New Poll Shows Increased Support for Gambling in Midwest

The survey of 800 registered voters throughout the Midwestern state showed that 61 percent of those polled support holding referendums to discern whether the government should allow casino-style table games at racing tracks there.

That was an astounding 10 percent increase in support over a previous poll by the racing association, which was made at the start of the 2006 racing season, John Cavacini, president of the WVRA said. "The issue is about allowing people in these counties to decide,” said Cavacini.

Debate Continues

A year ago, a bill passed the Senate 19-14 allowing casino gambling in the state, but did not make it out of the House Judiciary Committee. This year, the debate continued.

Cavacini said racetrack lobbyists would position the issue next year as a matter of letting voters in racetrack counties decide whether to allow table games at their tracks.

“The issue before the Legislature is one that would allow citizens of individual counties to decide on table games,” Cavacini said.

Most interestingly, the financial impact of competition from video slots machines in Pennsylvania will probably be a decisive issue for West Virginians, he said.

The state of Pennsylvania, which shares a border with West Virginia, will grant video slots licenses for racetracks, and 61,000 slot machines are expected to be online as of next week there.

Pennsylvania Casinos

Four racetracks in Pennsylvania will have competing video slots in operation, with additional facilities, including three freestanding casinos, ready to come on-line, said Cavacini.

The news of the increased support for gambling in the Midwestern state -- which was carried by President Bush in the 2004 election, and is considered a bellweather of American public opinion -- comes as the online gambling industry continues to move aggressively against attacks by the federal government.

The chief executive of Sportingbet.com told reporters this week his company aims to expand activities in the U.S., where the online gaming company's chairman was arrested this month.
Andrew McIver said the U.S. is the most important market in the world. "It's the U.S. — or what's the point? I still hold that view," he told the press.

Only eight U.S. states have laws prohibiting Internet gambling: Washington, Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, South Dakota, Michigan, and Oregon.

U.S. bets constitute two-thirds of the revenue at Sportingbet.com, which reported   a profit of $20.7, $519.4 million from the Americas during its third quarter.

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