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Las Vegas is first on the minds of Americans when it comes to gambling, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll released Thursday.

Asked what destination comes to mind when thinking about gambling, 54 percent of Americans surveyed mention Las Vegas first, while 7 percent mention Atlantic City first. No other destination gets more than 2 percent. Another 21 percent mention Las Vegas second, and 23 percent think of Atlantic City second.

The results indicate Las Vegas is the first or second mention for three of four Americans (73 percent).

Amid the recession, interest in Atlantic City gambling dropped 13.5 percent in 2009 when compared to 2008.

"Despite the spread of gambling across the United States over the decades, Las Vegas remains first in the minds of its countrymen," said Donald Hoover, a professor in FDU's International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and a former casino executive.

Las Vegas also comes out on top in its ratings. Two in three Americans, 65 percent, have a favorable opinion of Las Vegas against 22 percent who say their opinion is unfavorable, a 3-to-1 ratio.

By comparison other gaming destinations receive favorable to unfavorable rating of about two to one with Reno, Nv. coming in at 49 percent favorable versus 23 percent unfavorable; Atlantic City at 46 percent favorable to 26 percent and New Orleans at 43 percent favorable to 25 percent unfavorable.

"Despite many missed opportunities over the years, Atlantic City has a surprisingly good base of public opinion on which it clearly needs to build," Hoover said. "Also, New Orleans fares extremely well considering its many challenges in recent years, and this augurs well for its growth."

Other gambling destinations tested by the pollsters that come out ahead in public perception include St. Louis, with 35 percent favorable to 15 percent unfavorable opinion and Biloxi, Miss. with 31 percent favorable to 15 percent unfavorable. Others, like Shreveport, La., 25 percent to 19 percent; Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut , 20 percent to 16 percent; Tunica, Miss. 14 percent to 12 percent, and Chicagoland in Illinois, 21 percent to 19 percent, run about even and a majority have no opinion of them as gambling destinations. Only Detroit comes out with its numbers upside down, with 17 percent having a favorable opinion and 32 percent having an unfavorable opinion.

"Gaming in Atlantic City was supposed to be its salvation when the issue was argued back in the mid-1970s," said Peter Woolley, a political scientist and poll director. "But gaming is a big change, and not everyone gets out of it what they think they're going to - whether they're at the gaming tables or the zoning board."

Two-thirds, 67 percent, oppose changing the law to permit people to place bets over the Internet. No partisan difference emerges on the issue, but men are twice as likely as women to support a change, and liberals are more likely than conservatives to favor Internet betting.

A majority, 53 percent, also oppose legalizing sports betting in all states. Males, 45 percent, are more likely to support the measure than are females, 34 percent. Those in the 18-29 age category support the change more, 57 percent, than those in the older age groups. A majority , 54 percent, say legalized sports betting is a bad idea because it promotes too much gambling and can corrupt sports, while 39 percent agree that since so many people bet on sports anyway, it should be allowed and taxed by the government. Younger people, liberals and those who participate in office pools are more likely than others to think it should be legalized and taxed.

"Keep your eye on these numbers," Woolley said. "If some states allow sports betting and profit by it, other states will want to follow."

The New Jersey Legislature is considering trying to overturn a federal ban on sports betting in the state.

One in five people say they or someone in their household has participated in an office betting pool, such as for the World Series or the Super Bowl. Males, 17 percent, are three times more likely than females, 5 percent, to have participated, while those aged 30-44 are more likely than those aged 18-29 or over 60 to have participated.

One in three report they or someone in their household has been to a casino or slots parlor in the past year. Men are more likely than women to have hit the tables or slots. Sixty-two percent report they have visited a casino or slots parlor at some point in their life.

PublicMind conducted the poll of 1,001 randomly selected adults nationwide by telephone from Jan. 22 through Feb. 4. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM