Sen. Mike Beatty, R-Jefferson, said Mr. Barnes seemed inclined to add video poker to a list of issues lawmakers can consider during the session, which is primarily designed to redraw political lines after the 2000 census.

''My impression was that we agreed on the need to ban the machines,'' said Mr. Beatty, who lead the charge to ban the games during the 2001 General Assembly session. ''(Mr. Barnes) is still open to the idea of having it in the special session.''

Under Georgia law, only the governor can call a special session. When he calls for the session, which is expected in late July or early August, he must specifically state which issues are to be discussed.

A Barnes spokesperson did not return phone calls for comment.

Georgia law prohibits gambling for money, other than the state-sponsored lottery. But law-enforcement officials around the state say machine gambling is proliferating since it was outlawed in South Carolina, and a growing number of store owners have been charged with making illegal cash payouts to winners.

Mr. Beatty sponsored a pair of bills that would have banned the games or given local governments the right to do so.

A version of one of his bills, attached as an amendment to a more industry-friendly version by Sen. Mike Polak, D-Atlanta, nearly passed in the session's closing minutes.

Since then, Republican leaders have asked Mr. Barnes, a Democrat, to add the issue during the special session.

''The longer you put it off, the stronger that industry becomes, the more money becomes involved, the more lobbyists become involved,'' Mr. Beatty said. ''It's going to be harder to do the deed the longer we wait.''

But the merchants who own the machines say there's no rush to take up Mr. Beatty's bill, which they say goes too far.

''We don't think there's any emergency that would make this necessary for a special session,'' said Jim Tudor, the president of the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores. ''I think the majority of our members are following the law, and there are plenty of penalties for those who aren't.''

Instead, the association supports toughening penalties for violators who make cash awards, limiting the number of machines in each store and giving local governments more power to police abuses. Store owners already face loss of their permit to sell alcohol and lottery tickets if found to be breaking the existing law that allows noncash awards.

Reach Walter C. Jones or Doug Gross at (404) 589-8424 or mnews@mindspring.com.