Columbus, OH --- Voters in Michigan will be asked to sign petitions to put the question of expanded casino gaming -- including casinos at the state’s racetracks -- on a statewide ballot. State regulators on Wednesday unanimously approved wording for petitions to consider a constitutional amendment that was submitted by Racing to Save Michigan, a group spearheaded by Hazel Park Harness Raceway.

If enough signatures are gathered and the measure is passed in an election next year, eight new gaming licenses would be created in the state, and casinos would be authorized at Hazel Park, Sports Creek Raceway and Northville Downs.

There are already 23 casinos in Michigan, most owned by Indian tribes.

"Without this, horse racing in Michigan is all but dead," Daniel Adkins told the Detroit News. He is vice president of Hazel Park Harness Raceway and an executive with Hartman & Tyner Developers of Southfield, Mich., which owns Hazel Park and other tracks.

Dan Rakieten, general manager of the Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association, told the newspaper that, "It levels the playing field so racetracks have similar games as the casinos to draw customers.”

Racing to Save Michigan has to collect 380,126 valid signatures in the next 180 days.

In 2004, the Indian and commercial casino operators were successful in using a ballot initiative to amend Michigan’s constitution to say that any expansion of casino-style gaming would have to be approved by voters -- a provision thought by Michigan casino interests to be an effective method of restricting competition.