By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The list of those voluntarily banning themselves from Missouri's riverboat casinos has jumped 15 percent over the past year to nearly 9,000 people.
While the Missouri Gaming Commission attributes the increase to education and outreach efforts, gambling opponents say it's an indication that more people are becoming gambling addicts.
Under terms of the program, those who suffer from compulsive gambling can add their names to a list of people prohibited from visiting the state's eleven casinos.
As part of the program, casinos are prohibited from marketing to anyone on the list.
A Harvard study indicates that about 1.5 percent of the adult population shows symptoms of pathological gambling.