Both supporters and opponents of a casino issue on the Nov. 3 ballot say they are satisfied with the final ballot language that a state panel approved yesterday.

However, major disagreements continue about whether there are loopholes in the issue and about other details in what is expected to be an expensive and hard-fought campaign this fall.

The Ohio Ballot Board finalized the wording yesterday for Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow full-scale casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo.

The issue is separate from Gov. Ted Strickland's move to add video slot machines at horse-racing tracks to help balance the state budget.

Even minor changes in ballot language are vigorously debated because the wording can help determine whether voters approve or reject an issue, and yesterday was no exception.

There was a lengthy discussion, for example, about whether the definition of "gross casino revenue" for tax purposes should be included on the ballot and what it should say.

Issue opponents say cash wagers, such as coins or bills put into slot machines, would be exempt from the 33 percent tax on gross revenue that each of the four casinos would have to pay.

Proponents insist that isn't the case and that any revenue generated by the casino would be taxed.

In the end, the board left the language off the ballot.

Issue backers succeeded in getting wording added that says each casino would require a minimum initial investment of $250 million but did not persuade the ballot board to include language about other taxes the casinos would pay.

Opponents, in turn, were able to get a paragraph moved from the bottom of the ballot issue to the middle that says the proposed amendment would allow types of casino games already in neighboring states. But they failed to have language approved saying that 67 percent of revenue would go to the casinos.

In the end, Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for the pro-casino Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, said the ballot wording is "very fair" and "very understandable."

Sandy Theis, spokeswoman for TruthPAC, a political-action committee formed by opponents, said the language "tells people what's actually in this thing."

Details about all three state issues on the Nov. 3 ballot can be found at www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/IssueProcBallotBd/BallotBoard.aspx.

mniquette@dispatch.com