An effort is being launched in the State Senate to fund an independent study aimed at determing whether gambling has a positive or negative impact on cities and towns as well as the people of Missouri. Senator John Loudon of Ballwin sponsors the move. He believes there is a sociatal cost to gambling, including dealing with people who lose all their money and commit crimes. Loudon says studies paid for by the gaming industry stress the benefits of the casinos while studies sponsored by opponents show the opposite. He wants an independent study to get to the truth.
