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Most New Jersey Residents See Casino Gambling As Negative, Poll Finds

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. (CBS) -- Forty years after New Jersey approved legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City, a new poll shows Garden State residents feel they were dealt a bad hand.

Back in the 1970's, gambling had been billed as an economic magic bullet.

"The Quinnipiac University poll shows that New Jersey voters don't think it worked that way," said pollster Maurice Carroll.

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Carroll says 62 percent of those surveyed said casinos have not been good for New Jersey.

"[When asked] have [casinos] been good for Atlantic City, which was, of course, the center of this, 60 to 35 [said] no," Carroll said.

So it's not surprising that 79% are opposed to an expansion of casino gambling. This comes on the heels of a poll showing Governor Chris Christie with a dismal 19% approval rating.

Despite that, 63% of New Jersey residents polled said the quality of life in the state is excellent or good.

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