A SURVEY OF NEW YORK VOTERS ON A PROPOSAL TO ENHANCE CASINO GAMBLING

Key Findings October 2011

About The Survey

Between October 9 and 12, 2011, Kiley and Company interviewed a representative sample of 802 New York voters, in a survey commissioned by the New York Gaming Association. A total of 702 respondents were randomly selected from an up-to-date computer file of voters in the state. In addition, 100 voters were contacted on their cell phones. County quotas were employed to ensure the sample population accurately reflects the entire New York electorate.

K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Regional Breakdowns

Upstate East 19% Upstate West 17%

Northern Suburbs 10% New York City 38% Long Island 16%

K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Profile Of The Sample Population

Region
New York City Suburbs Upstate

Party
38
26 36
Democrats Republicans Other

48 26 26 44 30 10 16 72

Income
Under $75K

Gender
Men

47 53

$75K to $150K Over $150K Refused

Women

Age
Under 35 35 to 49 50 to 64 65+

22 27 31

Race
White African-American Latino Asian

15
9 3 26 19 39 44
4

20

Education
High school/less Some college College grads
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

Have visited
NY racetrack casino

22 28 49

NY Indian-run casino

Out-of-state casino
None of above

NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q02,05

Voters Are Bracing For Tougher Times

Do you feel that things in New York State are basically heading in the right direction, or do you feel things in the state are pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Right direction Wrong track

36
NYC

Right 40

Wrong 50 48 63

54

Suburbs
Upstate

39
29

Looking ahead to the next year or so, do you feel more optimistic that the state is headed for better times or more concerned that the state is headed for tougher times?
Better Tougher 67 67

Better times Tougher times

29 68

NYC
Suburbs Upstate

30
29 27

69

Remainder not sure

K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q03

Strong Ratings For Governor Cuomo

How would you rate the job Andrew Cuomo is doing as Governor of New York would you say Cuomo is doing an excellent, good, not-so-good or poor job as Governor?

59
All Voters

Positive 70

Negative

24

NYC Suburbs

72 71 68

20 22 30

17 11

Upstate

Excellent
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

Good

Not so good

Poor
Remainder not sure
NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q04

The Dominant Issue: Jobs

Of the following six issues facing New York State, which one concerns you the most?

All Voters Jobs and the economy 44

NYC 49 8 17

Suburbs 43 25 13

Upstate 41 22 13

Taxes
Public education Health care State budget cutbacks

18
14 11 9

11
13 1

10
5 3

12
7 4

The environment

Remainder not sure

K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q06

Clear Majority Support For Enhanced Casino Gambling At The States Racetracks
There are currently five Indian-run casinos operating in Upstate New York, and there is limited electronic gaming permitted at nine racetrack casinos located throughout the state. The state constitution prohibits any other type of casino gambling. There is a proposal to amend the constitution to permit the addition of table games and slot machines at the nine existing racetrack sites, making them full-fledged casinos. Would you support or oppose this proposal to allow enhanced casino gambling at the nine existing racetracks in the state?
55
Support Oppose
44 33 38

39

NYC

48

Suburbs
Upstate

60
57

6
Support
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

Oppose

Undecided
NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q07

Most Voters Oppose A Broader Expansion Of Casino Gambling, Beyond The Existing Racetrack Sites
There is an alternative proposal that would amend the constitution to lift all restrictions on casino gaming and allow casinos anywhere in the state, not just at the nine existing racetrack sites. Would you support or oppose this proposal to allow a broader expansion of casino gambling beyond the nine existing racetrack sites?

58
Support Oppose 62 60

38

NYC
Suburbs Upstate

33
35 45

51

4
Support
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

Oppose

Undecided
NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q08,10-12,17

Strongest Reasons For Supporting Our Proposal: Spend Gambling $ In NY; More Revenue For The State
% Very convincing New Yorkers currently spend more than $3 billion at casinos in Connecticut, Atlantic City and elsewhere. This proposal would keep a lot more of that money right here in New York, where it can boost our own economy, instead of other states. Unlike Indian-run casinos, which will provide no revenue to the state this year, the racetrack casinos currently provide over $600 million a year in revenue to New York. This proposal would increase that amount by at least another $250 million a year. The nine existing racetracks are already major employers in their local areas. With this proposal they will provide more jobs, more revenue and more business activity to benefit their regional economies. Almost half of all the money racetrack casinos provide to the state is dedicated to public education. This proposal would help bolster state funding for local schools by another $100 million, at a time when our schools are struggling with budget cutbacks. % Total convincing

44

61

39

58

36

56

35

50

Allowing full-fledged gambling at existing racetracks would create over 20,000 new jobs at a time when the state is in desperate need of them.
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

31

51
10

NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q18-21

Reactions To Messages Against Our Proposal

% Very convincing % Total convincing

The special interests behind casino gambling proposals like this one always exaggerate the new jobs and revenue that their projects will create. We cant rely on casinos and slot machines to solve our economic problems.

