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NH residents say gambling best revenue option

DURHAM, New Hampshire -- As reported by The Daily News of Newburyport: "A public opinion poll of New Hampshire residents conducted at the University of New Hampshire indicates legalizing gambling remains the most palatable way the state could raise new revenue.

"In saying that expanded gambling — like slot machines at racetracks in Seabrook, Salem and elsewhere — would be a favored option, residents also made it clear that what they don't want is a sales or income tax in the Granite State.

"Still, the UNH survey hardly endorsed gambling in the state, calling the option 'the least unpopular' choice to raise revenue.

"'Legalized gambling remains the least unpopular of a series of unpopular revenue options,' wrote Andrew Smith, Ph.D, director of the UNH Survey Center in his report on the recent poll.

"...The UNH Survey Center poll, conducted from Feb. 5 through Feb. 9, interviewed 619 randomly chosen New Hampshire adults asking their opinion on their preferences for revenue-generating methods. The legalizing of gambling was one method tested, along with the implementation of broad-based taxes like income and sales taxes or an increase in statewide property taxes to bolster lagging state revenues.

"...But according to Smith's poll, legalized gambling is not as unpopular as all other sources.

"'The only revenue option that is somewhat politically popular is expanding legal gambling,' Smith wrote in his report. '41 (percent) say they would be more likely to vote for a State Senate candidate who favored legalized gambling; 37 (percent) said they would be more likely to vote against; 18 (percent) said it would make little difference to their vote; and 4 (percent) don't know...'"

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