New Poll Shows US Public Favors Casino Gambling

A new nationwide poll was released on June 10, 2014, which shows that American voters across the vast political spectrum view casino gaming more favorably than ever before, recognizing that the casino industry generates jobs and strengthens local businesses and communities. The poll wasa bipartisan effort, conducted by Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, CEO of the Mellman Group, and Republican pollster Glen Bolger, founder and partner of Public Opinion Strategies. 

The results of the poll have been released at an opportune time, when state policymakers are poised to reconsider punitive gaming taxes, inefficient regulations and other threats to casinos. 

Main Findings

The main findings of the poll are:

• American voters view casino gaming favorably in a 2:1 ratio
• More than 70% of voters recognize that casinos generate jobs
• Almost 60% of voters recognize that casinos boost economies
• A majority of voters polled say that casinos should NOT pay more taxes than any other businesses

Mellman commented on the findings, "Across partisan, ideological and geographic divisions, the vast majority agree that gaming is acceptable." 

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA, also commented, "Voters recognize that casinos are a mainstream form of entertainment and an economic driver that supports jobs and boosts growth in communities across the nation." 

The Typical Casino Visitor

The poll also depicted what the typical casino visitor looks like - and some of the findings are surprising. The results show that the typical visitor is:

• A homeowner
• Aged 21-59
• Middle class (earning $60-$99k/year)
• A college graduate
• Religious

"Casino visitors are a portrait of the American electorate, and voters are giving policy-makers permission to treat casinos like any other business," Freeman elaborated. "The AGA will aggressively pave the way for policies that reflect voters' favorable view of gaming, protects jobs and promotes innovation."