An Arkansas lawmaker has modified his proposal to restrict the lottery from starting monitor-style games such as keno, making it a moratorium rather than an outright ban.
Republican Sen. Jimmy Hickey of Texarkana on Monday filed a proposal that would prohibit the lottery from starting the games until March 13, 2015. Hickey had originally proposed an outright ban on the games, which the lottery had planned to launch this fall.
The modified proposal may ease concerns from House leaders, who had said they believed the proposed ban was better suited for a regular legislative session rather than the special one. The House and Senate planned to begin this week's special session Monday afternoon.
The modification would allow lawmakers to revisit the issue during next year's regular session.