According to a recent poll of 500 adults conducted by the Boston Globe that found legalized gambling has become an accepted part of the state's economic and cultural landscape. The poll found that 53% of the residents back Patrick's plan to to build three casinos in different regions of the state, while 34% oppose it and 12% had no opinion. The poll also finds that 43 percent would prefer the casinos to be located in rural areas, while 24 percent prefer urban areas and 23 percent had no preference.
The poll is very good news for Patrick as he tried to persuade lawmakers to support the plan as he prepares to file a bill with more specific details. Last week Patrick was quoted in saying that he would file the bill shortly. Patrick's plan calls for Massachusetts to license three resort casinos dispersed across the state, one each in the western, southeastern, and greater Boston regions. The governor estimates three casinos would generate up to $450 million in annual tax revenue.
The poll also showed Patrick's job approval rating climbed slightly to 52 percent after announcing the casino plan. The last Globe poll, conducted in April, had Patrick's approval rating at 48 percent.
House speaker Salvatore DiMasi has remained the most vocal opponent to new casinos, claiming that he is suspicious of any proposal encouraging what he calls “casino culture.” He says he would favor more conventional economic growth.
Critics, including Rep. Daniel Bosley, a North Adams Democrat and vocal opponent of casino gambling, have said Patrick's estimates sound similar to other estimates offered by casino supporters in the past. They do not take into account the loss of revenue to other businesses, or the social costs of planting three large scale casinos in the state.
The one bright spot in the poll for opponents is the possibility of a "not in my backyard" effect, where residents support the idea of a casino in general, but oppose locating them near their homes, fearing an increase in noise, traffic and crime.
The poll, conducted between Sept. 22 and Sept. 26 had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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