The Sparks City Council has temporarily banned new casinos outside the downtown core while it studies the effects of gambling in other areas of the city.
The council on Monday voted 3-2 to impose a 10-month moratorium on unrestricted gambling licenses for establishments without hotels that are within Sparks or its sphere of influence.
The moratorium comes as at least four developers and six gambling license holders have expressed interest in building casinos in the fast-growing Spanish Springs area.
That has raised concern among downtown casinos about dwindling profits and residents who fear neighborhood casinos will diminish their quality of life.
