background memo will appear in Sunday s Star-Ledger. Other A story based on the survey findings presented in this release and RELEASE INFORMATION RELEASE: SL/EP12-4 EP62-4) ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 1986 CONTACT: BOB CARTER I.tJ11E1?.S Eagletori Institute of Polihcs New Brunswick New Jersey 08901 201/828-2210 August 16 from 201) 932-3605 Rutgers Feature Phone). ATTENTION RADIO STATIONS: Audio is available after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, -more- that the proportion who say they buy a lottery ticket at least once a week has Jersey lottery at some time, a substantial increase from four years ago, and The survey also finds that nearly 8-in-b residents have played the New resort city. City will be known only for gambling rather than as a major convention and And, for the first time, a majority now believes that in the future Atlantic it has benefitted only the casino-hotels and not Atlantic City s residents. are in favor of it. However, while two-thirds of the public continues to feel reveals that support for legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City has The survey, conducted between July 11 and 21 with 800 residents, also gambling in Atlantic City, with about one-in-three favoring the idea while an equal number are opposed, according to the latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll. New Jerseyans are evenly split over whether the state should allow 24 hour Lottery Most Popular Form ofgambling casino gambling has been good for the state, there is a growing perception that increased to the point where more than three-fourths of the state s residents Residents Evenly Split On 24 Hour Gambling; Gambling in the Garden State: the Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll We ask users to properly attribute this copyrighted information to Electronic media may release after 6:00 p.m. Saturday, August 16. newspapers may also use this information in their Sunday editions.!jehc tar-icbgcf/eagleton POLL I / THE STAT! Lt JEPT Y C NEW JEPV
The state legislature is considering a proposal which would allow 24 hour legalized gambling is a good way for state government to raise revenue. more than doubled since 1982. In addition, an overwhelming majority agrees EP62-4 SL/EP12-4) Page 2 2 -more- answers or offer no opinion. A virtually identical number--64 percent--say only 14 percent feel it has been bad. The remaining 20 percent give mixed addition, 66 percent think casino gambling has been good for the state, while has gone from 64 percent in 1979 to the current high point of 77 percent. In who are opposed by more than 5-to-i. The proportion favoring casino gambling that those who favor legalized gambling in Atlantic City now outnumber those Support for casino gambling has increased gradually over the years such indifference or indecision about allowing 24 hour gambling. Carter added, These mixed feelings may in part help explain the public s especially in terms of the consequences for Atlantic City and its residents. that casino gambling has not fulfilled all of the early expectations, of the state that most residents feel has brought positive benefits, and is a source of state pride. On the other hand, there is also a growing perception Atlantic City. On the one hand, it definitely is perceive.d as a unique feature seems to hold increasingly ambivalent attitudes towards casino gambling in Bob Carter, associate director of the poll, commented, Overall, the public than women 26 percent favor ). Statewide, thirty-five percent would favor 24 hour gambling while an equal opinion. Men are substantially more supportive of the idea 46 percent favor ) gambling in the Atlantic City casinos for a fifteen month trial period. number--34 percent--are opposed; the remaining 30 percent offer no firm
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EP62-4 SL/EPI2-4) Page 3 casino gambling has been good for the state s image, how others see New Jersey. For the first time, a majority of New Jerseyans do not believe that Atlantic City will become a major convention and resort city. A 1982 survey found more who thought Atlantic City would become a major convention and resort city centered around gambling 49 percent) than felt it would come to be known only for gambling 44 percent). The current survey, however, reveals that those who believe the city will be known only for gambling now outnumber those who feel it will become a major convention center and resort by 19 points 54 to 35 percent)--a substantial shift of 24 points over four years. In addition, residents who think casino gambling has been good only for the casino-hotels now outnumber those who believe it has been good for both the casinos and the residents of Atlantic City by a