Researchers in Connecticut discovered that 67.8% of people think it's "fine" that gambling is available in the state right now.
A whopping 93.5% of Connecticut residents rated gambling as either "not at all" or "not very" important, according to a research by the state's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Out of more than 5,000 residents surveyed, nearly two-thirds (67.2%) think the risks of gambling are greater than the advantages. Legalised gambling in Connecticut poses the greatest danger of addiction, according to 69.2% of respondents.
While 68.7% are unsure about the honesty and fairness of Connecticut's gaming offerings, 70.8% think that suppliers and gamblers should share the blame for reducing gambling-related harms. Only 17.3% of Connecticut residents are unhappy with the state's efforts to reduce gambling-related harms.
Among the benefits of legalised gambling, the highest percentages were employment (21.6%) and higher government revenue (20.1%). In addition, the enhanced capacity for Connecticut to keep funds that would have otherwise left the state (13.5%) and the financial and employment benefits for tribes (12.7%) were also cited.
Of the state's more than 3.6 million inhabitants, just 1.8% were classified as problem gamblers, or about 50,000 adults. Of those that gambled, 62.6% did it for fun, while 4.9% were deemed to be at danger.
The success of Connecticut's igaming
Being one of only seven states in the US to have legalised igaming, Connecticut stands out. In October of 2021, the state's sports betting and igaming sector was launched.
One of the few states that has legalised internet gambling is Connecticut.
In 2023, Connecticut's gambling revenue figures were routinely surpassing records. A new study found that online casinos benefit land-based casinos, according to research commissioned by iDEA (iDevelopment and Economic Association).
Indeed, prior to the advent of online casinos, the survey indicated that the land-based business in Connecticut was suffering a year-on-year loss. After the state's first online casino went live, its gross gaming revenue (GGR) increased by 0.34 percent.
Six states were selected for the study, and Connecticut was one of them. Pennsylvania saw the slightest increase in land-based GGR following the launch of igaming, at 0.14%. In the meantime, land-based casino gross gaming revenue in Michigan increased by a substantial 4.89%. The survey found little evidence that online gambling is eating into the business of brick-and-mortar casinos.
