New Jersey’s quest for legal sports betting appears to be souring state residents on the concept, according to a new survey.
A Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll of 901 New Jersey adults found 50% were in favor of repealing the federal PASPA sports betting prohibition. That’s down from 55% in a similar poll conducted in October 2013. Over the same period, the number that opposes such a plan has risen from 28% to 41%.
It should be noted that the most recent poll question addressed the notion of a federal repeal while the 2013 poll merely asked whether residents were in favor of the state pursuing its own legal wagering regime. Fairleigh Dickinson suggested the mention of the federal government may have “tempered” support.
Support for overturning PASPA was strongest among office pool bettors, who were almost 70% in favor. Support was also much stronger with men (59%) than with women (42%).
For those who believe PASPA should be overturned, the extra revenue the state would generate was the prime motivator at 51%, while libertarian impulses were cited by 30%. As for those opposed, 47% believe legal sports betting will increase gambling addiction while 25% said professional sport would be corrupted.
The advocates appealing the most recent injunction against New Jersey’s sports betting legislation will deliver oral arguments to a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on March 17. New Jersey’s hired legal gun Ted Olson has been granted 13 of the 15 minutes the state’s advocates have been allotted. Attorneys for state legislators and the thoroughbred horsemen’s association will get just one minute apiece. (About long enough to say “What he said, your honors.”)
The same PublicMind survey found less support for expanding casino gambling beyond Atlantic City’s borders. Last year saw increasing talk of allowing casinos to be built in other areas of the state, including the Meadowlands racetrack in East Rutherford. A July 2014 PublicMind survey found 42% of respondents were in favor of allowing gambling outside AC but that support fell to 36% in the most recent survey.
