HARRISBURG — Legalizing Internet gambling, possibly through Pennsylvania’s existing casinos, appears certain to be a topic of debate soon in the state Legislature after consultants told lawmakers Wednesday that allowing the state’s residents to wager in casino-style games online would lead to more total gambling revenue.

Online gambling could generate another $307 million a year in gambling revenue in Pennsylvania, according to a report by Econsult Solutions of Philadelphia released Wednesday, an estimate that assumes the state hits its goals and avoids the experience of New Jersey, which has fallen short of revenue expectations.

Senators commissioned a report in December to assess Pennsylvania’s existing gambling landscape of 12 casinos and analyze the potential impact of online gambling at the casinos.

With the state government facing a $1 billion gap in Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget plan, the report is expected to spark serious discussion about legalizing and taxing online gambling in the next two months.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, said he had not taken a position on whether to legalize online gambling. But, he said, members of the Legislature are interested in it and it “deserves a serious look.”

In a statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, was more emphatic, saying “authorization of online gambling in the state will be explored.”

Econsult was asked to assume that any online gambling in Pennsylvania would occur through the state’s existing casinos. The extent to which online gambling would simply take away the customers who gamble at the casinos is small, Econsult said.