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State Rep. Marc Gergely is one of three legislators asking for a study of whether legalizing keno at bars and restaurants is a viable way to help provide financial aid for college students.

The White Oak Democrat introduced the resolution Feb. 3 along with fellow Democratic state Reps. Neal Goodman of Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, and Christopher Sainato of New Castle, Lawrence County.

It asks the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to survey other states that have legalized keno; estimate the amount of money the game would generate in Pennsylvania; and determine the potential impact on state lottery sales and other licensed gambling facilities.

The resolution was referred Monday to the state House Committee on Gaming Oversight for further review.

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According to Gergely, the keno games would fund a new financial aid program targeting middle-class families who earn too much money --- more than $66,000 --- to receive grants from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

"Finding a way for PHEAA to offer grants to more students with higher family incomes will allow students to concentrate on getting good grades and selecting a college instead of worrying about whether they can afford an education," Gergely says.

Goodman says the measure is aimed at job creation. "We must find ways to help send our young people to college so the state has an educated work force to meet the ever-changing needs of employers," he says.

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Legalization of keno could run into strong opposition in Pennsylvania , particularly from churches, volunteer fire departments and other charities that use bingo as a fundraiser.

The games are very similar in that players receive a physical or digital card and must cover numbers selected at random, either by a computer or caller.

Nevertheless, several states have already legalized forms of keno --- including New Jersey (in 1993), New York (1995), Maryland (2007) and Ohio (2008) --- as a way to raise their income without raising taxes.

In Ohio, for instance, keno can be played at clubs, bars and restaurants, while in Maryland, keno wagers can be made at any retailer that handles lottery tickets. Both Ohio and Maryland hold frequent statewide drawings throughout the day.

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The full text of the resolution is available online.

Thirty legislators have signed onto the bill as co-sponsors, including local state Reps. Bill Kortz of Dravosburg, Joe Markosek of Monroeville, and Harry Readshaw of Carrick, all Democrats.

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