JEFFERSON CITY -- Sen. John Loudon, R-West St. Louis County, has been elected vice-chairman of the Missouri General Assembly's Joint Committee on Gaming and Wagering, which oversees the state's gaming industry.

"The impact of legalized gambling on our state has been an interest of mine for many years," said Sen. Loudon, who has served on this committee since his election to the Senate three years ago. "I look forward to the challenge of helping to set the agenda for this committee."

The standing committee - which is composed of five members of the Senate and five members of the House of Representatives - is responsible for legislative review of all state authorized gaming and wagering activities including proposed constitutional and statutory changes or other pertinent information that affects this industry. The committee holds meetings throughout the year.

Customarily, chairmanship of this committee alternates yearly between the House and the Senate. This year, Rep. Bob Johnson, R-Lee's Summit, was elected chairman. Sen. Loudon will assume chairmanship in 2004.

The Missouri Legislature this session is considering 17 bills dealing with the gaming industry, with legislation ranging from lifting the $500 loss limit to modifying the distribution of money from the Gaming Commission Fund.

"Gaming has become big business in Missouri, and as lawmakers it is our responsibility to make certain that the industry sticks to the promises made to Missouri voters when it was approved," Sen. Loudon said.

This session, Sen. Loudon has sponsored legislation that would authorize the Joint Committee on Gaming and Wagering to solicit bids for a university study of pathological gambling in Missouri.

The study would focus on a review of existing policies regarding the prevention and treatment of pathological and problem gambling, and formulate changes to these policies.

Among the areas the study would be required to focus on:

• Information on the economic impact of pathological or serious problem gambling on the state and political subdivisions.
• How much money an individual pathological gambler costs society each year.
• The relationship between crime and gambling.
• The economic impact of gambling on other businesses.
• The demographics of pathological gamblers.
• The costs and effectiveness of state and federal gambling regulatory policies.

"This study should be as impartial as possible," said Sen. Loudon. "Similar studies in other states have indicated that gambling has had a largely detrimental effect. But that could be different in Missouri, that's what we need to find out."