A sign on Binion's Gambling Hall and Hotel is seen on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., Feb. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- A poll released Thursday showed that nearly 70 percent of U.S. citizens believe gambling is morally acceptable, setting a record high.

The Gallup poll showed that 69 percent of those interviewed said gambling is morally acceptable, four percentage points higher than last year. Those who believed gambling is wrong made up 28 percent of the interviewees, dipping slightly from last year's 29 percent.

The number resembled the highest rate of acceptance for gambling since the poll was launched in 2003. During the year the acceptance rate has reached 67 percent in 2015 and 2016, but has also dropped to 58 percent in 2009.

The lax attitude toward gambling has been manifested in a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prevented the federal government from banning sports gambling, effectively giving the green light on sports betting in the country.

More than a dozen states have reportedly signaled that they would allow sports betting after the federal ban is lifted, with Delaware becoming the first state to officially do so Tuesday.

Researchers believe the trend fits into a larger pattern where the U.S. society is seeing a rapid shift to being more liberal on traditionally tabooed issues.

Acceptance rates for general social issues as well as for specific issues as same-sex marriage, consumption of marijuana and pornography have inched higher, as suggested by recent studies.