if the general USA public voted on online gambling

durito · 02-22-07, 07:28 PM

Originally posted by goldengoat

to me it just emphasizes that we are no longer a democracy in the USA

when has the US ever had a participatory democracy?

I agree people would vote it to be legal pretty handily. But congress passing laws that only pander to small % of their constituents is nothing new.

Dead Money · 02-22-07, 07:59 PM

I tend to think it would be 20 for an 80 against!!

What percentage of people do you think actually gamble online? ( Sports, Poker, Casino, Horses, and Bingo)

I can't give any facts but if I had to guess I would say 15%, and that is most likely wishful thinking on my end.

I'm sure on what part of the country you are in would have alot to do with it too.

Bottom line is it should be freedom of choice. Who in the hell do these people think they are telling us how we can or cannot spend our money.

Tax and regulate this shlt like the rest of the world already.

operaman · 02-22-07, 08:14 PM

its in the %30-%70 range. Questions like,
Is the statue of liberty in mexico? get 10%-%15 yes votes.

gummo · 02-22-07, 09:46 PM

I agree with Dead Money. Especially here in Ohio where they overwhelmingly defeated a bill to allow slot machines at race tracks.

BuddyBear · 02-22-07, 09:55 PM

Sorry to break it to you, but it wouldn't even be close.....online gaming would be defeated easily in this country.

Many of you don't seem to realize just how conservative the United States really is.......This country managaed to elect a moron of an unprecedent proportion not once, but twice.

Those Bible Thumpers you speak of make up a large and influential voting bloc....trust me, that 40 something born again Christian is much more likely to vote than the 19 year old college student.....

jjgold · 02-22-07, 10:03 PM

Against would win real easy

70-30

FightForCalifornia · 02-22-07, 10:06 PM

Are you talking about public opinion, or a vote?

Public opinion is probably ambivalent, somewhere around 50/50

But if it went to a vote, the number of people who would vote FOR it would be paltry compared to the number of people who would vote AGAINST it.

It would be an interesting proposition though, as I'm sure online casinos would raise millions of dollars to run ads to support it...

BuddyBear · 02-22-07, 10:06 PM

Over 50% of people in this country think it is okay for the federal government to spy on you without a warrant....

That should tell you all you need to know about whether online gaming would pass in this country or not

jjgold · 02-22-07, 10:29 PM

About 95% of the pop do not bet sports or go to racetracks

goldengoat · 02-22-07, 11:01 PM

really disappointed in the answers here

just cause people don't gamble doesn't mean they should be ok with government banning it or themselves voting to ban it

i'm sure people like having their liberties taken away even if it's something they don;t necessarily partake in

wtf are you guys smoking??? so i should vote to ban something if i don't do it and it doesn't affect me?

VERY disappointing answers here

BuddyBear · 02-22-07, 11:23 PM

i didn't say i am against it...i am just speculating on how the general American public would vote. It's a very conservative country here if you haven't noticed.....good luck trying to find a Senator who is going to support an online gaming bill too.

durito · 02-22-07, 11:43 PM

Then why did all the polls at newsites suggest that the majority of americans thought it should be legal?

You wont get 70-30 on any issue in this country, too many people are too stupid. but i think this would clearly pass in the high 50%

BuddyBear · 02-23-07, 12:06 AM

Those polls you are referring to are scientifically inaccurate and aren't worth the paper they are written. The reason those polls are scientifically inaccurate are because:

1) they are non-random

2) self-selection from the sample...a major violation

3) bias wording/leading questions

4) you can vote multiple times

Online gaming is a non-issue for the American public and esepcially for the Congress.....

goldengoat · 02-23-07, 12:10 AM

i don't know what the hell buddy bear and some of these other people are talking about

polls i saw were huge in favor of online betting especially cause of the poker boom

i was shocked by some of those responses (except for jj)

durito · 02-23-07, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by BuddyBear

Those polls you are referring to are scientifically inaccurate and aren't worth the paper they are written. The reason those polls are scientifically inaccurate are because:

1) they are non-random

2) self-selection from the sample...a major violation

3) bias wording/leading questions

4) you can vote multiple times

Online gaming is a non-issue for the American public and esepcially for the Congress.....

