A gaming proposal to raise the permitted number of poker machines at bars is being studied by the Baltimore City Council.

The council's Land Use and Transportation Committee will vote the proposal on Monday. The Committee Chairman, who co-owns a bar that has poker machines, will not vote the proposal.

The Baltimore Licensed Beverage Association backed up the proposal, but the city finance and planning departments oppose it. Detractors think that the proposal may bring illegal gambling to town, with the already known problems implied.