Poll - 2020-05-13 | Las Vegas Advisor

With brick-and-mortar casinos around the country still shut down and sporting events stalled for at least the near future, real-money online casino games have been the subject of some speculation in terms of an accelerated expansion to shore up depleted tax revenues for states.

Only three states in the U.S. offer legal igaming: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. All the casinos in all three states shut down on March 16 and the online numbers do seem to tell a tale. In March in New Jersey, Internet gambling win was $64.82 million, a 20% increase over February; Pennsylvania’s igaming revenues jumped to $24.27 million, a 24.5% increase over February’s $19.49 million; and Delaware's win of $514k was 58.5% higher than February’s $325k.

Online gambling was legalized in Michigan last December and is expected to be rolled out later this year. But in West Virginia, "emergency" rules have been introduced with a timeline of as little as six weeks for igaming to go live.

And of course, there's always offshore. It's not too tough to play casino games at online casinos domiciled abroad; it's also one of the uses of cryptocurrencies in lieu of credit cards (that require billing addresses, etc.).

Which leads us to this poll, which is a general survey on your knowledge of and attitudes toward playing casino games for real money in pajamas in your bathroom or sweats on your porch. You can select as many answers as you like, thank you for your votes and comments, and a big thanks for the feedback to the poll preview last week, especially suggestions by Dave, Ray, and Candy.

1134 Total Votes

Before I read the above facts about it, I was aware of Internet gambling.

16% (180)

I'd never play for real money at an offshore casino. I don't trust them.

13% (145)

I have no problem with igaming; people should be responsible for their own behavior.

11% (127)

I knew igaming was legal in some places, but didn't know where exactly.

10% (119)

Igaming is not legal in my state, but if it were, I wouldn't participate, including during a shutdown.

10% (108)

I'd be more likely to play online if it were offered by a U.S.-regulated casino company than an offshore site.

9% (104)

I'm against igaming in principle and practice; I believe it makes it too easy for gamblers to get into trouble.

6% (65)

Igaming is not legal in my state, but if it were, I would participate.

5% (57)

I hope igaming is never legalized in my state.

4% (50)

Igaming is not legal in my state, but if it were, I wouldn't participate, though I might consider it during a shutdown.

3% (35)

I'm looking forward to pajama gaming when igaming is legalized in my state.

3% (34)

I live in a state where igaming is legal, but don't participate.

3% (32)

I thought igaming was illegal in all 50 states.

2% (25)

Before I read the above, I was unaware of Internet gambling.

2% (18)

I live in a state where it is legal, and do participate.

1% (13)

I tried playing at offshore casinos, but it didn't work for me.

1% (10)

I don't care if igaming is legal or illegal in my state or anywhere else. I play just fine at reputable offshore casinos.

1% (9)

I live in a state where it is legal, but participate with free-play chips only.

0% (3)

Analysis

The number-one vote-getting choice shows that LVA.com readers and poll participants are well-aware of igaming, as we would expect from visitors to a Las Vegas and gambling website. Only 2% of respondents didn't know that they could gamble at online casinos. Another 2% believed that igaming is illegal in all 50 states, which isn't so far from the truth, given that only three states offer legal online casino games, though 10% knew online casinos are legal somewhere in the U.S., but not exactly where.

As for actually participating in igaming, it's clear that the LVA demographic, which skews toward the geezer end of the spectrum, don't gamble online. Thirteen percent of respondents, the second-most votes, don't trust the games, while 9% would or might gamble online at casinos regulated by state authorities. In addition, respondents who are against igaming in principle and practice, believing it encourages problem gambling, placed sixth out of the 18 choices. Ten respondents had tried igaming and didn't like it; another 10 live in non-igaming states, but wouldn't play even if it was legal. Fully 50 respondents hope that online casinos are never legalized in their states.

There wasn't much of a showing on the other side of the equation: Out of the 1,134 total votes, 13 respondents live in igaming states and play, while nine play offshore.

It's true that allowing multiple responses skews the percentages, but these results are pretty clear nonetheless: Igaming participants and potential enthusiasts are a definite minority of American, and specifically older, gamblers.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Comments

Ray May-13-2020

lots of choices

Even though I am not particularly interested in online slots, BJ, craps, etc., I will be interested when the Sports books are available in Illinois. I'll probably study it a lot more, but in the past I would stop at the books when we go to Vegas, partly because it is a form of gambling we couldn't get at home. I think I'm most interested in things that we all can see happening, as opposed to a seemingly solo game online. Everyone can see the score of a football game, much like the result of a horse race. You feel confident that you aren't being cheated.

Robert Vinson May-20-2020

I gaming

Just not interested

rocks2oldies May-20-2020

Online Gambling

I have never understood why any of us can't gamble online.  People play games they have to buy points for like Jackpot Party on Facebook.  There is no difference except we can't in our money back we paid for points.  Ridiculous.  Let us play where we feel most comfortable.

Poll : 13 May - 26 May 2020

Analysis

Comments