You don't know what polls I'm referring to, but they certainly aren't based on gambling forums. There was one on the wall street journal that showed a majority in support of legal online gambling. They are certainly not an exact science, but one can deduct resonable assumptions from them.

Whether or not this is an issue for the public is irrelevant to the question posed in this thread. The presidential election is certainly a major issue, yet the US still has among the lowest voter turnout in the world for their presidential elections.

The question was, if voted on, would the people of the US vote to legalize online gambling and I say yes they would. We have had several referendums on legalizing gambling in a variety of counties here in Colorado and allmost all have passed. This has happened in many states.

Obviously such a vote would never happen, but if it did, the evidence cleary suggests legalization as the most likely outcome.

Dark Horse · 02-23-07, 12:34 AM

Pro gambling would win. There is only a small minority against this.

Jay Edgar · 02-23-07, 02:01 AM

Golly, all this pontificating and not a single link to an actual poll -- the answer is out there, people.

I don't know what Goldengoat is so "disappointed" about, but I'm shaking my head at the overall laziness. Here -- from 3 minutes of looking on the Internet -- (and I know you all have computers). Polls are mostly taken by people with agendas, but this is reasonably reputable.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=641

Milkin' it Slowly · 02-23-07, 05:50 AM

I might depened on what type of gambling...
Poker would probably pass by atleast 75% ( in favor)

Sportbooks would have a tougher time and probably be defeated by alot. Maybe 25%

Table game, slot casinos, I could care less about, but would most likely get defeated,too... 25%

MBENZ · 02-23-07, 06:34 AM

To answer your question the way you originally asked it is:
Most of the general public does'nt gamble,so they would most likely not vote on it period.
The remainder of the general public hopefully is made up of alot more online poker players and sports gamblers than religous fanatics so I think the final result would be in your favor.
Hopefully one day we will have the real answer.

jjgold · 02-23-07, 07:27 AM

I gamble and would vote against it, too easy to lose on a computer, its like crack.

Most people look at gamblers as outcasts and losers also.

PeterWellington · 02-23-07, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by Jay Edgar

Golly, all this pontificating and not a single link to an actual poll -- the answer is out there, people.

I don't know what Goldengoat is so "disappointed" about, but I'm shaking my head at the overall laziness. Here -- from 3 minutes of looking on the Internet -- (and I know you all have computers). Polls are mostly taken by people with agendas, but this is reasonably reputable.

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/har...ex.asp?PID=641

The worst part about that article IMO is the 50 and older demographic. These people tend to vote in greater numbers and they are the most opposed to online gaming.

ferndog · 02-23-07, 11:33 AM

We are the only country in the world that is not accepted by all the books. If you lived outside the U.S. you would be able to bet with any book that you wanted in the world. We are getting shafted to say the least. I think we are in the minority if there was a vote but i could be wrong.

Bill Dozer · 02-23-07, 12:48 PM

Good topic. My 2 cents...

I think online gambling gets voted against but gambling in general would be voted legal.

We know politics is a popularity contest all the way around. That's why we don't see anyone in office making choices based on ethics. For example, we also know old people can be dangerous drivers and think they should be retested at a certain age. Something like that would not pass because of the unfavorable affect it would have on the general public. Everyone knows someone who probably shouldn't be on the road and no one wants to cart them around or pay for transportation.

For most, voting to legalize online gambling would be voting for foreign business, a poorer country and higher taxes. Not enough people are computer savvy to care. But if you asked the same group if the government should legalize all forms of gambling the YEAs would take it.

capitalist pig · 02-23-07, 01:01 PM

Here in FL its okay to bet on dogs, and some of the tracks have poker rooms that are legal also. Then there are some indian casinos, but I believe that they only have slot machines, at least the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa is just slots.

IMO, the older folks (they are the voting public) will/would vote in legal slots in FL soon, because they love to sit there all day with nickles,dimes and quarters. But as far as voting in legal online betting here in FL, I doubt it will ever happen.
Just my opinion.
Later