HARRISBURG -- A bill to legalize blackjack, poker and other table games at Pennsylvania casinos took a step forward this evening, as the state Senate approved it 28-22.

The vote followed affirmative action earlier today by a six-member, House-Senate conference committee, which approved it 5-1.

The House is set to begin a lengthy debate on the bill tomorrow afternoon, followed by a vote.

Gov. Ed Rendell said he's hoping the bill, which will raise $250 million for the state's 2009-10 budget, will be on his desk for signature by Friday. That will allow him to avoid laying off about 1,000 state workers in order to balance the budget.

The bill would allow racetrack/casinos, stand-alone casinos and smaller resort hotel casinos to have table games in addition to slots.

Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester, was the only member of the conference committee to vote against the bill, saying it's being rushed through the Legislature. He also said the bill contains "earmarks,'' also known as "walking around money,'' for specific counties, including using most of the local share of a new tax revenue on table games from the Rivers Casino for city and county libraries.

Since Democrats hold a small majority in the House, his opposition isn't expected to hold up the bill.

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