RUTGERS-EAGLETON POLL: VOTERS STRONGLY SUPPORT SPORTS BETTING

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1 Eagleton Institute of Politics Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 191 Ryders Lane New Brunswick, New Jersey Fax: FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 19, 2011 EDITOR S NOTE: ATTENTION POLITICAL, ASSIGNMENT EDITORS, Professor David Redlawsk may be contacted at , , ext. 285, or redlawsk@rutgers.edu. Visit for commentary and previous releases. RUTGERS-EAGLETON POLL: VOTERS STRONGLY SUPPORT SPORTS BETTING NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. If the election were today, an amendment to the New Jersey Constitution allowing gambling on sporting events in Atlantic City casinos and at race tracks throughout the state would easily win approval, according to a new. Betting on sports events, which will be on the November 8 general election ballot, is supported by 58 percent of likely voters, while only 31 percent oppose. Among Republicans support is even higher, at 64 percent, while 58 percent of Democrats and 54 percent of independents also favor the measure. While it amends the New Jersey Constitution, this ballot measure will not have any practical effect unless the federal government lifts its ban on sports betting, said poll Director David Redlawsk, a professor of political science at Rutgers University. Nonetheless, New Jerseyans are ready to position New Jersey to take advantage of any change in federal law. Results are from a poll of 903 adults, including a sample of 821 registered voters and 603 likely voters conducted among both landline and cell phone households from Oct The sample of likely voters has a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percentage points, while the registered voter sample has a margin of error of +/-3.5 percentage points. Shore counties most supportive Voters living in the New Jersey Shore counties of Monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic are the state s strongest supporters of gambling on sporting events. Nearly three-quarters of likely Shore voters would support sports gambling, while suburban voters are far behind at 57 percent. Just over half (54 percent) of South Jersey/Camden area voters support the measure, similar to North Jersey urban and exurban voters at 52 percent and 51 percent in favor. Supporters argue sports gambling would provide a much needed economic boost to the gaming industry and bring in new revenue to the state said Redlawsk. The potential for economic benefit seems to overcome any possible doubts in the part of the state that should gain the most. Likely voters in union households are more supportive than those not in unions, 63 percent to 56 percent. Employment status, however, does not appear to have a significant impact on support for sports 1

2 betting. Those employed full time and those not employed at all have the same level of support at 58 percent. Catholics are stronger supporters than Protestants Almost two thirds of Catholic likely voters support sports gambling, while 48 percent of Protestant voters agree. One-quarter of Catholics oppose the measure as do 40 percent of Protestants. Voters who call themselves evangelical or born-again Christians are nearly evenly split; 46 percent opposed and 44 percent in favor. Frequency of attendance at religious services appears more important than any specific religion, with fewer than half (47 percent) of those who attend services at least weekly in favor of allowing betting on sports. Support steadily increases as attendance declines: 58 percent of those who attend almost every week and more than 60 percent of those who attend less often favor the proposal. It s not all that surprising that while Catholics support this proposal, evangelicals are most opposed, said Redlawsk. Economic development needs may well take a back seat to questions of morality among those who are more conservative in their religious traditions. Men and younger voters more likely to support sports betting While more than six-in-10 men support legalized sports betting, only 54 percent of likely women voters agree. One-third are opposed and 13 percent not sure where they stand. Only 28 percent of men oppose the measure and 10 percent are uncertain. Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of younger likely voters supports sports betting while only 23 percent oppose it. Voters at least 65 years old are much more against sports wagering: 48 percent are in favor and 40 percent are against the measure. Assuming the likely passage of the amendment, New Jersey voters will send a strong message to the state s political leaders to continue pressing the federal government for change, said Redlawsk. In this economic environment any reasonable opportunity for significant revenue to the state looks pretty good to voters. ### QUESTIONS AND TABLES BEGIN ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE 2