very wide 42 point margin 67 to 25 percent). A survey taken four years ago showed a much narrower 29 point gap, with 59 percent feeling gambling primarily benefitted the casinos, compared to 30 percent who thought casinos. it was good for both residents and the Most New Jerseyans do have some direct knowledge of and experience with gambling in Atlantic City. Nearly eighty percent have been to Atlantic City since gambling was legalized, and two-thirds say they have actually gambled at a casino on at least one occasion. To varying degrees, clear majorities of the public agree with arguments which have been made both for and against 24 hour gambling in Atlantic City. Specifically, --three-fourths agree 24 hour gambling would create more jobs in Atlantic City, and that it would generate more tax revenue for the state. -more-
EPG2-4 SL/EP12-4) Page 4 --71 percent agree that 24 hour gambling would make Atlantic City more of a gambling center and less like a family resort. --slightly more than 60 percent each agree 24 hour gambling would lead to more crime in Atlantic City and that it would worsen the problem of compulsive gambling. --6-in-b say 24 hour gambling would generate more tourism and 53 percent agree that would attract new investments in Atlantic City. it Playing lotteries is the most popular form of gambling among New Jerseyans, with 72 percent saying they bought a lottery ticket in the last year. Among other kinds of gambling, the survey finds that in the last year... --46 percent have gambled at an Atlantic City casino. --23 percent have bet on a live horse race or dog race; 6 percent have bet on a simulcast of a horse race. --between 15 and 18 percent have bet on a card game, played bingo, or bet on a sporting event. The popularity of the New Jersey Lottery has increased substantially over the past four years. Nearly 8-in-iD residents say they have played the lottery at some time, compared to 56 percent in 1982. More than half of the public--54 percent--say they have played the lottery in the last month, while only 21 percent have never bought a New Jersey lottery ticket. The frequency with which New Jerseyans play the lottery has also increased dramatically, with 40 percent saying they buy a lottery ticket at least once a week, a figure which has more than doubled since 1982. Fully seventy percent of New Jerseyans think collecting tax revenue from various forms of legalized gambling is a good way for state government to raise money, while only 18 percent think it is bad. The remainder offer no firm opinion. -30- Copyright, The Eagleton Institute/Newark Star-Ledger, 1986
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The latest Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll was conducted between July 11 and 21, 1986, The questions and figures referred to in this release are as follows: account other possible sources of error inherent in any study of public opinion. scientific sample taken from that population. Sampling error does not take into difference in results between interviewing everyone in a population versus a ±3.5 percent at a 95 percent confidence interval. Sampling error is the probable telephone. Figures presented for the total sample of 800 have a sampling error of when a random sample of New Jerseyans, 18 years and older) was interviewed by BACKGROUND MEMO--RELEASE SL/EP12-4 EP62-4). SUNDAY. AUGUST. 17. 1986 I?..IJ TGERS Eagleton Institute of Politics New Brur,swick New Jersey 08901 201 828-2210 Good Bad Difference Opinion Total And has casino gambling been good or bad for the state s image--how others see New Good Bad Difference Opinion Total jjft Do you think Atlantic City will become a major convention and resort city centered Do you think that gambling has been good for both the casinos and the people who THE STATE UNPJEPSIIV cc NPW JET?V 1982 30 59 11 100 603) 1986 25% 67% 8% 100% 800) Everyone Only Don t Know Total Casinos Other/ live in Atlantic City, or has it really only been good for the casino-hotels? 1982 49 44 7 100 603) 1984 41 47 12 100 500) 1986 35% 54% 11% 100% 800) Convention Only Don t Know Total jfl Resort/ Gambling around gambling, or do you think in the years to come it will be known only for gambling? 1984 63 13 13 11 100 500) 1986 64% 16% 13% 7% 100% 800) Both/No No Jersey? 1982 58 20 13 9 100 603) 1980 58 23 11 8 100 601) 1984 68 12 9 11 100 499) 1986 66% 14% 11% 9% 100% 800) Both/No No Overall, do you think casino gambling has been good or bad for the state 1980 68 26 6 100 601) 1986 77% 14% 8% 99% 800) 1982 72 22 6 100 603) 1979 64 30 6 100 1003) Favor ODpose Don t Know Total jjfl Are you in favor or opposed to legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City? Utlic tar-icbgcr/eagleton POLL
