The state’s gaming interests have found a captive audience for their latest initiative petition: gamblers.

As our Jeff City bureau chief, Virginia Young, reporter earlier, the Secretary of State’s office has approved the wording for a ballot question that would rescind the requirement that gamblers in Missouri casinos cannot buy more than $500 chips every two hours.

The casinos have until May 4 to get between 140,00 and 150,000 signatures to put the question before voters.

I have already seen signature gatherers on the City Hall steps, and they are probably outside other government buildings across the state.

Signature collectors this weekend were also at Lumiere Place, the new downtown casino. The location makes sense: Who would be more interested than casino patrons in getting rid of some of the restrictions placed on gambling in Missouri?

But what’s interesting is that instead of focusing their pitch on the changes in the wagering laws - telling gamblers, for instance, that they would be able to spend as much as they want without having to tote an ID card around - the signatures gathers at Lumiere Place stuck to the same appeal about how the initiative would help education.

Labeling the effort “Yes for Schools First,” the casinos have sought to highlight the portion of the initiative that would increase states taxes - from 20 percent to 21 percent - on casino revenues.

I wonder how many gamblers passed up signing the petition thinking it had something to do with schools, while grumbling about the loss limit that keeps them from betting more money at the tables.

At Lumiere Place, the house wants your money — and your signature