Gambling In America - 1999: A Comparison of Adults and Teenagers

GALLUP RELEASES SOCIAL AUDIT ON GAMBLING IN AMERICA

Two-thirds of Americans approve of gambling, but serious reservations remain about the impact of legal betting on sports events, the effects of casinos on local communities, and the growth of youth gambling. Almost half of Americans favor keeping gambling at its current level, while the rest are divided over whether legalized gambling should be expanded, reduced or banned altogether.

As the National Gambling Impact Study Commission prepares to release its report on the social and economic impacts of gambling in the United States, a new Gallup Poll Social Audit shows nearly two-thirds (63%) of American adults approve of legalized gambling, while 32% oppose it. The poll also shows American teenagers are more evenly divided in their support for legalized gambling, with 52% of those aged 13-17 in favor and 47% opposing it.

However, both teens and adults see problems with legalized gambling. Two-thirds of both groups believe betting on sports events leads to cheating or "fixing" of games, and 57% of adults oppose legalized betting on sports events as a way to raise state revenues.

Fifty-six percent of adults believe casinos have a negative impact on family and community life in the cities in which they operate, even though a majority (67%) says that gambling helps the local economy. Twenty-two percent of Americans say that legalized gambling should be expanded, 47% say that it should stay at current levels, and 29% believe that it should be reduced or banned altogether.

GAMBLING BEHAVIOR
Nearly seven out of ten adults and 26% of teens have taken part in some form of legal gambling, with lotteries being the favorite form of most Americans. Fifty-seven percent have purchased a lottery ticket within the last year, while 31% of Americans have gambled in a casino. However, only 26% of those who have gambled within the last 12 months claim to be "ahead" in their winnings, while 49% admit to losing money.

The Gallup results also counter a stereotype of gamblers as lower class and lower-income. The results find that 75% of those earning at least $75,000 annually take part in some form of gambling, while 63% of those earning less than $25,000 do. The same trends hold for education, as 72% of college graduates report some form of gambling in the past year, compared to 61% of those who did not complete high school. Men tend to gamble more than women do, and among religious groups, Catholics are far more likely to gamble than Protestants and members of other religious groups.

CASINOS AND COMMUNITIES
There is a clear distinction in Americans' minds about the economic benefits of casinos and the social impact on the communities in which they operate. Two-thirds (67%) of adults claim casinos generally help a community's economy, but 56% believe they damage everyday family and community life. Teens are more evenly divided on the economic impact (51% say they help, 45% say they hurt), but opposition is even stronger on the social impact - 70% of teens believe casinos hurt a community.

PROBLEM GAMBLING
Eleven percent of adults say they sometimes gamble more than they should, with that opinion more prevalent among men than women - and among those who report a family history of gambling problems. In addition, 9% of adults - up from four percent in a 1989 Gallup poll - and 10% of teens report that gambling has caused problems in their family. Also, 41% of adults and 28% of teens say they know someone outside their family for whom gambling has become a problem.

TEEN GAMBLING
The Gallup survey provides some justification for concerns about teen gambling: 20% of teens say they gamble more than they should, compared to just 11% of adults. Teens also tend to be more positive about the success of their gambling: 61% claim to be "ahead" on their wagers over the last year, while only 26% of adults make the same claim. Finally, 29% of teen gamblers claim to have made their first wagers when they were ten years old or younger, and a surprising number of teens bet on professional and college sports (27% bet on professional events, while 18% bet on college games). This, despite the fact that almost all legal gambling is restricted to those over 18 years of age

GAMBLING AS A SOURCE OF STATE REVENUE
Lotteries have become an important source of funds for many states, and 75% of adults support this form of gambling as a way to raise state revenue. Bingo for cash prizes receives support from 74% of adults for this purpose, while 63% support casino gambling. Off-track betting on horse races, betting on professional sports events, and video poker all receive significantly less support.

GAMBLING AND THE INTERNET
There is far less support for gambling on the Internet than for other forms of legalized gambling. Three out of four adults (75%) disapprove of online gambling, while 20% approve. In addition, 76% of adults and 70% of teens believe it is easy for teens to gamble on the internet, and a majority of both teens and adults believe that Internet access has increased gambling among teens. However, despite this perception, only 2% of teens report using the Internet to gamble.

METHODOLOGY
This poll was conducted among 1,523 American adults 18 years and older, along with 501 teens (ages 13-17) living in the continental United States between April 30 and May 23, 1999. The interviews were conducted by telephone in both English and Spanish. For results based on samples of these sizes, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to sampling and other random effects could be plus or minus 3 percentage points for adults and plus or minus 5 percentage points for teens.