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Have you been to Atlantic City since gambling was legalized? 1984 71 29 100 500) 1982 63 37 100 603) Have you ever gambled in one of the casinos? 1986 78 21 99% 800) Yes No Total --Women 26 39 5 29 99 400) Sex --Men 46 28 5 21 100 400) --North 33 34 7 26 100 397) --South 36 35 3 26 100 194) --Central 39 35 4 23 101 209) Regi on Total 35% 34% 5% 25% 99% 800) Favor Oppose Depends No Opinion Total gambling in Atlantic City, or don t you have an opinion? for a 15 month trial period. In general, would you favor or oppose 24 hour New Jersey is considering allowing 24 hour gambling in the Atlantic City casinos. 1986 53 19 12 10 6 100% 800) 1982 56 19 11 11 4 101 603) None Once Twice 3 to 5 6 or more Total jjfl City Casino? In the last 12 months about how many times have you been gambling in an Atlantic Region: North 63%); Central 67%); South 71%) Age: 18-29 60%); 30-49 68%); 50 + 70%) Income: Less than $15,000 56%); $15 to $30,000 71%); over $30,000 70%) Education: Less than H.S. 64%); high school grad 69%); more than H.S. 65%) reporting having gambled in Atlantic City on at least one occasion. Note: Entries below are the percentage of each group in the current survey 1982 49 52 101 603) 1986 66 34 100% 800) 1984 59 41 100 500) 1980 34 66 100 601) Yes No Total ml EP62-4 SL/EPI2-4) -2-
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jobs in Atlantic City 77% 17% 5% 99% 799) --opposes 24 hr. gambling 62 33 5 100 287) --undecided 80 11 9 100 228) --favors 24 hr. gambling 90 8 1 99 284) 24 hour gambling would create more No or disagree. If you don t have an opinion on some, just say so. 24 hour gambling in Atlantic City. For each one, please just tell me if you agree I m going to read some of the arguments which have been made both for and against Agree Disagree Opinion Total jj) --undecided 65 28 7 100 229) --opposes 24 hr. gambling 41 50 9 100 287) --favors 24 hr. gambling 74 22 4 100 284) more tourism 60 34 6 100 800) 24 hour gambling would generate --undecided 68 23 9 100 229) --opposes 24 hr. gambling 85 11 4 100 286) --favors 24 hr. gambling 39 52 8 99 284) compulsive gambling 64 29 7 100 799) It would worsen the problem of --undecided 53 28 19 100 228) --opposes 24 hr. gambling 37 54 8 99 287) --favors 24 hr. gambling 69 23 8 100 282) investments in Atlantic City 11 24 hour gambling would attract new --undecided 65 20 15 100 229) --opposes 24 hr. gambling 84 10 6 100 287) --favors 24 hr. gambling 38 52 10 100 284) It would lead to more crime in - favors 24 hr. gambling 86 7 7 100 284) for the state 76 13 11 100 797) It would generate more tax revenue less like a family resort 71 25 5 101 800) --favors 24 hr. gambling 57 41 2 100 284) Atlantic City 62 28 10 100 800) City more of a gambling center, and --opposes 24 hr. gambling 81 13 6 100 287) --opposes 24 hr. gambling 65 21 14 100 286) --undecided 75 19 6 100 229) --undecided 77 11 12 100 227) 24 hour gambling would make Atlantic EP62-4 SL/EP12-4) -3-
--gambled at a casino in Atlantic City 46 54 100 800) --bought a lottery ticket 72 28 100 800) --bet on a live horse race or dog race 23 77 100 799) --bet on a simulcast of a horse race 6 93 99 800) --played bingo 16 84 100% 800) Yes Total any of these in the last year. First, have you...in the last year? of different ways people can gamble, and would like you to tell me if you have done For many people gambling is a form of entertainment. I m going to read you a list Total 70 18 12 100% 800) Depends-- Don t Know Total i_p.). money? general, do you think this is a good or a bad way for state government to raise gambling--such as the New Jersey Lottery and the casinos in Atlantic City. In The state collects tax revenue to support public services from various forms of Region: North 43%); Central 37%); South 33%) Age: Income: 18-29 26%); 30-49 41%); 50 47%) Education: Less than H.S. 54%); high school grad 40%); more than H.S. 26%) Less than $15,000 37%); $15 to $30,000 44%); over $30,000 38%) report they buy a lottery ticket at least once a week. Note: Entries below are the percentages of each group in the current survey who 1982 5 7 5 8 32 44 101 1005) 1986 7 16 17 10 29 21 100% 799) in a while? percent yes 1986 54 24 21 99% 800) 56 44 100 1005) How often do you usually buy a lottery ticket--every day, a few times a week, once a week, a few times a month, once a month or do you only buy a lottery ticket once Few times Once a a while Never Total Good Bad Daily a week week Few times a monthonce a month Once in 1982 78 last month last month No Total Yes--in Yes--not in month? Have you ever played the New Jersey Lottery? Have you played it in the last --bet on a sporting event 18 82 100 800) --bet on a card game 15 85 100 800) EP62-4 SL/EP12-4) -4-
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