A new survey released by the American Gaming Association confirms that Americans are solidly behind casino gaming and recognize the benefits the industry brings to communities. The survey is the launch of a new campaign called “Get to Know Gaming” (G2KG), which is designed to proactively boast of the benefits of casino gaming in the U.S.
“There has never been a better time to go on the offensive,” American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “There is no need to be defensive. The public has seen the value of having casinos, and we need to promote the hell out of the industry.”
Conducted by the politically diverse polling groups the Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies, the poll showed strong support for casino gaming:
• Fifty-seven percent support casino gaming and an all-time high of 87 percent agree that gaming is an acceptable activity.
• More than 70 percent of respondents agree that casinos create jobs.
• Nearly two-thirds of casino customers say they spend money in the adjacent casino communities.
The survey showed that casino customers are a cross-section of America:
• Sixty-three percent of casino customers are homeowners and 70 percent are middle class or upper middle class.
• Almost half of casino customers are college graduates, a full 16 points higher than the national average.
• More than one-third attend religious services each week with a quarter of them described as evangelicals.
• Fifty-six percent of visitors are between 21 and 49 years of age.
• There is no dominant political view of casino customers with Democrats, Republicans and independents split relatively evenly.
• Twenty-three percent earn between $60,000 and $99,000 a year.
• When visiting a casino, customers set a gambling budget of less than $200.
• The reasons for going to a casino are the same for nearly two-thirds of the respondents: to “have fun and socialize with family and friends.”
• More than half of the respondents agree that casinos should be treated like any other business.
• Respondents agree that casinos are part of the communities where they are located, and almost half of them would like to see more casinos. And nearly 60 percent agree that casinos improve their local communities and their economies.
