Florida Voters Favor Casinos: Poll

Legislative session opens with gaming, budget and education among top issues

A large percentage of Floridians think casinos are good for the state’s troubled economy and most of them support the creation of Las Vegas style gambling, though by a smaller percentage, according to a statewide poll released Tuesday.

The Quinnipiac University poll, conducted January 4-8, showed that 61 percent of voters believe the casinos would be good for the economy, with only 33 percent saying they wouldn’t be. The also poll asked whether the voters supported non-Indian casinos like those in Vegas or Atlantic City with 48 percent saying they did and 43 percent opposing them.

The timing of the poll is particularly significant considering the Florida Legislature opened its 2012 Session Tuesday, with a controversial gaming bill among the top issues to be decided.

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee approved revisions to a mega resort bill yesterday setting the stage for what promises to be a contentious session.

The poll also shed light on how Floridians feel about state government with 50 percent disapproving of the job Governor Rick Scott is doing and only 38 percent approving. Their view on how the state legislature was doing was no better, with 49 percent disapproving and only 33 percent approving.

Among the other major issues to be taken up by the legislature this session, according to Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon's opening remarks, are the state’s potential $2 billion budget shortfall, education issues and redistricting.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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