Brief: Indiana gamblers losing more

Monday, Nov. 30, 1998 | 11:27 a.m.

That's the conclusion of The Indianapolis Star newspaper, which calculated that each gambler lost an average $77 per visit, up about $6 or 8 percent from 1996.

Each gambler stayed nearly four hours, a quarter-hour longer than two years ago, the newspaper said.

The gambling industry is just three years old in Indiana and gaming company officials say the increased gambling losses are proof that casinos are an appealing form of recreation.

Others see a dark side -- that some gamblers are losing control and developing addictions.

Gov. Frank O'Bannon's Gambling Impact Study Commission in December is expected to fund studies on gambling in Indiana, including research on problem gambling issues like whether increased gamgling has led to more bankruptcies and suicides.

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