HARRISBURG -- House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese says adding table games to Pennsylvania casinos isn't one of his major legislative goals this year, and yet the idea keeps inching forward.

The House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold a hearing today on Mr. DeWeese's table games proposal, House Bill 2121. And yes, that number was intentionally chosen for the bill, says aide Tom Andrews.

The legislation would add black jack -- also called 21-- as well as poker, dice and roulette to the thousands of slot machines now available at the seven casinos open in Pennsylvania and at seven additional gambling parlors due to open over the next two or three years.

Mr. DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, had hoped that table games would be included in Act 71 of 2004, the measure that authorized the 14 slots casinos.

"But there wasn't support [in the Legislature] at that time," Mr. Andrews said.

He said his boss "doesn't think there is any practical difference between putting $25 into a slot machine or putting $25 on a poker table."

Mr. DeWeese is from Greene County, which is close to two casinos in northern West Virginia that have table games which draw some Pennsylvanians. But Mr. Andrews insisted that adding table games in the Keystone State "is not a priority for the House majority leader."

Today's gaming committee hearing is merely meant "to continue the conversation on expanded gaming and the revenue to lower property taxes even further than already accomplished," he said.

This summer, homeowners will see a total of $613 million in slots tax revenue used to lower property taxes by an average of $190 across the state. Gov. Ed Rendell predicts that once all 14 casino are up and running, well over $1 billion will be available for tax relief statewide.

But Mr. Rendell, who strongly pushed to legalize slots in 2004, isn't jumping on the table games bandwagon -- at least not yet. He wants the state to fully digest the new slots casinos before adding other major gambling options.

"The governor believes that we need to allow the gaming that is authorized under the present law to be fully implemented, and its results evaluated, before giving any consideration to any sort of expansion," said aide Chuck Ardo.

Mr. Andrews said the House gaming panel will hold one or two additional hearings on table games this summer around the state. Even if the bill were considered by the full House this fall, Senate approval also would be needed.

Republicans, who control the Senate 29-21, are generally cool to gaming, and it seems unlikely the bill would be voted on before the current session ends Nov. 30. It could, of course, arise again in the new session that starts in January.