Black Hawk Co Gambling
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- Black Hawk Co Casinos
Black Hawk’s casinos and sportsbooks offer bettors a little bit of everything when it comes to gaming and entertainment.
Black Hawk is the largest casino town in Colorado and one of the premier gambling destinations in the Western US. A gaming-focused town, there is one casino for every 6 residents. One of Black Hawk’s 15 casinos is around every corner.
BLACK HAWK, Colo. (CBS4) – Casinos in the Colorado mountain town of Black Hawk have been given the green light to reopen. The Gilpin County Board of Public Health voted on Sunday morning to allow the casinos to resume in-person operations on June 17. A variance request to get the casinos back open was approved on Saturday. As a consequence, casinos in Black Hawk and Central City will shut down their table games, CBS Denver reports. “We are sad to say that starting this Friday at 8 a.m. We must close table games in order to comply with the Gilpin County guidance in connection with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on increased operational restrictions,” The Lodge Casino stated online.
Most of the casino floors offer live blackjack, craps, roulette, classic slot machines, and video poker terminals. Black Hawk is home to some of Colorado’s most impressive poker rooms, too, offering Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 3 Card, and other forms of the card game.
Coloradans approved a measure to allow voters in three cities — Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek — to make changes to gaming stakes without a statewide vote in Tuesday’s election.
Black Hawk Casinos
In this gambling town, visitors will find a variety of casinos that offer more than just gaming. Many of the casinos offer casual and fine dining, entertainment, spas, hotels, and other amenities.
Ameristar Casino
The town’s largest casino, Ameristar also houses a luxury hotel with 536 guest rooms, including 64 suites. Guests can relax and rejuvenate at the Ara Spa located on premises where spa services are offered daily and salon services are offered on the weekend. There are six dining choices, including the Timberline Grill Steakhouse.
The Barstool Sportsbook at Ameristar includes a 24-foot video wall, 13 betting kiosks, drink specials, and 29 HDTVs. Barstool will launch an online sports betting app in 2021 in partnership with Ameristar.
Ameristar’s casino offers:
- Black Hawk’s largest poker room with 22 poker tables
- Over 1,250 slot machines and video poker machines
- 40 additional gaming tables on the casino floor
- Barstool Sportsbook
- 24-hour gambling, 7 days a week
111 Richman St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Bull Durham Saloon and Casino
The Bull Durham Casino is a designated Colorado landmark. Housed in an 1880s building that was originally a wagon works and later a blacksmith shop, its name comes from an advertisement painted on the building’s exterior in 1912. The casino offers casual pub food, beer, wine, and cocktails for guests.
Bull Durham’s casino offers:
- Some of the hottest new games available
- The best percentage of three-coin bar video poker
- Free Sharpshooters Club with perks, rewards and free food and beer offerings
- Open 7 days a week
110 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Golden Gates Casino
Golden Gates is one of three sister casinos along with Golden Gulch and Golden Mardi Gras. The casino is home to the Colorado Poker Championship tournament and the Heartland Poker Tour. Golden Gates has one of the largest poker rooms in Black Hawk. There’s both a bar and a casual restaurant on-premises.
Golden Gates casino offers:
- 18 poker tables with a 5 table overflow room during tournaments
- 650 loose slot games
- 33 table games
- Open 7 days a week
261 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Golden Gulch Casino
Golden Gulch is one of three sister casinos along with Golden Gates and Golden Mardi Gras. The smallest of the three, it has one of the most unique gaming rooms in Black Hawk. Some of the games in this 100% all coin casino are located in the casino’s basement, formerly an old jailhouse. The Golden Gulch Bar located in the casino has real coin-in slot machines.
Golden Gulch casino offers:
- 140 slot and video poker machines
- Classic gambling experience
- Open 7 days a week
321 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Golden Mardi Gras Casino
Golden Mardi Gras is one of three sister casinos along with Golden Gates and Golden Gulch, and it’s the largest of the three casinos. Designed to be reminiscent of the classic New Orleans celebration complete with themed dining in the Bourbon Street Cafe or the Masquerade Bar, it’s connected by a skywalk to Golden Gates and its large poker room.
Golden Mardi Gras Casino opened a DraftKings-branded sportsbook in 2020. The sports betting lounge includes a large video wall with over 40 TVs, 8 sports betting kiosks, 2 off-track betting terminals, and a sports betting cashier. The DraftKings Sportsbook also has a VIP lounge and full-service kitchen and bar. DraftKings also launched an online sports betting app on May 1, 2020, in partnership with Golden Mardi Gras.
