Wesley D. Tracy tells about a woman whom he calls Kate Dowd. That is not her real name, but she is a real person. Kate, a dedicated wife and mother, volunteered at her church, helped with Cub Scouts, tatted lace, and knitted scarves. Then she discovered something that was more exciting than all the rest of her activities combined riverboat gambling. Almost immediately her life was completely changed and not for the better.

Kate would cross the river daily to Illinois and board either the Alton Belle or the River Queen riverboats to indulge in her new passion. Soon she had emptied the family bank account and pawned her wedding ring. She was still gambling when the house payment was 17 months behind.

“The day they came to repossess the house, gambling lost its charm. She drove her 1988 Old…