Ohio Supreme Court says casino signatures to stand

July 31, 2009 at 1:20p.m.

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled against a gaming company’s attempt to get signatures for a rival company’s casino ballot measure thrown out.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled todau that it would not require Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to conduct an investigation or invalidate signatures the rival company says are fraudulent.

MTR Gaming Group, which owns Scioto Downs race track near Columbus, wanted signatures for an initiative to put casinos in the state’s largest cities thrown out. That initiative is spearheaded by rival Penn National Gaming Inc.

Brunner on July 21 certified that the casino initiative had enough valid signatures to be placed on the November ballot. She also is investigating claims that some of the signatures were gathered fraudulently.