Three in Four (76%) BC Residents Support Public Inquiry into Money Laundering at Casinos & Most (72%) Trust It to Expose the Truth
Vancouver, British Columbia, February 7, 2019 — In the wake of recent allegations of money laundering at British Columbia casinos, a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Global News reveals that three quarters (76%) of BC residents support (34% strongly/42% somewhat) a public inquiry into the matter, while just one in four (24%) oppose it (6% strongly/ 18% somewhat oppose). A majority of every demographic group studied supports a public inquiry, including 81% of those who say they’re following the issue closely. There is also an overarching belief among most (89% agree, 44% strongly/45% somewhat) that if most British Columbians support a public inquiry, then the government should initiate one.
A strong majority of British Columbians have confidence in the integrity of the public-inquiry process, as seven in ten (72%) agree (18% strongly/ 54% somewhat) that a public inquiry will expose the truth about whether organized money laundering is actually occurring in B.C. casinos. Further, fewer British Columbians agree (42% agree, 8% strongly/34% somewhat) that a public inquiry would be ineffective, or that it would be too costly (50% agree, 12% strongly/39% somewhat).
British Columbians appear to be split on the motives of the government in not yet calling a public inquiry into the matter. Seven in ten (70%) agree (23% strongly/47% somewhat) that the decision about whether to hold a public inquiry or not is politically motivated, but roughly one half (52%) of British Columbians agree (15% strongly/ 37% somewhat) that if the BC Government does not initiate a public inquiry, there must be a good reason for taking this particular course of action.
There are mixed emotions regarding the government’s ability to act in the best interest of British Columbians on this matter. Only a slim majority (54%) agrees (12% strongly/ 43% somewhat) that they would trust the BC Government to act in the public’s best interests on this issue, while forty-six percent (46%) do not trust the government to act in their best interests. Adults under 35 are much more likely to agree that they would trust the BC Government, compared to those over 35 (65% of 18-34 year olds agree vs. 47% of 35-54 year olds & 54% of those 55+).
Underscoring public interest in the issue, half (49%) of BC residents claim to be following the issue very (11%) or somewhat closely (39%). Men (56% vs. 43% of women), Boomers (60% vs. 43% of 18-34 year olds; 41% of 35-54 year olds), and Metro Vancouver residents (54% vs. 43% of Vancouver Islanders & 45% of Interior/ Northern BC residents) are among the most likely to indicate that they have been following the issue.
Despite the considerable amount of support for a public inquiry into money laundering at casinos, it still ranks further down the list of priorities for the population. When asked to rank an assortment of issues from highest to lowest, just three percent (3%) rank money laundering at casinos as their top priority, by far the lowest of the six issues surveyed, while only about one in ten rate money laundering in the real-estate market (9%) or organized crime more generally (12%) as the most important issue. In fact, a plurality (42%) views the economy as the top priority, followed at a great distance by the Fentanyl crisis (19%) second and climate change (15%) third.
While money laundering (in both BC casinos and the real-estate market) and the Fentanyl crisis are not perceived to be the most important issue in the province, individually, many believe that they are all inter-connected. Indeed, almost two-thirds (63%) of British Columbians agree (19% strongly/ 44% somewhat) that there is a link between the Fentanyl crisis and alleged money laundering in both casinos and the real-estate market.
About the Study
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos survey conducted between January 31st and February 4th, 2019 on behalf of Global News. For this survey, a random sample of 800 British Columbia residents aged 18+ were interviewed online via the Ipsos I-Say panel and non-panel sources. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online surveys is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the survey is accurate to within ±4.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all BC residents over the age of 18 been surveyed. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Sean Simpson
Vice President, Ipsos Public Affairs
+1 416 324 2002
About Ipsos
Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry. With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management. Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.
