More Philadelphians are betting on gaming

    The survey by the Pew Charitable Trusts finds that 53 percent favor casinos, while 41 percent don’t want them in the city.

    An independent poll shows support for slot-machine gambling in Philadelphia may be growing. The survey by the Pew Charitable Trusts finds that 53 percent favor casinos, while 41 percent don’t want them in the city.

    Listen:
    [audio: 090428sppoll.mp3]

    Past polls have shown an even split among Philadelphia residents when it comes to casinos. But the Pew’s Larry Eichel says this recent poll departs from those surveys.

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    Eichel: I think you’ll find a pretty even split on that question, basically tilting negative, but an even split. Now we find a significant majority in favor of bringing slot machine gambling to the city so that is a change.

    Eichel says its unclear why the shift occurred. The two casinos face significant neighborhood opposition. The poll shows 60 percent of those surveyed are in favor of locating the Sugarhouse casino on the waterfront in Fishtown. But when it comes to the re-location of the Foxwoods slots parlor to Market street, the majority of residents are opposed.

    The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

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