State Senate Republicans have a tentative plan to move legislation by July to expand the Pennsylvania Lottery.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says the goal is to hold a vote on a measure to legalize terminal-based games like keno, a fast-paced drawing, before the Legislature’s traditional summer recess.
Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser skirted the question of whether legislative approval is needed to add such games, but he said the Corbett administration is seeking some statutory changes.
"We would be prepared to initiate the rollout of keno by the end of this year should we get the support necessary to expedite it," Meuser said.
The Corbett administration is pushing for additional games to increase lottery revenues, which funds programs benefiting seniors.
At a recent hearing, senators expressed concerns lottery expansion could eat into profits from tavern gaming and casino gaming.
But a researcher with the National Conference of State Legislatures says casino profits tend to be unaffected by the introduction of keno.
