Company switches Columbus casino site

COLUMBUS (AP) — A company bringing casinos to Ohio says it wants the first one to open in Columbus.

Tim Wilmott, president of Penn National Gaming Inc., said Tuesday the casino would be built on the city’s west side on property occupied by a former Delphi auto parts factory. Plans call for the casino to open by the end of 2012.

The casino had been planned for city’s Arena District, which is home to the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team and the city’s new minor league baseball stadium. But Mayor Michael Coleman objected to the downtown location.

Penn National Gaming still needs approval from a statewide vote in May to change locations and would go back to the downtown site should the measure fail.

Ohio voters approved a ballot issue last fall that allows for the construction of casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.