By Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - Mike Stone doesn't gamble, but he's anxiously waiting to see if legalized casino gambling comes to Kentucky.

Stone is executive director of the Louisville-based Kentucky Council on Problem Gaming, a committee that helps compulsive gamblers identify and deal with gambling addiction.

Facing a cash-starved budget and hungry for new revenue, Kentucky lawmakers will begin early next year debating legislation that would put casino gambling on the statewide ballot.

The council's board of directors, which met Tuesday in Covington, wants to ensure that if casino gambling is legalized, the state legislature provides money for problem gamblers to seek help.

"We are neither for or against gambling," Stone said. "That said, we will review the legislation and proposals to ensure they have a component that addresses the problem of compulsive gambling.

If not, "we deem that as irresponsible, and we will take whatever steps we can to cause a public awareness of that," he said.

Stone has proposed lawmakers spend $4.3 million a year on services that would include public awareness campaigns, counselor training and certification, a telephone help line for gamblers seeking counseling, and prevention efforts.

According to the council's research, Indiana and West Virginia - neighboring states with some form of casino gaming - spent $3.5 million and $1.5 million respectively on problem gaming. It is estimated that gaming could generate $400 million or more in new tax revenue for Kentucky.

There are already about 40,000 problem gamblers in Kentucky, a number that will certainly grow if casinos open here, said council board member Dr. Curtis Barrett.

When gambling expands, more gamblers surface, said Barrett, a clinical psychologist and retired University of Louisville professor who was Kentucky's first recognized compulsive gambling counselor.

"It's not that we have evidence that expanded gambling causes more compulsive gambling," he said. "But we do know it surfaces then. So if we have 40,000 compulsive gamblers now ... we will have more than that as time goes on and more of the severer forms of compulsive gambling."

Stone said the council's board, which met at the offices of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau, wants to increase its outreach and involvement in the region with mental health agencies and experts, community groups, and counselors.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com