POLL: 65% of Americans Support Legalization of Online Poker in U.S.
Last month, Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson penned an op-ed in the Las Vegas Review-Journal which explained his reasons for opposing online gambling in the U.S. In the article, Adelson claimed that recent surveys show that more than 70% of Americans disapprove of Internet gambling, including poker.
The poll, which was commissioned by Adelson, found that respondents in California, Kentucky, Virginia, and Pennsylvania were mostly pro-gambling but highly averse to gambling on the Internet.
However, a recent poll conducted by public opinion research firm Reason-Rupe found completely different results. Reason-Rupe found that 65% of Americans favor the legalization of online poker, while 32% believe that the government should prohibit people from playing on the Internet.
According to the survey, majorities of all partisans favor the legalization of online poker, with the biggest support coming from independents who lean Republican (75%). Democrats were the least likely to support online poker (58 percent).
Lower-income Americans and those with a high school degree or less are least likely to support online poker, according to the poll. The biggest supporters are Americans who make between $60,000 and $110,000 and have a college degree.
The survey shows that a large majority of Americans under the age of 55 approve of Internet gambling, but the approval drops with age as only 55% of pollers above the age of 55 were in favor of legalization.
The poll was conducted via live interviews with 1,011 adults on mobile and landline phones from Dec. 4 through 8, 2013. Here's a look at the complete results:
Question: Do you think the government should prohibit people from gambling in online poker games, or should the government allow people to do this?
| Respondents | Allow | Prohibit |
|---|---|---|
| All | 65% | 32% |
| Democrat | 58% | 38% |
| Independent Leaning Dem. | 65% | 34% |
| Independent | 68% | 27% |
| Republican | 66% | 30% |
| Independent Leaning Rep. | 75% | 22% |
| Aged < 35 | 70% | 29% |
| Aged 35-55 | 70% | 27% |
| Aged 55+ | 55% | 39% |
| Income < $30,000 | 56% | 41% |
| $30,000-$60,000 | 68% | 29% |
| $60,000-$110,000 | 73% | 25% |
| $110,000+ | 66% | 31% |
| High School or less | 55% | 41% |
| Some College | 70% | 28% |
| College Graduate | 76% | 22% |
| Post Graduate | 73% | 21% |
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