Cranberry Prohibits Satellite Casinos In Township

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA - Don’t bet on any satellite casinos opening any time soon in the township. Supervisors have put an indefinite freeze on locating one in Cranberry.

They were prompted to take that action after a state law was passed in October permitting 10 of Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos to bid on licenses for smaller casinos. Although not as large as the Rivers Casino on the North Shore, for example, the satellite casinos still would have hundreds of slot machines.

The new law established a December 31 deadline for municipalities to ban mini-casinos within its borders. Municipalities can’t prohibit them if that deadline is missed. But if local governments do restrict them, they have the right to reverse themselves in the future.

According to township officials, supervisors intend to study how a potential casino would fit into the township’s comprehensive plan before deciding whether one should be permitted to open.

Photo: Associated Press.