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Survey Says NJ Voters Prefer Slots Over Table Games At Racetracks

Posted on June 17th, 2010

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Results of the poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickenson University’s PublicMind, released Monday showed that most voters in New Jersey want only slot machines and not full blown casinos that include table games at the Meadowlands Racetrack, Freehold Raceway and Monmouth Park.

Trot-PAC, a political action committee for New Jersey’s harness racing industry, has engaged the services of PublicMind to carry out the survey. Trot-PAC does its racing at the Meadowlands and is backing the installation of slots at the racetrack and the increase in racing purses from the track’s share in the state’s new revenue from slots.

Pertaining to the Meadowlands Racetrack, 51 percent of those questioned statewide supported the idea of allowing video lottery terminals or slots at the track, and 37 percent were against the proposal. On the concept of introducing table games to Meadowlands to turn the track into a full-fledged casino, 47 percent of those surveyed statewide were not in favour of the plan, while 42 percent liked the idea.

The poll has a plus or minus 3.5 points margin of error. Bringing in table games like poker, roulette and blackjack to the Meadowlands Racetrack would turn the track into a complete casino, making it the first one outside Atlantic City. At present, the state of New Jersey only allows full scale gambling at Atlantic City. Adding slots or video lottery terminals at the track would convert the horse racing track into a racino, a racetrack that offers gaming.

The poll also showed that among people aged over 65, 49 percent did not favour the idea of the track expanding to table games, against 38 percent who supported it. Those between ages 45-64, 51 percent supported the table games concept, while 37 percent did not. Younger people or those under 30 liked the casino-style gambling idea by 66 percent, compared to 28 percent who opposed it.

Among Democrats, 51 percent support slots at the Meadowlands track, and 38 percent did not. Republicans were equally divided at 46 percent. Fifty eight percent of Independents were in favour of a racino, and 33 percent opposed the slots at the track. In January, state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge whose district includes East Rutherford where Meadowlands is located, said he was in favour of a casino because a casino would yield more in annual potential earnings for the state.

Survey at Bergen and Passaic Counties resulted in a 50-43 percent showing disapproval of adding table games at the Meadowlands. The poll done on the issue of whether to put slots or table games at two other racetracks, Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway gave very close results to the Meadowlands survey. Only voters in south Jersey did not favour slot machines.

FDU professor Donald Hoover, who is a former executive of a casino said this is partly a regional issue. He said people in the south do not see more need for expanded gambling in the state, but the people in the north can always drive across state borders that are nearer than Atlantic City. Former New Jersey Sports and Exposition authority Chairman Jon F. Hanson who was tasked by New Jersey Gov. Christie to conduct a study on the outlook of horse racing and casinos in the state, will release his report on June 30.

The expansion of casino-style gambling outside of Atlantic City has been strongly resisted by the Casino Association of New Jersey. Last week, the group also announced its opposition to proposals of Sen. Ray Lesniak, D-Union, to legalize intrastate online gambling and sports betting in New Jersey. Only the state of Nevada currently offers sports betting.