HARRISBURG -- Lawmakers are working toward advancing a controversial bill to legalize table games.

In an unusual Sunday session, House members spent more than eight hours debating whether to change the state gaming law to allow Pennsylvania casinos to add blackjack, roulette, craps and poker to their slots offerings.

Lawmakers sparred all afternoon and late into the night over such issues as whether bank machines and free drinks should be allowed in casinos, whether enough money is being set aside to treat people with gambling addictions and whether casinos should be open on Christmas. Debate on the amendments is expected to continue today.

The legislation would levy a 34 percent state tax, a 1 percent host-county tax and a one-time licensing fee on casinos that choose to offer table games. The fee would range from $7.5 million for resort casinos, which could have up to 75 game tables each, to $20 million for stand-alone casinos, which could have as many as 200.

The taxes and fees would raise about a quarter of the $1 billion in new revenues needed to fund a $27.9 billion state budget proposal. House Democrats want to fill the rest of the gap with an increase in the cigarette tax, new taxes on natural-gas extraction and tobacco products, and incentives to get tax scofflaws to pay up in order to avoid penalties.

The full House could vote on the amended bill as soon as tomorrow.

The legislation still would have to go through the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans, who say the proposed taxes and fees are too high. Some House Democrats have similar concerns.

"Gambling has proven to be a real nice revenue source for Pennsylvania ... but it's not quite the money tree that you all might think it is," said Rep. John Pallone, D-New Kensington. "It's a business like any other business, and we can't overly tax it so bad that gaming will leave the commonwealth and then we'll have nothing."

Twice yesterday House Republicans narrowly lost attempts to stymie the addition of table games by requiring public referenda.

"Let the people make the choice," said Rep. Will Tallman, R-York. "Let's not let the bureaucrats and folks that stand in ivory palaces make the decision."

Democrats -- who prevailed on the issue -- argued that referenda would only delay implementation at a time Pennsylvania's coffers are running dry.

Among the more controversial amendments that passed yesterday was a measure to reduce salaries of gaming control board members by more than half.

Members would be paid $68,284 a year, down from $145,000 now. Chairman Greg Fajt would be paid $71,084, down from $150,000.

Those salaries are in line with those of Liquor Control Board members, said the amendment's sponsor, Rep. Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler.

"Directors of similar state agencies should receive similar salaries," Mr. Vulakovich said.

Other amendments that passed would require an additional $4 million state investment in gambling-addiction treatment and a prohibition on ex-lawmakers serving on the Gaming Control Board during their first year after leaving office.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ed Rendell and House Democratic leaders met in private last night to hammer out other details of an emerging state budget deal in an effort to end a 97-day impasse. When Mr. Rendell emerged, he said leaders are still working toward a compromise and that "the issues are narrowing significantly."

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