New Jerseyans are in favor of adding slot machines to the Meadowlands and other existing racetracks in the state, according to a recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind.
Voters support the proposal to expand slots to the Meadowlands 52 percent to 37 percent. Among those who consider themselves independent voters, the rate of support is nearly 2-1 (58 percent to 33 percent).
Among those with party affiliations, Democrats favor slots at the Meadowlands 5- 4 (51 percent to 38 percent) while Republicans are split (46 percent to 46 percent), according to a press release from the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ).
“The Fairleigh Dickinson University poll makes it abundantly clear that the majority of the citizens in New Jersey support the addition of slot machines at the Meadowlands,” Tom Luchento, president of SBOANJ, said in the press release. “If New Jersey’s leadership wishes to respect the opinion of the public, this is a clear endorsement of racinos — slots at racetracks.”
The Fairleigh Dickinson University poll of 801 registered voters statewide was conducted by telephone from May 8-18 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points. The results were issued on June 14. TrotPAC, a harness racing political action committee in New Jersey, underwrote the survey.
According to the survey, 50 percent of voters think that slots would provide tax revenue, create new jobs and preserve open space, while 33 percent think that they would expand gambling too much and hurt business and tax revenue in Atlantic City.
“The public understands that this isn’t an expansion of gambling, but an addition of alternate gaming at existing racetracks,” Luchento said. “Slots at the racetracks will not only help our breeding and racing industry, but also infuse much needed revenue into the state’s economy as well as directly into the state’s treasury.”
The poll also found most voters, 94 percent, consider the preservation of New Jersey farmland “very important” or “somewhat important.” This finding did not change from a 2008 FDU poll.
According to the SBOANJ, the horse racing and breeding industry plays a significant role in farmland preservation.
“New Jersey citizens have repeatedly supported open space and farmland preservation ballot issues,” Luchento said. “Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent to retain the beauty and agricultural tradition of the Garden State. If we lose horse racing in this state, we have the potential of losing 176,000 acres of equine-related farmland or alternatively spending hundreds of millions in public funds to preserve these farms.”
The support for slot or video lottery terminals (VLTs) at tracks is not limited to the Meadowlands. The survey said 51 percent favor slots at other Garden State racetracks, such as Monmouth Park in Oceanport and Freehold Raceway in Freehold, while 39 percent do not.
Voters did differ in their opinions according to age group. Those 18 to 44 favored slot expansion 2-1; those 45-64 favor it 51-37, but those of retirement age — 65 years of age and older — oppose the idea 49-38.
Fifty-three percent of younger voters — those 18 to 44 — are more favorable to expanding full casino gambling, including table games, to racetracks. Among all age groups, 49 percent opposed the concept, while 42 percent supported it.
For further information, visit publicmind. fdu.edu.