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Poll gauges support for legalized gambling
Monday, March 08, 1999 By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Urban voters, Catholics and men who are registered as Democrats are among the groups that are more likely to support legalized riverboat casino gambling in Pennsylvania, according to a new survey conducted by the Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.
Support increased 10 percent when gambling proceeds were linked to increased funding for education, the study by the Tioga County university found.
Those findings are reported by The 11th Annual Public Mind Survey: Views of Pennsylvania Citizens. A total of 2,445 Pennsylvania residents were polled between Feb. 14 and March 5.
The state Senate is expected to vote today on whether the question should be put to voters in a nonbinding referendum on the May 18 ballot.
That ballot question asks voters if they favor slot machines at racetracks and video poker machines in taverns, besides riverboat casino gambling.
Half of the 2,445 people polled were asked: "Do you favor or oppose the legalization of riverboat casino gambling?" A total of 44 percent said "yes."
Others were asked whether they favored legalization if proceeds were used to benefit education. The "yes" response increased to 53 percent.
Support for legalized gambling remains stronger in the Pittsburgh area - 60 percent - than in other regions of the state. About 54 percent of Philadelphia area residents support it.
Male Democrats - 64 percent - are the strongest supporters. Only 40 percent of female Republicans favor it.
Catholics - 57 percent - supported gambling more than those of other religious preferences.
The survey found that support was related to age: 61 percent of those younger than 35 favored the gambling for education proposal while 44 percent older than 65 did.
The sample was provided by Survey Samp Inc. It was based upon listed telephone numbers in Pennsylvania. The sampling error was plus or minus three percentage points.
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