A poll by the Reason-Rupe organization has found that 65 percent of U.S. residents have a positive view on legalizing online gambling, while 32 percent think the federal government should prohibit people from gambling in online poker games.
The numbers were released by the American Gaming Association, which favors a federal law to allow online poker.
The poll found that independent supporters with a Republican bias are more likely to favor legalized online poker at 75 percent. Democrats were the least likely to favor at 58 percent. Regular Republicans—66 percent—Independents—68 percent—and independent-leaning Democrats—65 percent—also favor legalizing online poker.
Analyzed by income, lower-paid Americans and those with a high school degree or less are most likely to favor banning online gambling—41 percent—but 56 percent still favor legalization. In contrast, only 21 percent of post-graduates and 31 percent of high-income Americans favor banning while 73 percent and 66 percent favor legalization respectively.
Support for legalized online gambling appears to decline with age; roughly 70 percent Americans under 55 favor legalization compared to 56 percent of those over 55 years of age.
The Reason-Rupe survey was conducted via a nationwide telephone poll between December 4-8, 2013 in which a sample of 1011 adults were interviewed on both mobile and landline phones, with a margin of error +/- 3.7 percent. Princeton Survey Research Associates International executed the nationwide Reason-Rupe survey.
