Electronic bingo terminals will not morph into slot machines if House members get their way.

Earlier this week, the Senate passed legislation allowing existing bingo parlors to use electronic terminals for their games. Gambling opponents and some lawmakers worried that the machines were a backdoor effort to expand legalized gambling in Texas.

But anti-gambling fervor ruled Thursday night during the House debate over legislation to allow the Texas Lottery Commission to continue operating. Without any debate, the House adopted amendments to ensure that the bingo machines cannot be used to legalize gambling that is currently illegal.

Rep. Will Hartnett, R-Dallas, offered an amendment saying the House language would prevail over any conflicting language in any other legislation. "It makes clear we are not turning bingo into slot machines," he said.

The Senate proposal, part of a major tax overhaul, had authorized bingo operators to use the device that was defined as an "electronic terminal with input capabilities and touch screen or other monitors that may be used to play electronic pull-tab bingo." The machines could be portable, upright or built into tabletops.