3 October 6-9, 2011 Questions and Tables Sports Gambling Amendment, October 2011 The questions covered in the release of October 19, 2011 are listed below. Column percentages may not add to 100% due to rounding. Respondents are Registered Voters (RV) or Likely Voters (LV) as indicated. Q. There will be a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that, if passed, will allow gambling on sporting events in Atlantic City casinos and at race tracks. Do you support or oppose allowing betting on sporting events in New Jersey? LV RV ALL Support 58% 57% 57% Oppose 31% 32% 32% DK 12% 11% 11% Unwght N Likely Voters Party ID Ideology Education Dem Ind Rep Lib Middle Conserv HS or Less Some Work Support 58% 54% 64% 53% 59% 59% 58% 62% 58% 52% Oppose 33% 31% 24% 36% 30% 28% 30% 30% 31% 33% DK 9% 14% 12% 12% 11% 12% 12% 8% 11% 15% Unwght N Employment Race Age Full Time Part Time Retired Not Empl White Black Support 58% 60% 53% 58% 61% 49% 72% 58% 59% 48% Oppose 31% 30% 34% 30% 27% 42% 23% 31% 26% 40% DK 12% 10% 13% 12% 12% 9% 5% 11% 16% 12% Unwght N Income Gender Religion > 50K 50K- <100K 100K- <150K 150K+ Male Female Cath Protest Born Again Support 52% 61% 63% 58% 61% 54% 64% 48% 44% Oppose 34% 26% 27% 37% 28% 33% 25% 40% 46% DK 14% 13% 10% 5% 10% 13% 12% 13% 10% Unwght N Religious Service Attendance Union HH Region At least Almost Once a < Phil/ once/wk Weekly month Monthly Yes No Urban Suburb Exurban South Shore Support 47% 58% 65% 62% 63% 56% 52% 57% 51% 54% 72% Oppose 39% 35% 26% 27% 29% 32% 32% 33% 33% 34% 19% DK 14% 7% 10% 12% 8% 13% 17% 9% 15% 12% 9% Unwght N

4 Registered Voters Party ID Ideology Education Dem Ind Rep Lib Middle Conserv HS or Less Some Work Support 57% 55% 64% 54% 56% 62% 56% 61% 58% 51% Oppose 34% 33% 26% 36% 33% 27% 35% 31% 31% 32% DK 9% 13% 10% 10% 11% 11% 9% 8% 11% 16% Unwght N Employment Race Age Full Time Part Time Retired Not Empl White Black Support 61% 52% 55% 52% 61% 48% 72% 56% 56% 50% Oppose 29% 41% 32% 36% 28% 42% 24% 34% 29% 37% DK 11% 8% 13% 12% 12% 10% 4% 11% 15% 13% Unwght N Income Gender Religion > 50K 50K- <100K 100K- <150K 150K+ Male Female Cath Protest Born Again Support 50% 61% 63% 61% 62% 52% 62% 49% 45% Oppose 36% 27% 27% 34% 28% 35% 26% 40% 45% DK 14% 11% 10% 5% 10% 13% 12% 11% 10% Unwght N Religious Service Attendance Union Household Region At least Almost Once a < Phil/ once/wk weekly month Monthly Yes No Urban Suburb Exurban South Shore Support 45% 49% 65% 62% 64% 54% 50% 55% 49% 56% 71% Oppose 41% 42% 25% 27% 27% 34% 34% 34% 38% 33% 21% DK 14% 9% 10% 11% 9% 12% 16% 10% 13% 11% 9% Unwght N October 6-9, 2011 New Jersey Statewide Poll The was conducted by telephone from October 6-9, 2011 with a scientifically selected random sample of 903 New Jersey adults. This sample contains subsamples of 821 registered voters and 603 likely voters used in this release. Data are weighted to represent known parameters in the New Jersey population, using gender, age, race, and Hispanic ethnicity matching to US Census Bureau data. All results are reported with these weighted data. This telephone poll included 723 landline respondents supplemented with 180 cell phone respondents, acquired through random digit dialing. All surveys are subject to sampling error, which is the expected probable difference between interviewing everyone in a population versus a scientific sampling drawn from that population. The sampling error for 603 likely voters is +/-4.0 percentage points, at a 95 percent confidence interval. Thus if 50 percent of New Jersey voters favored a particular position, one would be 95 percent sure that the true figure would be between 54.0 and 46.0 percent (50 +/-4.0) had all New Jersey likely voters been interviewed, rather than just a sample. The sampling error for 821 registered voters is +/-3.5 percentage 4

5 points. Sampling error increases as the sample size decreases, so statements based on various population subgroups are subject to more error than are statements based on the total sample. Sampling error does not take into account other sources of variation inherent in public opinion studies, such as non-response, question wording or context effects. This was fielded by Braun Research Incorporated. The questionnaire was developed and all data analysis was completed in house. The is paid for and sponsored by the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University, a non-partisan academic center focused on the study and teaching of politics and the political process. Weighted Sample Characteristics 821 New Jersey Registered Voters 35% Democrat 48% Male 13% % White 47% Independent 52% Female 44% % Black 18% Republican 23% % Hispanic 19% 65+ 4% Asian 3% Other/Multiracial 5