Poll: Many in US oppose Internet, sports betting

This is a AP article making the rounds today on the net and in newspapers across the US.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_bi_ge/nj_gambling_poll


I think its funny as most people said they gambled and still oppose it.

Still the questions asked did not ask about internet poker. I don't see how they could not include poker.
They asked alot about sports betting.
Here's a link to the questions.

http://publicmind.fdu.edu/casino/

For any poll, there is an opposite lol... This is the real deal:

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/general-poker-13/what-america-really-wants-160854/

i more or less ignore opinion polls like these almost entirely... most are biased or done in an incorrect manner and for every one you find that says one thing there's another that says the opposite.

I think its funny as most people said they gambled and still oppose it.

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The same thing applied when they asked people whether other people should be allowed to use a mobile telephone when driving, and then asked people whether it was OK for them to do it themselves.

A gambling addiction can really ruin lives and break families up, but there is still a lot of bollocks talked about gambling in general.

I'm not buying this poll at all. I bet the person writing the article already had a bias against gambling and thus these bogus poll numbers were used to back-up their argument.

Oh and one of my favorite quotes about statistics is relevant here:

"He used statistics the same way a drunk man uses light posts. For support rather than illumination."

I sorta understand the "I gamble, but I'm against it" thing, mainly because maybe you are cool with gambling, drop 500 on FT, lose it all in 2 hands (poor BRM) and now you're opposed, but I mean it IS a hypocritical view on the issue.

I don't think most people associate the words "gambling" and "poker". Most people that I know seem to think of betting on horses/dogs/sport when you mention gambling, or maybe roulette.

MOSTLY it is the bible thumping southerns who oppose gambling, but allow the lottery to be played in their states and some have video poker. It is all crap and who ever has the most money will win this internet poker debate and get things past in congress. Sad but true, in our society it is the one who has money who allways wins. Kinda like poker lol.

i never cared for people's opinions before ..i see no reason to start now,i wonder how many of those who oppose gambling...play bingo..

It's like drinking-if you don't like it don't do it. Shut up and sip your wheat grass smoothie and leave me alone.

Tygran said:

Oh and one of my favorite quotes about statistics is relevant here:

"He used statistics the same way a drunk man uses light posts. For support rather than illumination."

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lol that's great. Mine was "There are lies, damn lies, and statistics," but yours is better.

I wouldn't touch that poll with a ten foot pole.

Don't dismiss this poll!

Yes, polls can be manipulated and represent one side of an opinion.

Yes, we see articles and TV news that seem to be slanted againt us.

But, I think it is wrong to dismiss this poll out of hand.

Two-thirds (67%) oppose changing the law to permit people to place bets over the internet.

Two problems with this and other similar opinions.
1. Gambling is considered a negative and oppossed by many people.
2. The internet is increasing being used for illegitimate purposes.

I believe the above statement is the result. I also think the 67% figure above would hold even if a poll was 100% unbiased with a huge number of participants. Ask yourself this question. If there was a national referendum done on internet gambling or internet poker, what do you think the results would be? I'm all in. 2 out of 3 people would oppose.

Our elected politicians jobs depend on the voters to keep their very lucrative jobs. As long as there is a 2/3 majority of people against anything, Congress will not pass a new law going against the majority.

The bad news: my opinion, no change in internet poker legalization until more people change their opinion about internet gambling.

Actually sometimes polls aren't necessarily slanted, but the way you ask the questions and the possible answers that you give as options can have an enormous effect on what responses you receive. It's not always deliberate slanting, sometimes it's down to incompetence in phrasing the questions and answers.

I earn myself pocket money by filling in online surveys for Valued Opinions, Lightspeed and Global test Market, and it's surprising how many of their questions it is not possible to answer honestly from the options they provide.

Two-thirds (67%) oppose changing the law to permit people to place bets over the internet.

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What if they asked, more accurately, do you think they should make a law to prevent people from placing bets over the internet.

Goldog said:

What if they asked, more accurately, do you think they should make a law to prevent people from placing bets over the internet.

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Fair Question. Don't know. Since many US citizens feel they are over regulated, it could be no. On the other hand many US citiizens expect a law to meet their every whim.

I would guess a coin flip. We need a poll to find out. Unfortunately, the government isn't the one who needs the legislation passed.

This is the latest in New York State.

Not content with just trying to tax soft drinks, New York’s nanny-state politicians are also considering legislation to prohibit the use of salt in the preparation of restaurant food. Assemblyman Felix Ortiz introduced this absurdist bill on March 5. Ortiz is one of New York’s more strident food cops, having already introduced strict restaurant menu labeling proposals in the past. He is also following in the steps of fellow food nanny Mayor Michael Bloomberg who went so far as to compare salt to carcinogenic asbestos.

Our politicians want to protect and save us from ourselves. Lucky us!

mig2169 said:

MOSTLY it is the bible thumping southerns who oppose gambling, but allow the lottery to be played in their states and some have video poker. It is all crap and who ever has the most money will win this internet poker debate and get things past in congress. Sad but true, in our society it is the one who has money who allways wins. Kinda like poker lol.

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Are you serious? Have you ever even been to the South?

polls shmoles...who cares anyways.Most people don't care what the hell the members in their families do let alone some random guy from god knows where wanting to make a deposit on pokerstars!The only ppl that care about these kinds of crap polls are the ppl that writes them!