THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501200525
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEC KLEIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
A majority of Virginians oppose legalizing riverboat gambling, according to a poll released Thursday, but the casino lobby is expected to come back today with a poll showing that voters want to take the issue to the ballot box.
Thursday's independent survey of 809 registered voters statewide showed that the boats must navigate upstream - 52 percent oppose riverboat gambling, 36 percent favor it and 12 percent are undecided.
Every region in the state except Hampton Roads rejected riverboat gambling. Hampton Roads was evenly divided at 44 percent, with 12 percent undecided.
Gambling opponents declared a small but important victory. ``It shows that the people of Virginia just don't want riverboat gambling,'' said Tracey N. Randall, a lobbyist for Virginians Deserve Better. ``These numbers are good for us. We don't need to let this go to the voters. We can kill it here.''
The survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, was conducted by Maryland-based Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research Inc. and commissioned by several news organizations, including The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star.
Riverboat opponents are gearing up to defeat a bill in the General Assembly that would legalize floating casinos if voters approve the measure in a statewide referendum.
House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr., D-Norfolk, at first downplayed the significance of the Mason-Dixon poll, saying, ``Even my personal district is split pretty evenly. That's why I decided to go for it: We need the money.''
Moss acknowledged, however, that the poll numbers could weaken support among other lawmakers. ``I'd be less than candid if I said it couldn't cause some problems,'' he said. ``Obviously, I would prefer better figures.''
And so he shall get them.
The Virginia Riverboat Council, the chief lobby for floating casinos, confirmed that it will release a statewide survey today showing that more than 90 percent of Virginians want the General Assembly to pass a bill giving them the right to vote on the issue.
The survey, conducted by prominent Republican and Democratic pollsters, also will show that less than 50 percent support riverboat gambling. But when the economic benefits are explained, more than 50 percent back it.
``It's certainly not something to be happy about,'' Thomas M. Mountjoy, a principal in the gaming lobby, said of the public's weak support. But he held out the hope that support could grow if he and others address the public's concerns about the industry. ``We haven't really gone to educate the public,'' he said.
Mountjoy, general partner of the Annabel Lee dinner cruise in Richmond, said he expects the gaming lobby to spend more than last year's estimated $400,000 to get out their message. Supporters claim floating casinos could deliver $123 million in total annual tax revenues.
As chief patron of the riverboat bill, Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, D-Norfolk, seemed confident that the tide could turn with time. He also took issue with the fact that the Mason-Dixon poll made no mention of a referendum.
``If we get to a referendum, then the free flow of information begins,'' he said. ``A lot of people don't know what it is - and what it isn't, for that matter.''
If the bill successfully sails through the General Assembly, Gov. George F. Allen will support placing the question on the November ballot, said press secretary Ken Stroupe.
That poll will really count. Until then, said Del. Clifton A. Woodrum, D-Roanoke, ``everyone's going to have a poll. It's all like reading bird entrails. Depends on which bird you killed.''
KEYWORDS: POLLS RIVERBOAT GAMBLING by CNB