COLUMBUS, Ohio — As blueprints begin to take form for Ohio’s casinos, state lawmakers say they may not have licensing rules in place by the March 10 deadline.

Casino operators are proceeding with plans and say they aren’t concerned about the delays. Five months after lawmakers passed a bill establishing the Ohio Casino Control Commission there has been little action on the issue at the legislative tables in Columbus.

New Ohio Gov. John Kasich has yet to appoint his picks to the commission which will establish the rules. Outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland appointed seven members, but they were rejected by Senate Republicans. State lawmakers now say the March deadline needs to be pushed back.

Rules the commission needs to establish concern how the casinos operate, including record-keeping requirements, conditions under which a casino license can be suspended, standards for security and surveillance as well as auditing standards for casino accounts.

State Sen. Keith Faber, a Celina lawmaker who lead work for the Republican-dominated Senate on the bill that established the commission, said he views the deadline as “more like a guideline.”

“It’s more important to do it right than do it quickly,” Faber said. “We still have time for the new commissioners to be named and get things going, but a March deadline is probably going to be a little quick.” He suggested that language pushing back the date will likely be passed soon.

Meanwhile, Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said appointments to the casino commission are “imminent.”

Rock Ohio Caesars–which will operate casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati–said the dallying by lawmakers isn’t interfering with their plans to have casinos operating in 2012. They have just rolled out plans to operate a casino in the historic Higbee Building on Cleveland’s Public Square and recently had a ground-breaking for the Cincinnati casino.

“We keep moving forward. We know it’s an important issue and it’s on our radar,” said Jennifer Kulczycki, a spokeswoman for Rock Gaming referring to work needed to be done by the casino commission.

A key issue still in the mix is whether the state Commercial Activities Tax should be paid by casinos after they pay the winners from slot machines and table games or before they do so.

Casino operators have made the argument that the CAT should be paid on net receipts while the state tax department has informally suggested that it would be paid on gross receipts–which would mean before winners are paid out.

Faber, an attorney, said the CAT tax applies to gross receipts but that casino operators will try to lobby lawmakers for an exemption to the law.

“We are certainly willing to discuss the issue, but I wouldn’t say we are predisposed to any outcome,” he said.

Ohio horse tracks have an exemption for parimutuel betting that allows them to pay tax only on net receipts. However, pay outs come from a pool bet by gamblers, which is not the case at casinos.

Bob Tenenbaum, a spokesman for Penn National Gaming, who will operate a pair of casinos in Columbus and Toledo, said he knew of no discussions between Penn officials and lawmakers concerning the CAT issue.

State Tax Department spokesman Gary Gudmundson said state tax officials aren’t likely to take a formal position on the issue until casino operators filed their 2012 tax returns.

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Dan Gilbert’s plan for a deluxe casino in Cleveland is about to go from a rendering to a reality.

The passage of State Issue 3 clears the way for casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo that promise thousands of jobs and millions of tax dollars.

Gilbert said, “Democracy is a great thing. We’re going to deliver something very special.”

Tim Wilmott, the President of Penn National, the gaming company partnered with Gilbert, said, “We look forward to building four, world-class casinos in the state of Ohio.”

Voting yes for casinos was Cardell Parker, of South Euclid. He said, “I’m excited about it. We should have more entertainment in the city of Cleveland.”

Kent Hedman, of Bratenahl, who voted ‘no’ said, “Voters said they want it. Obviously they do. I hope it does what they say.”

Ohioans who now gamble and spend money in Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia and Pennsylvania casinos will soon be able to stay home.

Ohio has six months to set rules and regulations for gambling.

Some lawmakers who opposed Issue 3 vow to put another issue on next May’s ballot to hike casino license fees and tax rates and toughen background checks.

Gilbert is exploring the possibility of opening a temporary casino, a possibility allowed by the measure voters passed.

He envisions work starting in fall of 2010, with a possible opening in early 2012.

Business groups backed the casino plan.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Joe Roman says the casino construction will join with building the Medical Mart and Flats East Bank projects to create a downtown building boom.

And he says casino revenues will boost a newly-restructured, reformed Cuyahoga County government approved by voters.

“We overuse the phrase ‘game changer.’ But this is one because it really does orient this county on a growth plan with new revenues to get there, ” he said.

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich was a staunch opponent of Issue 3 and four previous gambling proposals.

He’s “disappointed” in the voters’ decision. He predicts the measure will create great harm in Ohio, especially in poverty-stricken neighborhoods of Cleveland.

He vows to be a “conscience,” to make sure casino developers deliver what they promised