A Native American tribe is making a push to build Las Vegas-style casinos in Ohio, including one perched near the Pennsylvania border to attract gamblers from the Pittsburgh area.

The $300 million casino and resort proposed by the Eastern Shawnee tribe of Oklahoma for the Lordstown area could compete with a slot machine parlor planned for Downtown Pittsburgh and the other slots venues to be incorporated into horse racing tracks and resorts in Western Pennsylvania.

The Lordstown facility is one of seven to nine resort casinos the tribe is proposing to operate in Ohio. Lordstown is off the Ohio Turnpike about 75 miles from Pittsburgh. Terry Casey, a consultant for the tribe, makes no bones about the fact that the casino would target Pittsburgh gamblers and others from the region.

"We want to be close to the border so we can attract customers from Western Pennsylvania," Casey said. "For a lot of people in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, it might be easier coming here than going to Downtown Pittsburgh, and we offer more."

Unlike Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania venues, which will be limited to slot machines, the proposed Ohio casinos would feature card games and other forms of gambling in addition to slots.

The tribe also has plans to turn the Lordstown site and others into full-fledged resorts, each with a high-quality hotel, a spa, restaurants, retail shops and other amenities such as a water park or outlet malls.

But the casinos themselves are far from a sure bet. One big obstacle stands in the way of the tribe. That is Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, who opposes an expansion of gambling in the state.

"He believes the social ills outweigh the potential financial gain and the revenues are not a reliable source, in particular in times like this when the state of Ohio is facing a tight budget. We cannot be depending on those funds to meet [the budget]," said Mark Rickel, Taft's press secretary.

But that hasn't stopped the Eastern Shawnee tribe from trying to convince Taft, a Republican, and state legislative leaders otherwise.

Tribe Chief Charles Enyart has proposed a compact, or agreement, with the Ohio governor and lawmakers to share a percentage of gambling revenues in exchange for the right to operate full-blown casinos. Ohio law currently allows Class 2 gambling, which mainly involves bingo.

Casey believes the tribe can persuade Taft and legislative leaders to change their minds.

The tribe also is hoping political leaders will think differently once they realize how much revenue is going to Indiana, West Virginia and potentially Pennsylvania as a result of gambling.

"Politicians are very smart in Ohio," he said.

Casey estimated that the tribe is two to three weeks away from securing a contract for land in the Lordstown area.

Casey said that area has two things going for it -- the turnpike and the proximity to Western Pennsylvania. He said he has already been to Station Square and other potential slots parlor sites in Pittsburgh to scout out possible competition.

Casey said the tribe is focusing on Las Vegas-style casino gambling and resort amenities because that is what surveys show the public wants. He also believes that could give the tribe an edge over Pennsylvania slots parlors and racetracks and Indiana riverboat casinos.

"Our view is that if you give customers the best options that's a win for us and a win for the customers," he said.

Officials in Pennsylvania had mixed reactions to news of the tribe's interest in building casinos in Ohio.

Christopher Craig, legal counsel to state Sen. Vincent Fumo, the Philadelphia Democrat who led the fight to legalize slots gambling, wasn't too concerned about the plans, noting it could take several years for them to come to fruition even if Taft acquiesced right now.

"I think a lot of this stuff is just speculative at this point and that we need to concentrate on what we have in our lap," he said.

But state Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, House minority leader, said the potential competition is all the more reason to add table games and roulette wheels to the mix of gambling allowed in Pennsylvania. He and state Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver Falls, are introducing legislation to allow poker, blackjack and table games at casinos.

"Why not try to be in front of the curve?" DeWeese asked.

DeWeese believes the proposed Ohio casino "certainly could have an impact" on what happens in Pennsylvania, but added he was confident that the state's Gaming Control Board, in deciding on slots sites, will "render decisions appropriate to possible competition in our neighboring states."

Rick Kelly, a spokesman for the proposed Valley View Downs harness racing track in Beaver County, which is competing for a state license, said he's unsure of the impact. He said Lordstown is actually farther from that proposed track site than The Meadows harness racing track, which also will have slots.

"We think the market will support both us and The Meadows. So if this is farther away than The Meadows, I'm sure there would be some impact, but I don't know how significant it would be," he said.

If Taft and other Ohio political leaders refuse to enter into an agreement with the Eastern Shawnees, the tribe could ask the federal government for a claim to ancestral lands in the state. If that is successful, the tribe would gain control over the land and could establish Class 2 gambling facilities, which would permit bingo but no Las Vegas-style casinos.

Casey said none of the tribe's ancestral land is located in eastern Ohio.

The Eastern Shawnee tribe currently operates a bank and a Class 2 type gambling facility in northeastern Oklahoma but is in the process of upgrading that to include table games.