(07/11/12) -

Americans Support Allowing Sports Betting in All States

Most respondents would also like to see people being able to gamble online across the country.

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.

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%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: 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.