The city councils of Colorado’s three casino towns, Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City, have voted to raise wagering limits. The state’s voters in November approved Amendment 77, which gave the cities the authority to do this without having to go to the voters each time.
The wagering cap had been $100. That cap had been arrived at in 2008, also by a statewide election. Before that the limit had been $5.
The cities also got the right to approve new games for their casinos as long as they are allowed by the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission.
Black Hawk was the first. On December 1 the city council authorized unlimited single-bet wagers and opened the way for baccarat, keno and pai gow poker, among others. Those changes become effective May 1, 2021. Central City and Cripple Creek quickly followed Black Hawk’s example.
The intent was clear, to keep Colorado residents home and not flying off to Las Vegas to pay high limit games. Now the only state with bet limits is South Dakota.
Seam Demueule, general manager of the Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa in Black Hawk, told the Boston Patch, “This is not a game changer for us.” Demueule, who is also secretary-treasurer of the Colorado Gaming Association, added, “When I say it’s not a game changer I mean I don’t expect it to grow revenue by hundreds of millions of dollars every year. It just allows us to have some parity with neighboring states.”
One of the games the state’s casinos have wanted to add for years is Baccarat. The gaming commission is expected to take up adding the game at its next meeting.
Outgoing Gilpin County commissioner Ron Engels explained why the new rules will benefit Black Hawk and Central City, which are both in the county. “Denver is the second-largest feeder market for Las Vegas and the casino operators who are going to be extending their limit or removing them are certainly hoping some of those people stay here,” he told Boston Patch. “But we’re are also hoping that people will make this a primary destination as well, coming from elsewhere in the country to visit our mountain community.”
