http://blog.northjersey.com/meadowlandsmatters/2740/the-poll-question-that-only-10-percent-of-garden-staters-got-right/
To follow up on Monday’s blog post: Joe Brennan Jr. (no relation to me or my brother Joe), chairman of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (IMEGA), passed along the details of the 2010 poll I referenced regarding New Jerseyans and gambling.
The key question in that poll, taken by a Governor Christie pollster: “Please tell me if the following statement is true or false: ‘New Jersey currently offers wagering on horse races to New Jersey residents through the internet.’”
10 percent of those polled correctly said this is true (and has been for nearly a decade; see 4njbets.com). But 55 percent said they didn’t know and a remarkable 35 percent said this was false.
A followup question notes that such betting is legal, then adds, “with that in mind..” do those polled support or oppose internet gaming? In that context, 28 percent strongly support and 23 percent strongly oppose. Intriguingly, 34 percent “somewhat support” and only 7 percent “somewhat oppose.”
What does this tell us, combined with Monday’s FDU poll?
I would say that it shows a certain softness in the opposition to online gaming. The overall vibe seems to be that maybe the state shouldn’t cross a new frontier and allow gambling on the internet. Once it’s pointed out that horse race betting has been going on for years online, that seems to be enough to erase a lot of the opposition.
This issue already was approved rather easily in the Legislature last year before being vetoed by Christie, and likely will approve it again this year. State Sen. Ray Lesniak, D-Union, hopes to see the issue voted on by the full Senate by the end of this month, while the Assembly may or may not get to it before it takes July and August off.
Christie’s reluctance has been understandable: He questions whether allowing internet gaming runs afoul of the state Constitution, which says that all casino gaming can only take place in Atlantic City. Is an online poker player sitting in his living room in Teaneck, Trenton or Tinton Falls doing something related to Atlantic City?
Constitutional experts have come forth to say that since the bet is not executed until a server in Atlantic City records it, no referendum is required. That could be crucial, because supporters know that it would be difficult to win such a statewide vote.
The key, of course, would be an expensive campaign to get across the idea that since residents already can bet on horse racing, this is just an extension of something that already is out there.