For Immediate Release
United States Public Opinion Poll
Page 1 of 4
GAMBLING
Americans Support Allowing
Sports Betting in All States
Most respondents would also like to see people being able to gamble
online across the country.
[NEW YORK – Jul. 11, 2012] - Many Americans
believe it is time to revisit the 1992 federal law
that limits sports betting to just four states, a new
Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national
sample of 1,017 American adults, three-in-five
respondents (59%) support allowing people in any
U.S. state to bet on sports. Support for this
change is highest among men (68%) and
respondents aged 18-to-34 (64%).
The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection
Act only allows sports betting in Delaware,
Montana, Nevada and Oregon. The State of New
Jersey has signaled its intention to allow people to
bet on the outcomes of sports contests.
In a separate question, 55 per cent of
respondents voiced support for allowing people in
any U.S. state to gamble online. Once again, men
(63%) and younger Americans (63%) are more
likely to favor changing the guidelines.
KEY FINDINGS
 59% support allowing people in any
U.S. state to bet on sports
 55% support allowing people in any
U.S. state to gamble online
 56% bought a lottery ticket last year;
13% placed a bet on a sporting event
with a friend or relative
Full topline results are at the end of this release.
From May 29 to May 30, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion
conducted an online survey among 1,017 randomly selected
American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The
margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to
the most current education, age, gender and region Census
data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult
population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between
totals are due to rounding.
A majority of Americans (56%) report buying a
lottery ticket in the past year, and almost half (47%) claim to have bought a scratch ticket. One third (32%)
attended a casino. Fewer respondents have played poker or other card games online (18%) or placed a
bet on a sporting event with a friend or relative (13%). Less than one-in-ten have placed a bet on a horse
or greyhound race (8%) or on a sporting event through a bookmaker (6%).
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570, [email protected]
For Immediate Release
United States Public Opinion Poll
Page 2 of 4
Learn about our electoral record / Consult our surveys / Follow us on Twitter
About Angus Reid Public Opinion
Angus Reid Public Opinion is a public affairs practice headed by Dr. Angus Reid: an industry visionary who
has spent more than four decades asking questions to figure out what people feel, how they think and who
they will vote for. A team of talented and experienced practitioners with a unique and profound
understanding of global issues conduct high quality research throughout the world on a daily basis for
corporations, governments, academic researchers, and non-profit organizations.
About Vision Critical®
Vision Critical is a global research and technology firm that creates software and services solutions for
over 600 clients, including one third of the world’s top 100 brands. The company has offices across North
America, Europe and Australia as well as a Global Partner Program that provides other research
companies and consultants with access to top-of-the-line technology. Its Sparq™ product is the most
widely adopted community panel platform on the planet.
- 30 -
For more information, please contact
our spokesperson listed in the footnote.
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570, [email protected]
For Immediate Release
United States Public Opinion Poll
Page 3 of 4
Gambling
Over the past year, have you done any of the following activities? Select all that apply.
Gender
Age
Party ID
All
Men
Women
18-34
35-54
55+
Dem.
Rep.
Ind.
Bought a lottery ticket
56%
60%
53%
50%
61%
57%
59%
57%
56%
Bought a Scratch ticket
47%
46%
48%
49%
50%
42%
50%
48%
46%
Attended a casino
32%
34%
31%
33%
33%
31%
39%
31%
29%
Played poker (or other
card games) online
18%
23%
13%
24%
17%
14%
21%
17%
17%
Placed a bet on a
sporting event (with a
friend or relative)
13%
20%
7%
19%
13%
9%
14%
15%
11%
Placed a bet on a horse
or greyhound race
8%
11%
5%
9%
7%
7%
10%
7%
7%
Placed a bet on a
sporting event (through a
bookmaker)
6%
11%
2%
10%
6%
3%
8%
6%
5%
None of these
29%
24%
34%
27%
29%
31%
23%
33%
27%
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570, [email protected]
For Immediate Release
United States Public Opinion Poll
Page 4 of 4
Gambling
As you may know, a 1992 federal law that limits sports betting to four states. Thinking about this, do
you support or oppose allowing people in any U.S. state to bet on sports?
Gender
Age
Party ID
All
Men
Women
18-34
35-54
55+
Dem.
Rep.
Ind.
Support
59%
68%
51%
64%
59%
55%
60%
62%
56%
Oppose
24%
21%
26%
17%
25%
28%
20%
27%
24%
Not sure
17%
11%
22%
18%
15%
17%
20%
11%
20%
Gambling
Do you support or oppose allowing people in any U.S. state to gamble online?
Gender
Age
Party ID
All
Men
Women
18-34
35-54
55+
Dem.
Rep.
Ind.
Support
55%
63%
48%
63%
61%
41%
57%
55%
55%
Oppose
32%
28%
35%
24%
26%
46%
29%
35%
29%
Not sure
13%
9%
16%
13%
13%
13%
13%
10%
16%
CONTACT:
Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion, 877-730-3570, [email protected]