PALMER - A survey commissioned by the owner of land being eyed for a casino here has found that the majority of Palmer residents favor a resort casino in town.

The casino survey was conducted for Northeast Resorts Group, owner of land off Route 32 and across from the turnpike exit, by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth for $6,000.

The Connecticut casino Mohegan Sun has an exclusive development agreement with Northeast to build a casino-entertainment complex on the site. Whether that becomes a reality depends on casino gaming being legalized in Massachusetts and Palmer being chosen for a site.

A vote by the state House of Representatives in March killed a proposal by Gov. Deval L. Patrick to license three casinos in the state. The issue is expected to be revived.

Clyde W. Barrow, director of the Center for Policy Analysis, said 485 Palmer residents were surveyed by phone from July 16 to 20. Results were released Tuesday.

They were asked: "Mohegan Sun has proposed a resort casino in the town of Palmer on a 152-acre site adjacent to exit 8 on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90). Do you support or oppose Mohegan Sun's proposal to locate a resort casino at this site, or are you undecided?"

Fifty-five percent of respondents said they support hosting a resort casino, while 25 percent were opposed and 20 percent, undecided. There is a 4.5 percent margin of error.

More men than women supported a casino, 58 percent compared to 52. More women were opposed, 29 percent, than men, 20 percent.

Those with a lower family income or education were more inclined to support a casino.

Individuals with a bachelor's degree or more showed the least support for a casino, with 43 percent in favor, 27 percent opposed and 31 percent undecided. Of those who made $100,000 a year, 46 percent were in favor of a casino, with 18 percent against and 36 percent undecided.

Seventy-six percent of residents with less than a high school education want a casino. Those with an income of less than $25,000 were 58 percent in favor, 22 percent opposed and 20 percent undecided.

Barrow said these results were not surprising.

"It's more about job opportunities than opportunities to gamble," Barrow said Tuesday.

Barrow said he believes the results are important as the casino issue will likely resurface in the next legislation session.

Previous polls have shown majority support for casinos in Palmer.