It appears that lobbying companies are not the only businesses benefitting from the struggle for online poker legalisation…polling companies are doing pretty well off the debate as well.
The latest study, commissioned by pro-legalisation action group the Coalition for Consumer & Online Protection, shows that most of the respondents have no problem with online poker legalisation in California, where two relevant bills currently await the attention of lawmakers (see previous reports).
The Coalition for Consumer & Online Protection was set up by Caesars Entertainment, MGM International, the American Gaming Association and other pro-online gambling groups to challenge the activities of the Coalition to Stop Internet Gaming funded by Las Vegas Sands multi-billionaire owner Sheldon Adelson, who wants a ban on most forms of internet gambling.
The new poll took the form of a telephone survey carried out by Tulcin Research throughout California between April 15 and 21, in which a sample of 800 residents was interviewed.
The results were published immediately after last week’s marathon hearing on the topic by the California State Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee and show that 27 percent of those polled are against online poker, and support the Adelson position on internet gambling.
However, 68 percent of respondents support the idea of well-regulated online poker, which the Coalition for Consumer & Online Protection says is “…further proof that Sheldon Adelson’s reckless legislation, which would institute a nationwide ban on all online gaming, is out of step with the public.”