Golden Mardi Gras Casino offers:
- 650 slot and video poker games
- 14 table games
- DraftKings Sportbook
- Off-track betting
- Open 7 days a week
300 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
The Gilpin Casino
Sometimes referred to as The Gilpin Hotel & Casino because of the building’s historic name, The Gilpin is now a casino only. Guests can stay at the casino’s sister property, the nearby Lodge Casino. This three-story Gilpin Casino is said to be haunted, with a ghost of a heartbroken school teacher who jumped to her death after her lover died. The casino’s restaurant, Lucille Malones’s, bears her name.
Gilpin casino offers:
- 469 slot and video poker machine
- 6 game tables
- Free Winners Club membership
- Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
111 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Isle Casino Hotel
The Isle Black Hawk is a casino and hotel with 404 guest rooms. Owned by Caesars Entertainment, it’s one of the 50 destinations where Ceasars Rewards can be used. Guests can take advantage of free valet parking in a covered garage. There are five dining options onsite ranging from a Starbucks to the Roxy Restaurant & Bar, a fine-dining steakhouse. Isle is connected to its sister property Lady Luck by a skywalk.
Isle casino offers:
- Over 900 slot machines
- 27 table games
- Live poker room with over a dozen tables
- William Hill Sportsbook at Lady Luck
- Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
401 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Lady Luck
Connected to its sister property Isle Casino Hotel by a skywalk, Lady Luck was Black Hawk’s first big casino. It shares a free valet parking garage with its sister hotel. Lady Luck opened solely as a casino in 1993 and later added a 164 room hotel. Owned by Caesars Entertainment, it’s one of the 50 destinations where Ceasars Rewards can be used. Guests can dine at the Otis & Henry’s Bar & Grill where breakfast and casual fare are served downstairs and pub far is served upstairs with a view of the Rocky Mountains.
Lady Luck Casino partnered with internationally-renowned sports betting brand William Hill to launch its retail sportsbook on-site in 2020. Currently, Lady Luck offers betting kiosks in the casino but we anticipate a full sports betting lounge to open in the future. William Hill launched its online sports betting app in 2020.
Lady Luck offers:
- Over 400 slot and video poker machines
- 11 table games
- William Hill Sportsbook
- Open 7 days a week, 24 hour a day
340 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
The Lodge Casino
Black Hawk’s very first casino that also offered hotel rooms, The Lodge is the sister casino to The Gilpin Casino. The hotel has 50 guest rooms. The large casino’s dining choices include the White Buffalo Grille steakhouse as well as three other more casual establishments.
The Lodge Casino offers:
Black Hawk Co Casino Lodging
- 975 slot machines
- 17 game tables
- Free Winners Club membership
- Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
240 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Monarch Casino
Monarch is one of the first casinos many people see when entering Black Hawk. This casino and resort has 500 guest rooms and the Monarch Spa with spa services, a rooftop year-round pool, and a cardio theater and fitness center. Guests can dine at one of 7 fast-casual, buffet, or fine dining restaurants. A 1,350 car parking garage is on-site.
Monarch Casino is constructing a full-service sports betting lounge at the casino. In the meantime, bettors can place bets at the Monarch Rewards desk. Or, the casino is offering online sports betting under its BetMonarch brand name.
Monarch Casino offers:
- 1200 slot and video poker machines
- 40 table games
- BetMonarch Sportsbook (under construction)
- Open 7 days a week, 24 hour a day
488 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Red Dolly Casino
Black Hawk’s oldest casino, the Red Dolly with its famous red awning has been managed by the same team since 1992. It’s a small but busy casino with one dining option that serves everything from breakfast to burgers, pasta, and steaks.
Red Dolly launched sports betting in Colorado through a partnership with ELITE Sportsbook. This includes a sportsbook app. Currently, bettors can place bets at various sports betting kiosks located throughout the property.
Red Dolly casino offers:
- Over 100 classic and new slot machines
- Elite Sportsbook
- Open 7 days a week, hours vary
530 Gregory St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Saratoga Casino
With beautiful mountain views, the Saratoga Casino is one of the newer properties in Black Hawk. The modern casino has a gift shop and free covered parking. Guests can dine at casual Main Street Cafe. They can also grab a drink and a bite at the Main Floor Bar or the Mill City Bar.
Saratoga Casino partnered with Betfred to offer sports betting in Colorado. They were the first retail sportsbook to open, in June 2020. The Betfred sportsbook includes a 1,400 square feet sports betting lounge, with TVs, betting windows, and self-serve kiosks. Betfred also has an online sportsbook.