Additional information regarding the study may be obtained from:

Dr. Sheila Kearney (business inquiries) or
Dr. Jack Ludwig (media inquiries)
THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION, INC.
Social Audit Division
502 Carnegie Center, Suite 300
Princeton, NJ 08540 U.S.A.
Telephone: 609-924-9600
Fax: 609-924-0228
E-mail: sheila_kearney@gallup.com or jack_ludwig@gallup.com

Methodology
The study is based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,523 adults (18+) and 501 teens (ages 13-17), conducted April 30 - May 23, 1999. For results based on a sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent confidence that the error attributable to sampling and other random effects could be plus or minus 3 percentage points for adults (18+), and plus or minus 5 percentage for teens (13-17 year olds).

1. First, generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of legal gambling or betting?

1a. And do you feel strongly about that or not? (Based on those who approve or disapprove)

1b. What are the one or two most important reasons why you (response in #1) of legal gambling? (Based on those who approve or disapprove)

2. As you may know, some states legalize betting so that the state can raise revenues. Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of each of the following types of betting as a way to help YOUR STATE raise revenue. First, do you approve or disapprove of (read and rotate A-F)? Do you approve or disapprove of it being legal?

A. Bingo for cash prizes

B. Casino gambling

C. Lotteries for cash prizes

D. Off-track betting on horse races

E. Betting on professional sports, such as baseball, basketball, or football

F. Video poker machines at local establishments

Wording Notes:
*Video Poker

Note: Questions 3 & 4 were randomly rotated during the course of interviewing

3. Next, I'm going to read some questions concerning gambling. For each one, please say whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree? First, (read and rotate A-E)?

A. Legalized gambling provides necessary revenue to states to fund government programs and keeping taxes under control

B. States that prohibit gambling are making a mistake by losing gambling revenue to neighboring states

C. Gambling is a form of entertainment that if done in moderation, is no better or no worse than other activities, like attending sports events or movies

D. Making gambling legal limits the involvement of organized crime

Note: Questions 3 & 4 were randomly rotated during the course of interviewing

E. Keeping gambling legal is necessary to preserve American freedom, regardless of the problems it may cause

Note: Questions 3 & 4 were randomly rotated during the course of interviewing

4. Now we'd like to ask you a different set of questions. For each one, please say whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree? First, (read and rotate A-E)?

A. Gambling is immoral

B. Legalized gambling does serious harm to people's respect for the value of hard work

Note: Questions 3 & 4 were randomly rotated during the course of interviewing

C. The legal gambling industry is creating serious corruption in government

D. The legal gambling industry is mostly based on taking advantage of poor people

E. Legalized gambling is creating a compulsive gambling problem in this country

5. In general, do you believe that legalized betting on sporting events leads to cheating or fixing games?

There are no questions #6, #7, and #8

9. Do you approve or disapprove of legalized gambling or betting using the Internet?

10. As far as you know, is it easy for teenagers to use the Internet to gamble?

11. Do you think the Internet has increased gambling among teens?

12. For each of the following activities, please tell me whether you think of them as "gambling". How about (read and rotate A-E)?

A. Church-sponsored bingo

B. Participation in office pools at work

C. Investing in the stock market

D. Buying state-sponsored lottery tickets

E. Playing poker with friends for money other than in a casino

A. The community's economy

B. Everyday family and community life

14. Please tell me whether or not you have done any of the following things in the past 12 months. First, how about (read A-J)?

A. Played bingo for money

Wording Notes:
*Play bingo
**During the past 12 months, did you, yourself, happen to do any of these?

B. Gambled at a casino

C. Bet on a horse race or dog race

Wording Notes:
*Bet on a horse race
**During the past year, have you..…

D. Bought a state lottery ticket

E. Bet on a PROFESSIONAL sports event such as baseball, basketball, football, or boxing

F. Bet on a COLLEGE sports event such as basketball or football

G. Participated in an office pool on the World Series, Super Bowl or other game

H. Gambled for money on the Internet

I. Played a video poker machine

Wording Notes:
*Played video poker

J. Participated in riverboat gambling

15. Not everyone is clear about what forms of gambling are legal or illegal. Have you ever participated in any form of LEGAL gambling?

*CNBC/Gallup Poll

There is no question #17

18. Have you EVER gambled in a casino? (Base: those who have ever gambled)

19. How much money do you usually spend each month on lottery tickets? (Base: those who have ever gambled and those who have bought a state lottery ticket in the past 12 months)

20. Besides lottery tickets, how much money have you bet or wagered in the past 12 months? (Base: those who have ever gambled)

There is no question #21

22. Do you sometimes gamble more than you think you should? (Base: those who have ever gambled)

23. Do you recall at what age you first lost money or made money as a result of a bet, a card game, or any other form of gambling? Please tell me what that age was. (Base: those who have ever gambled)

*CNBC/Gallup Poll

There is no question #24.

25. Considering all the money you spent on bets, wagers, or lottery tickets over the past 12 months, as well as your winnings, would you say you are ahead or behind? (Base: those who have ever gambled)

25a. A Federal Commission is currently considering whether to recommend a suspension of adding new casinos, slot machines, and lotteries. How do you feel about this? Would you….

26. Has gambling ever been a source of problems within