HARRISBURG — Only five Blair County municipalities are among the more than 1,000 statewide that have opted out of hosting a mini-casino.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is awaiting to see if any more resolutions come in by mail before issuing a final list of municipalities not interested in being considered for a mini-casino.

As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, only Blair County’s Hollidaysburg, Martinsburg and Tyrone boroughs and Catharine and Frankstown townships are on the opt-out list.

Opt-outs in other area counties include: 12 in Bedford, 10 in Cambria, 20 in Centre, 14 in Clearfield and 10 in Huntingdon.

The opt-out lists posted so far on the board’s website show a groundswell of municipalities passing opt-out resolutions, many from counties in southeast and southcentral Pennsylvania.

A complete list will be posted after resolutions arriving in the mail this week are processed, said gaming board spokesman Doug Harbach.

Municipalities had until Dec. 31 to pass opt-out resolutions under Pennsyl­vania’s new gambling expansion law.

The opt-out decisions by municipalities will help determine the map for citing potential mini-casinos. The gaming board is scheduled to hold an initial auction Jan. 10 to award the first of 10 licenses. Category 1 and 2 casinos can submit sealed bids and a selected location for a mini-casino.

All 60 municipalities in Lancaster County have opted-out, a result praised by Sens. Ryan Aument and Scott Martin, both Lancaster County Republicans.

“We could not be more pleased with the quick response and strong statement this sends to Harrisburg,” said the two senators. “Lancaster County is extraordinary for many reasons, and hosting a mini-casino here adds nothing positive to our culture, people or economy.”

Twenty-nine of 34 municipalities in Adams County, a scene of several battles over prior potential casino ventures, have opted out so far.

While Reading City Council passed a voluntary resolution in early December supporting a mini-casino to promote economic development and generate tax revenue, 36 other municipalities in Berks County have passed opt-out resolutions.

In western Pennsylvania, where economic growth is desired, it’s often a different story. Westmoreland County officials are interested in hosting a mini-casino, with Greensburg and Latrobe mentioned as potential sites. Only nine of 65 Westmoreland municipalities have opted out.

The author of the opt-out provision, Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said the process is a good example of local control at work. A casino will have a much different impact on a community than a normal commercial venture, he added.

“Obviously, the municipalities are taking this very seriously,” Corman said. “Locals should have say in it.”

In Centre County, Corman pointed out that Historic Boalsburg Village, as part of Harris Township, opted out because officials don’t think a casino fits with the village’s historic character.

He said casinos should find enough opportunities for a suitable location even with the opt-outs. A casino industry lobbyist agreed that casinos will be able to find locations especially in areas looking for economic development. But he noted that most casinos aren’t that interested in operating a mini-casino, per se, but are concerned about seeing a competitor get a foothold.