41

58

Casino gambling is very damaging to families and communities, because it almost always leads to increases in crime, gambling addiction and other social problems. We dont need any more of these problems in New York State. This proposal is just a sweetheart deal for the existing racetracks in the state. The best way to increase revenues and other benefits for the state is to open up the process and let all interested companies compete for a limited number of casino licenses.

32

44

21

41

If this proposal passes there would be a total of 14 full-fledged, Las Vegasstyle casinos in New York, with some clustered too close together in certain upstate areas. Thats just too many.
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

21

36

NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

11

Q22

Following Balanced, Pro/Con Statements, Nearly Three-In-Five Express Support For Our Proposal
Supporters say this proposal would provide significant financial benefits to the state including $100 million more for New York schools and be a welcome source of new jobs. They say New Yorkers are already spending billions every year on casino gaming, but mostly in neighboring states. This proposal is a reasonable way to keep more of that money here in New York, by allowing for limited enhancement of gambling only at those sites that are already licensed by the state. Opponents say the costs of this proposal outweigh the benefits. Enhancing casino gambling in New York State will lead to more of the same social problems already associated with gambling, including crime and addiction, which hurts families and communities and provides few real benefits. The state should find better ways to boost the economy than by allowing more legalized gambling in New York.

Total support
Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

58 35 23 14 27 40
Remainder not sure
NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Total oppose
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

12

Q22

Support Levels For Proposal, Among Selected Groups

Support Oppose Support Oppose

All voters

58

40

All voters

58

40

Region NYC Suburbs Upstate Gender Men Women

Age Under 35 35 to 49 50 to 64 65+

54 63 59

45 35 39

Party Democrats Independents Republicans Income Under $75K $75K to $150K $150K + Race White African-American Latino Religion Catholic (White) Jewish Protestant, other Christian Other, none

58 58 59

41 40 39

62 55

37 44

57 67 59

43 32 40

60 64 56 51

40 36 41 46

60 56 54

39 44 44

Education Non-college College grads Post-grads

K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

58 58 63

41 40 36

65 66 52 53

33 34 47 44
13

NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

Q23,24

Voters Prefer Our Nine-Racetrack Proposal To A Broader Expansion, By A Wide Margin

As I mentioned earlier, there is an alternative proposal that would amend the constitution to lift all restrictions on casino gaming, and allow casinos anywhere in the state, not just at the nine existing racetrack sites. If it came down to a choice between these two approaches, which one would you be more inclined to favor: limiting the enhancement of casino gambling to the nine existing racetrack sites or allowing a broader expansion of casino gambling beyond the nine existing racetrack sites?

Limit to existing racetrack sites Allow broader expansion

63
NYC

Limit to existing sites

Allow broader expansion 25 26

66
66 58

27

Suburbs Upstate

31

Neither, not sure

10
Note: In response to another question, voters say the broader expansion plan would lead to more social problems, by a 59% to 20% margin.

K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y

NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

14

Q25,26

Voters Overwhelmingly Prefer Our Nine Racetrack Proposal To An Indian-Only Plan

There are currently five Indian-run casinos in Upstate New York that operate under special agreement with the state and federal government. These Indian tribes oppose allowing any enhancement of gambling at non-Indian casinos, saying it would create more competition for their own facilities. The tribes say that any additional gambling in New York State should be limited to new or expanded Indian-run facilities. If it came down to a choice between allowing enhanced casino gambling at the nine racetrack casinos currently in operation in the state or allowing expanded casino gambling only at Indian-run facilities, which option would you favor?
Allow at ractrack casinos Allow at Indian-run facilities Neither, not sure

62
NYC
Suburbs Upstate

Racetrack casinos

Indian-run facilities 27 19

24

57
69 63

24

14

Note: After hearing that Indian casinos have stopped paying a portion of their revenue to the state, a 70%-to-16% margin of voters say they prefer the nineracetrack plan to an Indian-only option.
K I L E Y & C O MP A N Y NYGA STATEWIDE VOTER SURVEY, OCTOBER 2011

15