CONCORD, N.H. – State Sen. Lou D’Allesandro is hoping the odds of legalizing video slots will improve as New Hampshire’s struggle to cut spending intensifies, but he may have to wait until next year for a final vote on his latest proposal.

The Manchester Democrat said he will defer to a request from the Senate president to take the bill out of the revenue mix for now. D’Allesandro said he hasn’t surveyed the Senate but he probably doesn’t have the votes at this point anyway. He said he will support having the Senate hold onto his bill until next year.

He isn’t ruling out, however, bringing the proposal up if budget negotiations over spending cuts and revenues give him an opening in June.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing on D’Allesandro’s bill today. The proposal is D’Allesandro’s 13th effort to legalize video slots in New Hampshire. The bill would allow up to a total of 10,000 video slot machines at four locations. It also would allow table games such as poker, roulette and craps.