A new poll finds a majority of Florida voters approves of allowing expanded gaming, including destination casinos, in the Sunshine State to raise revenue for the state government.
On Thursday, the Tarrance Group, commissioned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp., released a poll of likely voters which finds 63 percent of those surveyed favor bringing destination resort casinos to Florida, while 35 percent do not.
The opinion of Florida voters is clear, save Dave Sackett, a founding partner of the Tarrance Group. When it comes to destination resorts, the answer is an overwhelming yes.
A strong majority -- 68 percent -- say they are more likely to favor destination casinos if determined by voters at the county level while 26 percent say that would make them less likely to support expanded gaming. A similar number -- 67 percent -- say they are more likely to back destination casinos if they provide good jobs and help the economy. Only 32 percent say they are more likely to back destination casinos if they are restricted to South Florida; 56 percent say that would make them less likely to support the big casinos.
A smaller majority -- 53 percent -- favor full gaming in limited facilities where it is already allowed in some form; 46 percent oppose it.
The poll shows expanded gaming could impact legislative elections, with 54 percent saying they would be more likely to re-elect legislators who support letting voters determine the fate of destination casinos, while 33 percent said that this would make them less likely to support legislators running for another term. Only 30 percent say they would be more likely to keep legislators in office who restrict destination casinos to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region; 57 percent say they would be less likely to vote for legislators who keep destination casinos only in that area.
A majority of those surveyed -- 57 percent -- approve of gaming generating revenue for the state while 35 percent disapprove.
The poll finds Floridians have varied feelings on gaming options. A clear majority -- 76 percent -- see the state lottery as positive, while 20 percent see it as negative. Horse racing is seen as positive by 61 percent of those surveyed and negative by 32 percent. Indian casinos with Las Vegas-style gaming pulls the exact same result: 61 percent see it as positive and 32 percent as negative.
Dog racing gets mixed marks, with 49 percent seeing it as positive and 45 percent as negative. The same holds true of poker rooms, seen as positive by 49 percent and negative by 41 percent. Floridians also have mixed feelings on horse and dog tracks that offer slot machines, with 49 percent seeing them as positive and 44 percent as negative. J'ai alai is far less well known, with 50 percent seeing it as positive and 27 percent as negative.
The poll finds Floridians are not high on Internet gaming options. Only 28 percent see Internet poker as positive, while 64 percent see it as negative. Even fewer Floridians -- 25 percent -- see other Internet gaming as positive, while 67 percent see it as negative.
The anti-gambling organization No Casinos countered with a press release claiming the Sands is operating a "smoke and mirrors" campaign. Said John Sowinski, the group's president, Las Vegas Sands is running a campaign of deception to make it appear to legislators that the public wants Florida to legalize the biggest casinos in the world. If this is something voters want, then why are Sands lobbyists secretly busing seniors to public hearings?
Undaunted, the Tarrance Group's Sackett said the poll numbers don't lie. It would be reasonable to conclude that Florida voters recognize the economic benefits of destination resorts, but also see the pitfalls posed by unregulated online gambling, he said.
The poll of 601 likely Florida voters was taken from Oct. 20- 22 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
Related Sunshine State News gaming stories and columns by Nancy Smith, in no particular order:
The Hypocrisy of Florida's Gaming Foes
Why the No Casinos Viewpoint Isn't Mine
New York Times 'Outs' Disney Casinos Connection
Opposition to Gwen Margolis' Internet Lottery Bill Looms
No Casinos' Anti-Spectrum Ads: No Winner There
Two Top Lobbyists Fall Victim to Disney's Anti-Gambling 'Mafia Tactics'
