Casino backer wants more time to gather signatures

— A Texas businessman proposing a constitutional amendment that would give him exclusive rights to open casinos in Arkansas is challenging state election officials’ decision to rule that his petitions to appear on the ballot were invalid.

Michael Wasserman on Wednesday told the secretary of state’s office that he should be given 30 additional days to gather signatures for his proposal. Election officials said last week that Wasserman had fallen short of signatures required and his proposal would not appear on the ballot.

Wasserman’s proposal would give him exclusive rights to operate casinos in seven Arkansas counties.

Proposed amendments must have at least 78,133 signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot. A competing casino measure cleared an initial count last week, and officials are now verifying the signatures.

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