HARRISBURG -- The state House committee on legalized gambling reversed itself today and approved legislation to permit bars, taverns and clubs to have up to five video poker machines, a top priority for Gov. Ed Rendell.

One Democratic legislator, Rep. Curtis Thomas of Philadelphia, changed his vote today from no to yes, giving House Bill 1317 a positive vote of 14-12. Mr. Thomas had voted against the bill yesterday, killing it on a 13-13 vote.

But Mr. Thomas said he still wants to make two major changes to the bill when it comes up for action on the House floor.

Mr. Thomas said he wants to ensure that students at state-related universities -- Temple, Pitt, Penn State and Lincoln -- are eligible for the tuition relief that the bill would provide from video poker.

Mr. Rendell estimated that up to $550 million a year would be produced if thousands of video gambling machines are set up in the 14,000 establishments that have liquor licenses.

But the governor wants to limit the tuition aid to state-owned colleges and community colleges, which he says have done a better job of controlling tuition increases than the state-related schools.

Mr. Thomas, who is black, said students at Lincoln University, a predominantly black school, should be eligible for tuition help, as should students from Temple, which is in his Philadelphia district.

Mr. Thomas also wants to put wording in the bill to ensure that there is not just one "sole source provider" for the video poker machines. He wants to spread the business around to as many video equipment firms as possible, rather than just having one firm get all the profits.

Even if the House passes the video poker bill before leaving for the summer, Senate action is unlikely before fall.