South Carolina poll shows negative attitude to online gambling

Respondents to the latest Palmetta Politics poll in South Carolina gave a negative reaction to the hypothetical legalisation of online gambling in the state this week, with 68 percent opposed to legalisation, 17 percent in support, and 15 percent undecided.

The Post and Courier newspaper reports that 57 percent of the 1,000 respondents polled classified themselves as conservative in outlook when asked to react to scenarios involving the legalisation of online gambling and marijuana, and the imposition of higher sales levies instead of income taxes.

State Senator Lindsey Graham will be encouraged by the results; he’s currently pushing for a federal ban on internet gambling at the behest of land gambling mogul Sheldon Adelson (see previous reports).

College of Charleston Political Science Professor Gibbs Knotts told the newspaper that the negative reaction to online gambling was not surprising, given the moral and religious inclinations of the state’s residents.

Pollster Jim Lee said voters tend to take a “what’s in it for me” attitude to this sort of question.

“Online gambling is not an issue that the general public, in my opinion, has a lot of familiarity with to know if it’s really a net gain or net loss for the state,” Lee said. “Most people really don’t see a reason why they should really say yes to that question unless there’s some carrot there.”

On the other issues of marijuana and higher sales taxes, 53 percent supported the idea of legalised marijuana, whilst 36 percent opposed it, and 10 percent were undecided.

On the sales tax issue only 40 percent were in favour of the measure, 34 percent were against, and 26 percent were undecided.