Lawmakers approve table games proposal

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers approved legislation allowing table games at the state’s 14 licensed casinos on Wednesday. The bill was approved by the Senate on Tuesday in a 28 to 22 vote followed by the House of Representatives Wednesday in a vote of 103 to 89. The legislation will now go to Democratic Governor Ed Rendell for signature. The bill allows large casinos to install 250 tables while small casinos will be able to install 50. The Wednesday passage would avert the layoffs of nearly 1,000 state workers that have been threatened by Gov. Ed Rendell. Table games proceeds are needed to balance the state budget, as tax revenues continue to lag behind projections.