Filing Asserts Penn National Against Ohio Slots

The state on Tuesday submitted an affidavit it says indicates gambling giant Penn National Gaming is underwriting an effort to overturn racetrack slots legalized by lawmakers and Gov. Ted Strickland in July.

The Wyomissing, Pa.-based gaming company is backing a competing proposal that would allow full-scale casinos in Ohio's four biggest cities: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.

Penn National's alleged financial involvement in the anti-slots effort is referenced in an affidavit prepared for a lawsuit filed by LetOhioVote.org, a conservative group that wants a referendum on the slots plan placed on the November 2010 ballot. The document details a conversation between state Sen. Bill Seitz and fellow Cincinnati Republican Tom Brinkman of LetOhioVote.org. Seitz says Brinkman was told by the group's attorney, David Langdon, that Penn National would be paying for the lawsuit and any referendum.

Penn National issued a statement Tuesday saying it "feels compelled to categorically deny" the claims made in the affidavit, which was submitted to the Ohio Supreme Court. It described the affidavit as "patently false and potentially libelous."

The company said it intended to pursue any legal remedies available to it.

The Ohio Supreme Court earlier rejected Attorney General Richard Cordray's attempt to get a peek at the books of LetOhioVote.org, a committee of three that describes itself as defending Ohio voters' rights to have a say on the legalization of gambling.

The group's Web site reads: "Join our campaign to protect your right to vote on this important public policy issue. If we succeed, the issue will be placed before voters in November 2010, and the slot machine rollout will be halted pending that vote."

Justices ruled last month that the Strickland administration had no right to see the group's financial information. As a newly created committee, little is yet on file with government regulators regarding the founders of the group, its contributors, or its spending.