Voters Overwhelmingly Support State Regulation and Taxing Video Gaming Industry

RALEIGH, N.C., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A new statewide poll conducted by Public Policy Polling shows 81% of most-likely voters in North Carolina support regulating and taxing the state's video gaming industry. "Clearly, the voters understand the issue and support regulating and taxing video gaming in the state, " said Tom Jensen, pollster for PPP in Raleigh.

"The poll confirms what we have seen in the past two statewide surveys, people believe regulating and taxing video gaming could help state officials close the budget shortfall without raising new income and sales taxes," said William Thevaos, president of Entertainment Group of North Carolina, the group that commissioned the survey.

"The voters understand that people enjoy playing the games, 75% said they didn't see any difference between playing a NC Lottery scratch-off ticket and a video sweepstake, except the state isn't collecting revenue from the video sweepstake game," said Thevaos. "Furthermore, 76% said the state was leaving money on the table if the Legislature fails to regulate and tax video gaming."

When asked what voters thought would happen if video sweepstake centers were banned, 73% said a black market would be created and cause more headaches for state law enforcement officials.

KEY POLL FINDINGS:

• 64% of most-likely NC voters say the state is on the wrong track, while 36% say the state is headed in the right direction, 70% of independent voters say the state is headed on the wrong track
• 80% of most likely NC voters say they would support regulating and taxing video gaming to collect nearly $500 million in new revenue
• 73% of most likely voters say they would oppose any legislation to ban video sweepstake centers, 27% said they would support legislation to ban video sweepstake centers
• 76% of most likely voters agree with the statement that if the Legislature fails to regulate and tax video gaming, the state will lose millions of dollars in potential revenue
• 84% of Democratic voters say regulate and tax video gaming; 75% of Independent voters say regulate and tax video gaming; and 80% of GOP voters say regulate and tax video gaming

The survey was conducted April 20-22 of 568 NC Voters. For information on the poll contact: Tom Jensen, Public Policy Polling, 888-621-6988 or [email protected]. Poll is available at: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/VideoGamingNorthCarolinaPoll.pdf.

www.ncdontgobroke.com

SOURCE Entertainment Group of North Carolina