By Tony Romeo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Governor Corbett says his administration is progressing to the next stage of its study of possibly privatizing state Lottery management.

Expanding the Lottery to include Internet and Keno-type games is being explored as part of the process.

The administration has now completed its “due diligence” phase and will begin evaluating the bidders’ business plans. Governor Corbett says privatizing Lottery management is still not a certainty.

“Now… if I find that it’s going to cause us to lose money, are we going to do it? No!”

The administration says while exploring the possibility of privatized Lottery management, it has become evident that incorporating Internet games and Keno-like monitor-based games is one of the most effective ways to responsibly grow Lottery revenues.

“Those are options that we’ve asked to be on the table.”

Democrats in the legislature, meanwhile, continue to question the idea saying the Lottery is already efficiently managed and that privatizing management threatens to siphon off dollars intended for seniors.