Arizona
Gaming = Indian Gaming:
Yes to Indian Gaming Expansion,
No to
Off-Reservation Gaming
Valley leaders strongly support the
expansion of Indian gaming if conditioned on the sharing of gaming revenues with
the state, according to a recent O'Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll. In
contrast, business and community leaders in Maricopa County overwhelmingly
disapprove of suggestions to permit off-reservation gaming in Arizona.
Two-thirds (65%) support the
general idea that gaming may be increased on Arizona's reservations if the
state receives a share of the profits. Such a plan would be similar to that
sponsored by a majority of the state's tribes on the ballot for the November
election and supported by Governor Hull, but opposed by several state
legislators. Twenty-nine percent (29%) oppose it, and 6% are unsure.
An alternative suggestion to allow businesses that are not located
on the state's reservations to host casino-style gaming is opposed by 70% of
Valley leaders, and supported by just 22%. Eight percent (8%) had no opinion.
This plan is similar to one sponsored by the state's horse and dog racetracks
on this year's ballot.
Said Dr. Michael O'Neil, Ph.D.,
director of the O'Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll, "Considering
that these questions reflect competing propositions this fall, our poll numbers
represent an unusually clear-cut statement about the preference of some of
state's most important opinion leaders. It certainly looks like those in favor
of off-reservation gaming face an uphill battle in the coming months."
Minor Political Disagreements
Majorities in all subgroups of
Valley leaders based on party registration and political ideology support the
expansion of Indian gaming in return for revenue sharing. The majorities are
not of equal strength, however. At 58% and 62%, respectively, support among
conservatives and Republicans is well below that of liberals (82%), moderates
(71%), Democrats (77%), and those with other registrations (81%).
Opposition
to off-reservation gaming is more uniform. Only the somewhat greater support
among those identifying themselves as conservatives, of whom one-third (31%)
favor off-reservation gaming, deviates slightly from the norm.
"For a long time, the left
side of the political spectrum has strived to give Native Americans a helping
hand, to make up for historical inequities," said Dr. O'Neil. "That
helping hand, it appears, even includes granting the state's tribes the
exclusive right to cater to one of our so-called sins if necessary to give the
tribes an economic and social boost."
"In contrast," Dr. O'Neil
continued, "I am actually surprised we did not find a greater difference
in responses to off-reservation gaming. Casinos in Arizona have proven to be
good business, and conservatives and Republicans usually are much more strongly
in favor of pro-business measures. Perhaps, some conservatives are concerned
about having casinos in the state at all, regardless of who operates them and
regardless of whether casinos are good business. Either way, it definitely
looks like tha substantial majority of Arizonans are serious about limiting
gambling to the reservations."
Gamblers
and Non-Gamblers Alike
A two-thirds majority (65%) of
business and community leaders in the Valley have been to a casino in Arizona
at least once. Casino usage, however, appears to have only a modest influence
on people's attitudes towards the expansion of Indian gaming and the
institution of off-reservation gaming. Clear majorities support the former,
while equally unequivocal majorities support the latter.
Experience with Indian gaming in
Arizona seems to lead to slightly greater support for its expansion. Those who
have frequented a casino in the state more than once are most likely (75%) to
support an expansion in exchange for revenue sharing, though only slightly more
than those who have gone once (68% support) or not gone at all (63%). The
differences in support for off-reservation among users and non-users are not
sufficient to defy statistical chance.
Said Dr. O'Neil, "It is
positive, of course, for Arizona's Indian-run casinos that the people who visit
them are in favor of their expansion. But it must be most encouraging to
supporters that no groups exhibit widespread opposition, even
non-gamblers."
About the Poll. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll is a web-based survey that was sent to all members of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Valley Leadership, East Valley Partnership, and Westmarc. As such, this survey does not purport to be a random or representative sampling of the general population of the Phoenix metropolitan area. It would be difficult, however, to conceive of a more comprehensive representation from which to draw inferences about the opinions and sensibilities of business and community leaders than the combined membership of these organizations, although, inevitably, any definition of influentials is somewhat subjective. The persons surveyed are likely to exert disproportionate influence on and be an early indicator of community opinion by virtue of their position, community involvement, and political participation. The O’Neil Associates Valley Influentials Poll was not sponsored or paid for by any outside organization. Four hundred eight participants completed the survey between June 13 and June 24, 2002, yielding a margin of error of ±4.5%. O’Neil Associates, Inc. is a Tempe-based public opinion research firm specializing in client-focused attitude and awareness studies for a wide variety of industries and organizations.
FOR RELEASE FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2002, 12 NOON (VIP010-2002-01)
FURTHER
INFORMATION: Michael O'Neil, Ph.D.,
480-967-4441
These
results may be reported freely provided that they are identified as the “O’Neil
Associates Valley Influentials Poll” including identification on any graphic
material.
O’Neil Associates has
tracked public opinion across the Valley, Arizona, and the Nation since 1981.
To be healthy, public debate must be informed—this is why we commit our
resources to measuring opinions on the political and social issues people care
about and talk about. O’Neil Associates, however, is much more than that.
While the Valley Influentials Poll and Valley Monitor may be our
most publicly visible activities, we do most of our work for private businesses
and organizations as well as state and other public agencies. As a full-service
research firm, we assist our clients with a broad range of research efforts to
measure customer satisfaction, improve customer service, fine-tune public
images, focus marketing campaigns, engineer products, increase market shares,
strengthen employee relations, and plan, refine, and assess business
strategies.