A survey of a reported 2,216 respondents in four US states, commissioned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, has found that around 60 per cent of those polled are opposed to the regulation of internet gambling.
Sheldon Adelson (pictured), chairman and CEO of LVS, has made no secret of his opposition to online gambling and critics of the findings suggest that the scope and nature of the survey is not sufficient for the results to be taken as representative.
The four states in question are California, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia, a cohort that does not include any of the three states that have already legalised online gaming, namely Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey.
Some have questioned whether the results of the telephone poll, conducted by the Tarrance Group, which describes itself as a “Republican strategic research and polling firm,” may also be skewed by not including any kind of online audience.
Critics have suggested that not using online channels could automatically avoid polling a significant majority which may support online gaming, thus prejudicing the results.
Reader comments on websites including that of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, reviewjournal.com, mock the results of a survey commissioned by Adelson that transpire to support his view.
A reader at pro-online poker site pokerfuse.com said the survey had “Neatly designed questions to deliver the result desired” while another, posting as Ryan HUSNG, commented: “I don't know what Sheldon's angle is here. How many states does he own casinos in? Nevada and NJ already approved online poker. I guess if he owns some in California it explains his very biased campaign against online poker.”
However, there is also support, in smaller numbers, for the findings and for Adelson in general. A reader posting as Keno Dave on reviewjournal.com commented: “I don't usually agree with Adelson, but on this I concur. I don't know if his emotions are true but I agree that internet gaming will be a disaster of epic proportions.”
The survey also found that 62 per cent of those polled approved of having various forms of gambling in their respective states as a way of generating tax revenues.
Respondents were asked about a range of forms of gambling. State lotteries had the highest approval rating at 71 per cent while land-based casinos had a 56 per cent positive rating.
“While voters support the concept of using gambling to generate revenue and have generally positive views about existing forms of state-approved gambling, there is a sharp divide when it comes to internet gambling,” the Tarrance Group wrote in a memo to LVS executives, and as reported on reviewjournal.com.
“Internet gambling, even internet poker, is seen as a much different form of gambling and is seen in a much more negative light. Even experienced gamblers have qualms about this form of gambling.”
