More than half of likely Texas voters like the idea of expanding casino gambling to help reduce the state's budget deficit, according to a telephone poll.
Rasmussen Reports asked 500 likely Texas voters were asked about ways to address the budget deficit on May 13.
The results: 57 percent favor legalizing casino gambling, 33 percent oppose it. The remaining 10 percent answered "not sure."
When asked if they were willing to pay higher taxes to address the budget deficit, 68 percent of the respondents said they weren't. Only 21 percent said "yes" with the remaining 11 percent "not sure."
The poll had a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points.
Other polls of Texans in recent years have usually showed more than half back some form of expansion of legalized gambling in Texas.
Gambling advocates have been gearing up to make a renewed push in the 2011 Legislature by touting gaming's revenue-raising benefits in hard budget times. One state agency estimate that lawmakers could be facing an $18 billion shortfall in next year's legislative session.
Another poll released today looked at statewide races and found Republicans leading. The University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, an Internet survey of 800 registered voters found Gov. Rick Perry ahead of Democratic challenger Bill White 44-35.
The UT/Tribune poll was conducted May 14-20 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percent.
-Aman Batheja
Wow, great idea. This will make the state tons of money and put us all on Easy Street with No Downside! Just like the Lottery did.
Posted by: Naked_Ape | May 24, 2010 at 07:37 PM
We will be hard pressed to get this passed in Texas, but not for the reasons most suspect. Oklahoma and Louisiana will be sending in their high paid lobbyists to grease the palms of Texas elected officials to make sure it never happens here! If Texas were to get casino style gambling it would be the virtual end of that industry in Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Posted by: pware2226 | May 24, 2010 at 09:13 PM
On one hand, gambling is a tax on people who are poor at math. It is bad public policy because it harms those who can afford it the least: people who are living off social security or who are poor because of bad choices along the way.
On the other hand, I welcome any changes that legalize "sin" activities that should be legal for adults. You could argue that the dupes will save money by not having to travel as far to waste their money.
Posted by: Modern Man | May 24, 2010 at 09:33 PM
The February UT/Tribune poll also found a lot of support for expanded gaming: http://tinyurl.com/rollem
Posted by: Jim | May 25, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Speaking from Oklahoma, I would not recommend gambling in Texas. After years of observation, I see families destroyed, people stealing money from the office and going bankrupt from the gambling.
I know three people who had to declare bankrupty due to excessive gambling.
It's just not worth it.
Posted by: GreenClover | May 26, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I understood it a couple of years ago when you had to go to Las Vegas.But it makes no since now when you can cross the border on eitherside of Texas except Ark.So why not legalize it and generate the new jobs and money to keep from raising taxes
Posted by: vance day | June 01, 2010 at 04:31 PM