Dr. Hoover Says Out-in-the-Open, Legal Sports Betting Might Be Hard to Sell to People
Recent poll numbers from Fairleigh Dickinson University show that the people of New Jersey are cooling on the idea of legal sports betting, while they no longer support the idea of a North Jersey casino the way they once did. The Fairleigh Dickinson PublicMind poll asked questions of 901 New Jersey adults. It is the first time such questions have been asked since October 2013–a month before the online gambling rollout in New Jersey.
The poll showed that 50% of the people in New Jersey are in favor of legalized sports betting. When the poll was last taken, 55% of New Jerseyans supported the proposal. Even more telling, when the poll was taken in October 2013, only 28% of people were against the idea of legalized sportsbooks in the state. Now that number has reached 41%.
Dramatic Shift in 17 Months
The research data shows that the numbers have shifted dramatically. It was at 55%/28% in October ’13, so two-thirds of respondents with a solid opinion were in favor of the proposal. Now, the numbers are 50%/41% in March ’14. Positions seem to have hardened, with most of the undecided finally deciding to go against sports betting.
No one has speculated yet on the reasons those numbers have shifted. The ongoing legal battle between New Jersey and the American sports associations could have hurt popular sentiment, because New Jersey appears to be fighting a losing battle. In four separate legal decisions, the sports leagues have won 4-0 over New Jersey. Some have questioned whether Gov. Chris Christie is wasting taxpayer money on a losing proposition.
Pundits Continue to Advocate for Sportsbooks
While popular sentiment (what the people think) seems to be shifting, public opinion (what the pundits think) remains firmly on the side of legalized sportsbooks. For one, Atlantic City obviously needs the revenue stream. Two, the sports associations’ position defies logic in the eyes of most analysts, because they argue that New Jersey sports betting would ruin the integrity of their sports, when 22 years of unfettered gambling in Nevada has done nothing to harm the leagues. In fact, while legal sports gambling has been happening in four US states, the leagues (except for hockey) have undergone the biggest growth phases in their histories.
Other arguments have proven persuasive, too. The recent Super Bowl numbers indicated that illegal sports betting is a huge industry, with 38 times more bets placed through illegal bookmakers than in the Las Vegas sportsbooks. Part of that is convenience, because bookies are local, while it is a process to bet on the legal sportsbooks. Having a legal bookmaker near local communities would help right those numbers somewhat.
Sports Gambling Hard to Sell
Yet people have hardened in their opinions against gambling on sports. Donald Hoover, a professor and senior lecturer at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, said that the problem might be fundamental.
Dr. Hoover said, “Placing a bet out in the open on basketball isn’t a slam dunk in the court of public opinion. If the sentiment nationally mirrors what we’re finding in New Jersey, legalization could be a tough sell in other parts of the country, too.”
Not Enough Support for North Jersey
When it comes to a discussion of having casino outside Atlantic City, the people of New Jersey remain firmly on the site of the Boardwalk. 57% of those polled said they want to keep the casinos in Atlantic City, while only 36% said they believe a North Jersey casino is a good idea.
For casinos to be built out Atlantic City, a constitutional amendment would need to pass. With the numbers so decidedly against the proposition, it might be hard for New Jersey’s lawmakers to make such a pivotal vote on behalf of a Meadowlands casino.
5-Year Moratorium Ends Soon
Such a decision is coming. In only 11 months, Gov. Chris Christie’s 5-year moratorium on casino building initiatives outside of Atlantic City comes to an end. Christie offered Atlantic City a 5-year window to get its business model turned around and start showing signs of growth. That absolutely has not happened, so the North Jersey casino initiative has gained steam.
Several key leaders, including State Senate President Steve Sweeney, are on-record saying a Meadowlands casino needs to be built. Leaders argue that Atlantic City cannot compete in a saturated market, but a casino built closer to New York City would provide the state with a huge advantage. They also argue that such a measure would need to be done quickly, before New York State builds their own casino and changes the gaming habits of New Yorkers.
