Poll Preview: How Do You Feel About Igaming?

Poll Preview: How do you feel about online gambling?

The current poll is on your lottery-playing habits, since it's one of the only -- and most visible -- forms of gambling available to the general public these days. Horse races are being run around empty race tracks and are attracting large handles. But real-money online casino games are also an alternative and have been the subject of some discussion and controversy, especially in Europe where it's much more popular than here in the States, about how national lockdowns are leading to an increase in igaming, endangering already-depleted bank accounts.

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 the proposed selections for this poll preview. The poll is a general survey on knowledge of and attitudes about playing casino games for real money in pajamas in your bathroom or sweats on your porch. Please feel free to weigh in with your suggestions on improving the following selections, as well as your comments about igaming (which we sometimes use to improve the poll ourselves). And as always, thanks in advance for all feedback.

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

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

I thought igaming was illegal in all 50 states.

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

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

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

Igaming is not legal in my state, but it it were, I wouldn't ordinarily participate, but I might during the shutdown.

Igaming is not legal in my state, but it it were, I wouldn't ordinarily participate and I wouldn't during the shutdown.

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

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

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

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

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

I hope igaming is never legalized in my state.

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

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Comments

David Miller May-06-2020

Online gaming

 I do not trust it. I will never consider it to be safe.

Fast May-06-2020

Online stealing

Never!

KennyA May-06-2020

Real Gaming

I have never gambled online and don't believe I will. For me, gaming isn't fun unless you are in a casino with others around all enjoying the atmosphere. Las Vegas or Atlantic City yes, online no.

John Dixon May-06-2020

Online gaming

I read a quote many years ago that said "on line gambling is like playing craps with dice with no numbers on them".

Dave May-06-2020

More poll choices

- I live in a state where it IS legal but do not participate. 

- I live in a state where it IS legal but only play using free / play money chips.

rokgpsman May-06-2020

No thanks

Online gambling doesn't have any appeal to me. I don't visit a casino purely for the prospect of gambling to win money. Gambling is just part of the overall fun that includes other vacation activities like shows, sightseeing, meals with travel friends, etc. We like playing the games in-person with other people at the dice and blackjack tables. On video poker I have my spouse sitting next to me and we share the experience of winning and losing. Doing any of that online is a lonely activity that misses out on the in-person feeling I get in a casino..

Edso May-06-2020

Online Gaming

I have and will never engage in online gaming.  I would much rather be in the casino doing it live than virtual.  Also, I would hate to win a big hand or jackpot and then there be a glitch with the computer and it voids the win.  At least at the casino if there's a machine malfunction it gets handled by real people and they can check the validity.

Vickar May-06-2020

Online Gaming

Online gaming is like playing War (card game) with my 3 year old grandson.  No matter what card he turns over, he wins!

Ray May-06-2020

Save it for the poll

As usual, most of the comments are what people should wait until next week to answer. My only comment today, for the preview, would be to include regulation. How is igaming regulated in comparison to live gaming. In other words, would I be more likely to play on the internet if it was "MGM casinos online!" as opposed to "Jackpot City online"

Jackie May-06-2020

The Main Problem

with online gambling is that it s computer generated and controlled through servers.  The programming of those systems does not have to follow any brick and mortar rules so their take/edge can exceed anything real casinos have to abide by.  Not to mention programming can "rig" the outcome of any game being played.

O2bnVegas May-06-2020

'ordinarily' is confounding

1. The word "ordinarily" alters the interpretation of at least one of the options:  "igaming is not legal in my state, but if it were, I wouldn't [ordinarily] participate and I wouldn't during the shutdown."  Remove "ordinarily."  Ordinarily?  Does that mean maybe on Christmas or Easter?  

Also, that one is saying the same as another selection, "igaming is not legal in my state, but even if it were I would not participate."  This is the better, clearer of the two.

2. I participate in igaming and have no problem regulating my spending.
3. I participated in igaming but found I couldn't discipline myself.

# 2 and 3 may not fit the purpose of this poll; I am curious about how disciplined folks can be when casino-type gambling is available 24/7 in their jammies.   Perhaps better for a different poll.  Thanks.

Kevin Lewis May-06-2020

I offer an alternative

Live on-the-phone blackjack! Just give me your credit card number, tell me how much you want to bet. Sir, you have 16, would you like to hit? Oh, too bad, you busted. Would you like to play again?
Better and safer than online gaming!

Sandra Ritter May-06-2020

Back in the Day

Before the DOJ killed online poker I loved playing Texas Hold'em on Poker Stars. I still miss that (I infrequently play now with 'play money', no where near the same.) Illinois doesn't allow online gambling (yet, it's so broke it probably will soon) but being older and wiser I don't believe I'd get involved with it. (Truthfully I don't even know what the current online gambling is but I'm not sure I would trust it and I know I don't want to get hooked on it, so I'll just stay away.)

Bumbug May-07-2020

I love casinos, but not igaming

I love casinos and playing slot machines. That said, I allow myself a certain amount each day and when that's gone I quit playing. When I win and get above a certain amount on a machine I keep playing, but when my chip balance starts going down I cash out and put that ticket aside. At the end of my playing time I usually have a number of tickets to cash, and that minimizes my losses. I only use cash and I never get additional cash from an ATM in a casino, both because I don't want to pay the hefty fees and because I'm not willing to lose more than I've allotted myself for the day. Fortunately I have enough self-discipline to do this when I visit a casino. I play online games, most often the My Vegas online slots from MGM, and I enjoy them. However, I would NOT play for real money online since I think it would be too easy to go over the amount I'm willing to lose, and it would be too hard to cash out and put tickets aside to help minimize my losses like I do in a real casino.

Question of the Day - 06 May 2020

Comments