Negotiations were to continue today toward a longer extension, according to the release.

The bid from Camelot Global Services PA LLC, which came out last fall after months of the commonwealth considering a management privatization move, had originally been valid until Dec. 31.

The administration has pursued privatizing lottery management as a possible way to help results keep up with the state’s growing population of seniors who benefit from the profits, but it has come under fire for allegedly not being transparent enough in the process.

Camelot and the state had negotiated the extension to Thursday, two days after the lottery employee union’s counterproposal was due. The union released its proposal Tuesday.

A state Senate Finance Committee hearing is scheduled for Monday to discuss potential privatization and the future of the lottery, which has proceeds that have grown to about $1 billion annually going to programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians.