New Jersey residents still favour legalised sports betting
News on 21 Aug 2012
News on 21 Aug 2012
New Jersey residents – especially males – remain in favour of legalised sports betting in the state, according to the latest Public Mind survey by the Fairleigh Dickinson University.
New Jersey legislators approved legalised sports betting in the state earlier this year, even if it means a challenge to the restrictive federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).
A confrontation with national sports bodies is currently looming after sports organisations filed litigation against the state earlier this month .
The current study polled 945 registered and unregistered voters statewide, finding that 45 percent support legalisation now while 38 percent would prefer that the state wait until the ban is lifted by Congress.
On a party political level, Republicans prefer to go ahead immediately (52 percent to 32 percent) whilst Democrats are more cautious (42-42).
From a gender perspective, males tend to be more impatient in pushing for sports betting (53-35 percent), whilst women are more reluctant (38 percent support and 41 percent opposition.)
On the overall concept of legalised sports betting, 58 percent of residents support the idea, whilst 29 percent do not – a ratio largely unchanged since the state-wide referendum ballot in November 2011.
