The Senate Finance and Public Utilities Committee was scheduled to decide whether to support a bill by Sen. Mike Polak, D-Atlanta, that would increase penalties on illegal use of the games while making sure the games themselves stay legal. Mr. Dean, D-Rockmart, said Wednesday.
State law prohibits cash payouts from the games.
But critics say that law is widely ignored and that, in other cases, players redeem prizes for cash. Mr. Polak's bill, backed by the gaming industry, would make cash payouts a felony and give local governments more leeway in enforcing existing laws. Mr. Polak said. But critics say the bill doesn't go far enough. Mr. Cheeks said two of his amendments are similar to bills by Sen. Mike Beatty, R-Jefferson, that would either make the games illegal or give local governments the authority to ban them.