If legalizing New York iGaming and iLottery had been put to a vote in just state Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.‘s district, it might’ve won with 44% support. That’s if the poll results Addabbo released on July 26 could be interpreted that way. However, answers from 523 constituents saying they favored legalizing online casinos, prostitution, “death with dignity,” and a parkland/subway line extension project aren’t exactly scientifically equivalent to casting ballots.
Even so, Addabbo, D-Woodhaven, can bring the information to legislators who may consider it when they vote on a New York online casino, poker, and iLottery bill in 2025.
In the 2024 legislative session, Addabbo sponsored SB8185 to legalize iGaming and iLottery.
On June 6, before the 2024 legislative adjournment, Addabbo told Bonus he already had initial survey results showing his constituents approved of SB8185. However, lawmakers didn’t vote on the measure.
So, for Addabbo, knowing the thoughts of the responding members of his district helps inform him about what they want to see prioritized in Albany.
From May 13 to 31, he offered an opt-in survey on his New York State Senate page.
The questionnaire requested multiple-choice answers about four issues:
- Death With Dignity
- QueensLink/QueensWay/Neither
- iGaming
- Legalization of Prostitution
Addabbo’s message atop his July 26 newsletter read:
** POLL RESULTS ARE IN **
Thank you to all 523 constituents who participated in the brief poll I conducted in May.
I greatly appreciate when constituents provide valuable feedback on issues. The responses help to determine what stance best represents the interests of the diverse communities I serve.
Ballotpedia estimates Addabbo’s district houses more than 320,000 residents. As of Feb. 27, 2024, exactly 157,265 constituents in Senate District 15 were active voters, according to the New York State Board of Elections.
Addabbo Breaks Down iGaming Results
Before Addabbo’s newsletter switches to information about Naloxone training, he offers 16 graphics about poll results. Beginning with overall percentages and ending with 16% of women in Woodhaven saying they were “unsure” about legalized prostitution, the survey results seemed thorough.
Answers favored approving all four issues:
- Death With Dignity (72%)
- QueensLink/QueensWay/Neither (QueensLink, 75%)
- iGaming (44%)
- Legalization of Prostitution (56%)
Addabbo’s poll saw 33% of answers opposed to legalizing online casino, poker, and iLottery, and 23% said they were “unsure” about doing so.
While 25% more respondents said they wanted an M-line New York City Subway extension than desired iGaming, some neighborhoods and demographics responded more positively to the latter than others.
For instance, iGaming support results by neighborhood showed a high of 63.3% in Howard Beach and a low of 31% in Woodhaven. (In Woodhaven, the “unsure” answers of 36% outweighed the opposition’s 33%.)
The widest demographic gap is in Ozone Park, where 75% of men support approving online casinos, while only 17% of women feel the same way. (There, 50% of women are against legal iGaming.)
In general, more men than women wanted legal online casinos, with the exception of Glendale. In that neighborhood, 42% of women supported legal iGaming, and 41% of men wanted the gambling sites in the law.
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