BOSTON (AP) – A majority of Massachusetts residents support Gov. Deval Patrick’s call for resort style casinos -but not in urban areas.

That’s according to a new telephone poll of 500 adults conducted by the Boston Globe that found legalized gambling has become an accepted part of the state’s economic and cultural landscape.

The poll found 53 percent of residents back Patrick’s plan to locate three casinos in different regions of the state, while 34 percent oppose it and 12 percent had no opinion.

The poll also finds that 43 percent would prefer the casinos to be located in rural areas, while 24 percent prefer urban areas and 23 percent had no preference.

“The support is very broad and cuts across almost all demographic groups,” said Andrew E. Smith, director of The Survey Center at the University of New Hampshire, which conducted the poll. “There is no strong opposition.”

The poll is potentially good news for Patrick as he tries to persuade lawmakers to support his plan and prepares to file a bill with more specific details. Last week Patrick says he planned to file that bill “in a week or so.”

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, D-Boston, has remained the main opponent to new casinos, saying he’s leery of creating a “casino culture” in Massachusetts and would favor more traditional economic growth.

Patrick’s plan calls for Massachusetts to license three resort casinos dispersed across the state – one each in the western, southeastern, and greater Boston regions. The governor estimates three casinos would generate up to $450 million in annual tax revenue.

Critics, including Rep. Daniel Bosley, a North Adams Democrat and vocal opponent of casino gambling, have said Patrick’s estimates sound similar to other estimates offered by casino supporters in the past.

Critics said the estimates don’t take into account the loss of revenue to other businesses – or the social costs of planting three large scale casinos in the state.

The poll also showed Patrick’s job approval rating climbed slightly to 52 percent after announcing the casino plan. The last Globe poll, conducted in April, had Patrick’s approval rating at 48 percent.

Attorney General Martha Coakley had the highest favorability of five leading Massachusetts politicians, including Patrick, DiMasi, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and Senate President Therese Murray.

The poll also showed that among respondents, more than half – 56 percent – had purchased a lottery ticket in the past 12 months and nearly a third – 29 percent – had visited a casino.

The one bright spot in the poll for opponents is the possibility of a “not in my backyard” effect, where residents support the idea of a casino in general, but oppose locating them near their homes, fearing an increase in noise, traffic and crime.

The poll, conducted between Sept. 22 and Sept. 26 had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

—

Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe

AP-ES-09-30-07 1402EDT