Meet me tonight (to gamble) in Atlantic City (and nowhere else in the ...

The question of whether New Jersey should expand gambling beyond Atlantic City could loom large in the 2013 state gubernatorial election.

So it?s intriguing that a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll released on Monday shows that a majority of those questioned oppose the idea ? 56 percent against to 35 percent in support of ending Atlantic City?s statewide monopoly.

FDU pollsters note that in 2009, 70 percent opposed the idea ? and in 2010, 49 percent opposed (with 42 percent in favor) adding only the Meadowlands to the list of permitted gambling sites in the Garden State:

?There is no shortage of convenient gambling options for Garden State residents, due to added gaming options along New Jersey?s borders,? said Krista Jenkins, director of PublicMind and professor of political science at FDU. ?The appetite to expand casino gambling options beyond Atlantic City for New Jerseyans is not there yet.?

Remarkably, Democrats, and Republicans, and independents for once line up the same way:
- Democrats oppose, 55-37
- Republicans oppose, 58-33
- Independents oppose, 57-33

Men oppose expanded gambling sites, too, 51-42, while women oppose by a 61-28 margin (the difference being scientifically described as ?my dopey husband would blow the mortgage money at the tables if he didn?t have to drive 100 miles to do it.?).

High school grads say, no thanks, 57-33; those who added a college degree say no at a nearly identical 59-33 figure. Even those who have been to a casino in the past 12 months oppose expanding, by 49-44 percent. Those who haven?t gone oppose, 61-29.

Political junkiesshould find this poll question interesting, meanwhile:

?Which of the following best describes how you feel, even if neither statement is perfect: The state should help Atlantic City developers with tax breaks in order to encourage job growth and increase tax revenue for the state?or?The state should not be using public money to support private enterprise in Atlantic City.?

Keep in mind that Republican Governor Christie backed tax incentives for Atlantic City?s Revel casino worth more than $200 million, while Democrats would generally seem more likely to look to government to solve problems. Of course, the Revel tax break was from a bill sponsored by business-backing Democrat Ray Lesniak. So how does this shake out in the poll?

Democrats are split, with 46 percent preferring the ?no help? angle and 45 percent going the ?tax breaks? route. Republicans were a bit clearly, bucking Christie a bit by going 50-37 in favor of ?not using public money.?

It?s just a starting data point for this issue, and we hope to see more polling organizations take a look at this in the next 12 months.

Source: http://blog.northjersey.com/meadowlandsmatters/3590/meet-me-tonight-to-gamble-in-atlantic-city-and-nowhere-else-in-the-state/

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