Survey shows nearly one in three Missourians gambled

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Wednesday, July 27, 2005 | 9:42 a.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Nearly one of out every three Missourians gambled in the past year, according to new survey results released Tuesday. But state gambling officials bet the actual figure is much higher.

Last year marked the first time Missourians were asked about gambling as part of the annual behavioral risk survey conducted by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.

The telephone survey asked adults whether they had gambled in the past 12 months, without specifying what activities qualified as gambling. Of the 4,712 people who responded, 1,416 said they had gambled.

After weighting the results to correspond with the demographics of Missouri's adult population, the health department concluded that 32 percent of adults gambled.

But "that's probably a low number," said Kevin Mullally, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission and chairman of the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling.