All three Colorado
casino towns now set to expand gambling
Colorado’s three casino towns are now “all in” in deciding through
voter referendums to expand gambling in their communities, as provided under
Amendment 50 which statewide voters approved last November.
Residents in both Black Hawk and Central City OK’d in
January expanded gambling by votes of 54 to 6 and 212 to 16 respectively. They
follow Cripple Creek,
which voted in December.
As a result, beginning in July, casinos in the three
towns can stay open 24 hours a day instead of the previous 18-hour limit, raise
the wagering limit from $5 to $100 and add craps and roulette to the games
local casinos offer.
The
biggest issues in voting from expanded gambling in the two towns was jobs,
which locals believed could be lost amid the slumping economy if gamblers were
not given a bigger incentive to drive to these remote mountain towns, the Rocky
Mountain News reported.
Local casino owners also are enthusiastic about the
changes. The Red Dolly Casino in Black Hawk, which last year dropped its
blackjack tables because the $5 betting limit didn’t bring in enough money to
justify the staff needed to run them, will reopen the tables plus three more in
July, said general manager Craig Ramirez. Red Dolly also will add craps and
roulette tables, but likely will stay open 24 hours only on Friday through
Sunday nights.
Voters approve gaming referendums
March 1, 2009
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