The measure, passed Saturday by the state House of Representatives after 12 hours of debate, has not been welcomed by many state senators, who narrowly passed a bill three weeks ago authorizing slot machines at eight racetracks.

The House bill goes further, authorizing slots at nine racetracks and two free-standing gambling parlors -- one in Philadelphia and another in the Pittsburgh area.

Because of that, state Sen. Gibson E. Armstrong, a Refton Republican, said he believes the House bill, as it is written, will likely fail in the Senate.

"Some of the senators said they won't support anything more than what was already passed," Armstrong said. "Eight tracks only -- that's it."

Six of the 29 GOP members in the Senate voted for the bill when it passed in late June. Two of those Republicans have threatened to vote against any measure that expands gambling beyond the Senate bill.

The House bill also has angered some Democrats because it deleted a provision barring contributions to political candidates by people connected to the gambling industry. Sen. Robert Mellow, a Democrat from Lackawanna, and Sen. Vincent Fumo, a Philadelphia Democrat, have gone as far as to declare the bill dead on arrival.

Opponents of slot machines in Pennsylvania say they will increase gambling addiction and fuel personal bankruptcies.

Proponents are convinced that legalizing slot-machine gambling is the best way to raise $1 billion so that state school districts can reduce property taxes.

The House bill would establish a new five-member state gambling board -- one member appointed by the governor and four appointed by legislative leaders that would decide who could buy the $50 million licenses for slot machines.

In addition to the state's share of the revenue from racetrack slots, track owners would keep 46 percent, 18 percent would go to subsidize purses at the tracks and 2 percent would be earmarked for municipalities hosting the tracks.

Armstrong said he earlier predicted a slots bill would pass the House, but only after amendments were added that expanded the number of gambling parlors.

Armstrong, however, would not predict what will happen to the House bill when it reaches the Senate, which reconvenes July 28.

"I should know more later, after I've talked to some more of the senators," he said. "At this point, I'm not sure."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.