Solid-state dye-doped polymer is an attractive alternative to the conventional liquid dye solution. In this paper the laser characteristics of Coumarin 490-doped polymethyl methacrylate rods modified with EtOH are studied under nitrogen laser and 3rd harmonic Nd:YAG laser excitation, in a transverse pumping configuration. The variation of gain coefficient of the dye molecules in the solid medium with different pump powers is studied. Photobleaching of a dye-doped polymer rod is also studied under nitrogen laser and 3rd harmonic Nd:YAG laser excitation.