AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance (TFSA) today released the results of a statewide poll that reveal 81.3% of Texans support legislation that would protect the rights of sports fans to play online fantasy sports contests and ensure that only those over the age of 18 can play for prizes.
“This poll demonstrates that Texans support fantasy sports and believe participation in fantasy sports contests is a matter of personal economic freedom and responsibility,” said Scott Dunaway, spokesperson for TFSA. “Legislators have heard from constituents for more than a year on this issue, being asked repeatedly to pass legislation and finalize what Texans already know, fantasy sports are legal in our state.”
The survey of 1,000 registered Texas voters was conducted in mid-April by McLaughlin & Associates in collaboration with The Parkside Group.
By a 3-1 margin, Texans support enacting common-sense rules that ensure online fantasy sports are fair and players are not taken advantage of by fly-by-night operators. Specific proposals supported by Texans include:
- Require online fantasy sports companies to implement online security to protect participants’ financial information and ensure confidentiality — 89.0% support
- Require online fantasy sports companies to keep customer funds secure — 86.2% support
- Require online fantasy sports companies to implement standards to ensure participants are over the age of 18 and meet other eligibility requirements — 85.4% support
- Limiting fantasy sports contests to professional sports only and prohibiting fantasy sports contests on college, high school, or amateur sports — 61.6% support
“Everything is bigger in Texas,” said John McLaughlin, CEO of public opinion research firm McLaughlin and associates. “That includes support for fantasy sports. These are some of the strongest results anywhere in the country and it is clear that Texans want the state to pass legislation to affirm the legality of fantasy sports.”
Underscoring the poll results is the fact that more than 30,000 Texans from across the state have contacted their legislators, requesting the law to be clarified and their right to play daily fantasy sports affirmed.
On April 11, The Texas House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures passed House Bill 1457 on a 6-1 vote to clarify and affirm the legality of fantasy sports in Texas. A companion bill, SB-1970, was filed in the Texas Senate by Senator Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham). TFSA is advocating for the passage of common sense legislation that clarifies and affirms the legality of daily fantasy sports in Texas. A full summary of the poll results is available on txfantasysportsalliance.com/newsroom.
Survey Background:
McLaughlin & Associates, a national survey research firm, surveyed 1,000 registered voters across Texas, with an additional oversample of Republican Primary voters, from April 17-20, 2017. Half of all responses were received from voters over landlines and half were done on cell phones. At the 95% confidence level, the overall margin of error in the overall survey is 3.1%. For the sample of 742 Republican Primary voters, the margin of error is 3.6% at the 95% confidence level. Among Republican Primary voters, 52% of the interviews were conducted over landlines and 48% on cell phones. The margin of error is higher among sub-groups. This survey was drawn from a sample of Texas registered voters.
MEMO: FANTASY SPORTS SURVEY FINDINGS
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The Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance (TFSA) is a coalition of sports fans, champions of free markets and limited government, consumer activists and Texas residents who believe Texans have the right to play the fantasy sports games they love. TFSA is supported by more than 30,000 Texas fantasy sports players. For more information, please visit www.txfantasysportsalliance.com.
McLaughlin & Associates is a national survey research and strategic services company whose personnel have played a key role in assisting successful organizations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. We specialize in public opinion research, media planning and buying services, and strategic consulting services.
The Parkside Group has been providing electoral, corporate, and advocacy clients with public relations, public affairs, government relations, campaign management, quantitative research and advertising services for more than 15 years. We have played a key role in the election of more than 100 public officials and provide survey research services to corporations, trade associations, advocacy groups, party committees, and candidates.
Media Contact
Scott Dunaway, Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance
512-344-2601
Scott@MonumentGroupLLC.com
Alison Vickers, Texas Fantasy Sports Alliance
512-344-2612
Alison@MonumentGroupLLC.com