LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – An attorney for a Texas businessman seeking exclusive rights to operate casinos in Arkansas says election officials are adding a new hurdle to ballot access by denying petitions for his proposal.

An attorney for Michael Wasserman told the Arkansas Supreme Court that the secretary of state went against the spirit of the state's initiative process when it denied petitions for Wasserman's casino legalization proposal. Justices heard oral arguments in Wasserman's bid for more time to circulate petitions.

Attorneys for the state and opponents of Wasserman's proposal told the court that Wasserman didn't qualify for additional time since he didn't meet turn in signatures from at least 15 counties equal at least 5 percent of the votes cast in the last governor's election.

Justices did not indicate when they would rule.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.