A new poll by Global Strategy Group shows more statewide voters oppose rather than support legalizing seven full-scale gaming casinos in New York State, when they are given specific information about where the seven proposed casinos would be opened, reported Crain’s Insider.
Cuomo has proposed passing legislation this year to build three initial casino resorts in upstate New York, with the possibility of putting at least one of the four subsequent casinos in the city. And so far, early polls show that the Cuomo is in for an uphill battle.
The poll of 804 likely general election voters statewide found 50 percent would vote against Cuomo's plan with the current siting proposal in place, while 44 percent would vote in favor.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is opposed to placing a casino in Manhattan, while some Senate Republicans worry about how new upstate casinos would impact the existing nine racinos.
Interestingly, half of general election voters in New York City supported (44 percent opposed) turning Genting's Resorts World Casino in southeast Queens into a full-scale casino and placing the six other casinos outside of New York City.
However, amongst Democratic voters in the city, when asked whether or not they would support a casino in their neighborhood, 74 percent opposed.
When asked about specific boroughs, a solid 56 percent of Democratic voters in the city opposed building full-scale casinos in New York City, while 60 percent opposed building one in Queens, and 62 percent opposed building one in Brooklyn.
