Poll: Mass. residents continue to back casinos

DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- A new gambling study shows some Massachusetts residents who have not supported casinos in the past may be changing their minds.

"Fifty-seven percent of Massachusetts residents still favor two or more resort casinos in the state of Massachusetts. That number is actually four percent higher than when we last did this poll in September," said Dr. Clyde Barrow, a public policy analyst at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.

The study was funded by a real estate development firm with land interests in the proposed Palmer and New Bedford casino sites.

The research showed that as the state's deficit soars above $1 billion, so does the interest in casino and racetrack gambling.

"People are starting to look at casinos as a possible source of revenue," Barrow said.

The study polled 427 Massachusetts residents last week after the House's vote that killed Gov. Deval Patrick's four-casino proposal.

The study found that for the first time, suburban residents support casinos by a larger margin that urban residents. More residents said they want gambling revenues to go to local aid, not personal property tax relief.

For the first time, men and women had identical levels of support for gambling, and just over 50 percent said they want the Legislature to authorize slots at racetracks.

According to the study, slots at racetracks in Massachusetts could mean millions in lost revenue for Rhode Island.

Barrow said Rhode Island could lose $100 million to $150 million a year.

But there are certainly those Massachusetts residents who disagree with bringing in gambling to fix the economy.

"I certainly don't support gambling. I think it's a waste of money," one woman said.

The study found that the highest level of support for racinos -- racetracks with slots -- is in the New Bedford area. The lowest level of support was in central Massachusetts.

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