Findlay bans new gaming parlors for another year

FINDLAY — Findlay's moratorium on establishing new skilled-based gaming parlors has been extended for another year. Findlay City Council voted Tuesday to extend the already 18-month moratorium. Matt Cordonnier, director of the Hancock Regional Planning Commission, asked Findlay Council to extend the moratorium at its March 20 regular meeting, when the legislation was introduced. The legislation includes emergency language, which negates a 30-day waiting period for new council action and makes it effective immediately. The current moratorium expires on Friday. Skill-based gaming is like gambling, but the games require a component of skill to win prizes like vouchers or game cards. Ohio prohibits cash prizes. The moratorium was enacted to allow city officials to determine how best to regulate the establishment of gaming parlors in the city. The parlors require permits to operate and are currently zoned for commercial areas, as either C1 for light traffic, or C2. Hancock County Regional Planning has recommended zoning of I1, or light industrial, to move them well away from residential areas. The recommendation would also limit the gaming parlors to only four within city limits. Established parlors would be grandfathered and allowed to remain in operation. Cordonnier said the revised zoning was overlooked when the city re-wrote the zoning rules last year.