HARRISBURG — A bill to expand legalized casino gambling in Pennsylvania received approval Tuesday from the state House of Representatives, as legislators try to resolve the final pieces of October's state budget agreement.

The vote, 103-92, came after more than 10 hours of debate over two days. Most Democrats supported it, while most Republicans opposed it.

Among Butler County representatives, only Rep. Jaret Gibbons, D-10th, supported the bill.

Voting against it were Reps. Dick Stevenson, R-8th; Brian Ellis, R-11th; Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th; and Scott Hutchinson, R-64th.

It is almost certain to face changes in the Senate, which could vote on it as early as today.

The bill would raise the state's number of casino licenses from 14 to 15 and legalize table games at Pennsylvania's slot-machine casinos. Proponents say it will scrounge more tax dollars to shore up the state's recession-ravaged treasury, but opponents countered that the bill was strictly about doing a favor for the powerful gambling industry.

It also would reform the state's regulation of the gambling industry, including various provisions designed to thicken walls between the industry's influence and public officials.

Its progress also is being closely watched by Penn State and several other universities whose state subsidies are being held up by Gov. Ed Rendell. The extra gambling revenue is necessary to pay for the universities' subsidies, Rendell said Tuesday.

During House debate, supporters tried to steer the discussion to how the measure can improve the lives of people struggling to find work and get through the recession.

"Today we can help start the creation of thousands and thousands of jobs and stimulate the state's economy," said House Gaming Oversight Committee Chairman Dante Santoni, D-Berks. "The passage of this legislation allows us to raise revenues without forcing anyone to pay a dime in extra taxes."

Critics said it is unwise to finance government with gambling money, and that the bill itself was being rammed through with little public scrutiny. It also is loaded with favors for casino owners and the pet causes of some lawmakers while ensuring more families will be broken by gambling addiction, they said.

"When Pennsylvanians lose their families, and rich casino operators win, then it is the wrong policy to adopt," said Rep. Jerry Stern, R-Blair.

Changes likely to be made in the Senate include removing the provision that would allow a 15th casino license and adding a requirement that state gambling regulators allow new applications to be considered for the last existing competitive casino license that has not been awarded.

Those points of disagreement could be problematic because the potential location of a new casino is creating a clash between key lawmakers who are protecting hometown interests.

The bill is supposed to raise $320 million for the state over the first two fiscal years by imposing a 14 percent tax rate on revenue from table games and requiring the casinos to pay millions of dollars in license fees.