HARRISBURG -- Just before adjourning its 2005-06 session last night, the state Legislature approved a major change to the slots law in Pennsylvania, allowing slot machine casinos to serve unlimited free drinks to gamblers from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week.

Supporters of the surprise move, such as Senate Democratic leader Robert Mellow of Lackawanna, said the change was "important for competitive reasons." It will put Pennsylvania slots parlors on roughly the same footing regarding alcohol as casinos in other states, including New York, New Jersey and Delaware.

Mr. Mellow has strongly supported the advent of slots in the state. The new Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, the first racetrack/casino in Pennsylvania, which just opened last week near Wilkes-Barre, borders his Scranton-based Senate district.

About 9 p.m. last night, just before senators left the Capitol for the rest of the year, they voted 27 to 22 to permit free drinks for slots gamblers. The House then followed suit just after 11 p.m., voting 112-75 for the new policy. It now goes to Gov. Ed Rendell for signature.

It was unclear whether Rendell would sign the bill; spokeswoman Kate Philips said the governor would need to review it.

Anti-slots lawmakers such as Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, denounced the free liquor policy, saying it will just compound social problems caused by people who can't control their gambling or their drinking.

"Everyone knows the only reason for this change is because casinos want to see people spend more money,'' he said. "They will spend their last dime, especially if they are under the influence of alcohol. This is caused by the greed of casinos. There will be a problem when [gamblers] leave casinos at a late hour and drive away and become involved in a serious accident'' because of alcohol.

Rep. Scott Petri, R-Bucks, said casinos, like any other liquor establishment, are prohibited from serving alcohol to any patron they believe to be inebriated. He supported the change.

State Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair, opposed the change, saying it will give casinos an unfair advantage over other liquor establishments in a town, such as longtime bars, restaurants and taverns, which are permitted to serve only one free drink to a patron.

"It will create an unfair playing field."

But Sen. Robert Tomlinson, R-Bucks, whose district includes Philadelphia Park, a racetrack that will open its casino Dec. 21, said casinos in other states, especially those in Atlantic City, already can serve unlimited free liquor to gamblers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's something that gamblers have become accustomed to at Atlantic City casinos and Delaware racetrack/casinos, he said.

Pennsylvania lawmakers could decide to expand free liquor to 24 hours a day when they reconvene in early 2007, Mr. Tomlinson said.

Mr. Mellow said people inside a casino cannot get free drinks if they are just standing around, chatting, eating in the restaurants or doing some other non-gambling activity. They have to be playing at one of the slot machines.

Sen. Gibson Armstrong, R-Lancaster, said he thought giving free drinks to gamblers was foolish.

"Free drinks and gambling -- what a combination," he said sarcastically. "It's obvious this isn't good. If something is free, it's enticing people to participate. It gives casinos an unfair advantage" over other bars and taverns that, under current law, are permitted to serve a customer only one free drink.

Mr. Mellow didn't think that "mixing gambling with liquor" was automatically a bad thing.

He said the new Mohegan Sun casino, in just its first week of operation, has generated more than $2 million for the state to use in lowering property taxes, spurring economic development and helping the horse racing industry.

Both the House and the Senate are finished for the current two-year term, which officially ends Nov. 30. They won't return until early January for the new term.