the economy is in terrible crisis, discretionary income is shrinking because of high gas & fuel prices and people are worried if they will lose their jobs.

Prop A’s predatory nature simply attempts to exploit school children, place Missouri families in danger, and expand gambling. Don’t be deceived. Visit NOonA.com for more information on this dangerous and deceptive proposition.

Joseph Day is an experienced public policy researcher with an in-depth understanding of logic and analytical reasoning. His background in collegiate speech and debate, first as an award-winning participant and later as championship coach, lend to his extensive background in argumentation formation. He utilizes his managerial and teaching skills to provide concrete information to protect families across the nation from the expansion of gambling. Joseph is a graduate of Missouri Southern University. A native of Joplin, Missouri and now resides in St. Louis. He serves as the Director of Research and Analysis for the Casino Watch Committee which is a single-issue, volunteer-driven organization, opposing the expansion of gambling and working to defeat Proposition A on the November ballot. For more information or to join their efforts please visit: www.NOonA.com.