Saratoga casino offers:
- Almost 500 slot machines
- Table games such as craps, blackjack, and roulette
- Betfred Sportsbook
- Free Player Extra Club rewards membership
- Open 7 days a week, hours vary
101 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Sasquatch Casino
This cozy casino, the smallest in Black Hawk, packs a lot into its 6,000 square feet, including Harry, a 7’4” Sasquatch, in the main lobby. Players often rub Harry’s butt for good luck. The casino has two restaurants. Harry’s Grill & Pizza serves sandwiches, chicken, and pizzas. Harry’s Steakhouse serves steaks and comfort foods. Sasquatch Casino is also one of the few kid-friendly places in Black Hawk with a 15-game arcade for kids and teens.
Sasquatch Casino offers:
- More than 145 conventional, electronic and tabletop gaming systems
- Open 7 days a week, hours vary
- PlaySports kiosks for sports betting
125 Gregory St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Wild Card Saloon & Casino
This small family-run casino has an outdoor deck, a convenience store, and a full bar with a menu with home-cooked dishes. Players can earn points to spend on comforting foods, which change with the seasons. Wild Card welcomes parties and caters to birthday, bachelor, bachelorette, and other celebrations.
Wild Card Saloon casino offers:
- Over 200 slot and video poker machines
- Daily prizes awarded to those who enter to win the lock-up drawing
- Open 7 days a week, hours vary
- PlaySports kiosks for sports betting
120 Main St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
Z Casino
Z is both a casino and a hotel with 119 recently renovated deluxe rooms and suites and free covered self-parking with valet option. The Mile High entertainment lounge hosts a variety of artists and also has one of the few dance floors in Black Hawk. Guests can eat at the Z Cafe or Mustang Grill.
Z casino offers:
- Over 400 slot machines including video craps, video blackjack, and video roulette
- 6 gaming tables
- 1 poker table
- Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
- PlaySports kiosks for sports betting
101 Gregory St, Black Hawk, CO 80422
History Of Black Hawk
Black Hawk is a historic mining town in Colorado, located about an hour away from Denver. It’s named after an American Indian Chief. Founded in 1859 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, thousands of prospectors and miners came to Black Hawk to find their fortunes. It became known as the “City of Mills” when it became the center of water-powered stamp mills that processed ore in the region. In 1872 the Colorado Central Railroad came to Black Hawk, cementing the town’s importance.
After the Gold Rush, Black Hawk became a small mining town with little tourism. That changed in 1991 when people returned to find their fortunes, this time at the newly opened casinos. Black Hawk now caters almost exclusively to casino tourism.
Other Activities And Things To Do In BlackHawk
In addition to gambling, there are many activities in and around Black Hawk for tourists to enjoy.
- Hike the nearby mountain trails of Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which is just a few miles from Black Hawk.
- Take a scenic drive on Peak-to-Peak Highway or Mount Evans Scenic Byway.
- Visit Talnua Distillery and Tasting Room or Odyssey Beerwerks Brewery and Taproom, both in nearby Arvada.
- Take the Hidee Gold Mine Tour, learn about mining, and pan for gold in nearby Central City.
- Soak in some culture at the Central City Opera House in its 550-seat jewel box opera house built in 1878.
Black Hawk Gambling FAQs
How old do I need to be to gamble in Black Hawk?
21 years old. The legal gambling age in Colorado is 21, and all casinos strictly adhere to this law. Casinos check legal IDs upon entrance.
What is the drinking age at casinos in Black Hawk?
21 years old. The legal drinking age in Colorado is 21, and all casinos strictly adhere to this law.
Casinos check legal IDs upon entrance.
What is the biggest casino in Black Hawk?
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa. Ameristar offers 1,250 slots and video machines, 40 table games, and 22 live poker tables. It also has the largest poker room in Black Hawk. Ameristar’s hotel has 536 guest rooms, including 64 suites. Many of the rooms feature views of the Rocky Mountains.
Who regulates gambling in Black Hawk?
The Colorado Division of Gaming. All gambling in Colorado is regulated by the Colorado Division of Gaming.
Who owns the casinos in Black Hawk?
Black Hawk’s casinos are independently owned. The casinos in Black Hawk are owned by independent corporations that are required to follow all rules and regulations set forth by the Colorado Division of Gaming. There are no American Indian owned Casinos in Black Hawk.
Black Hawk Co Casinos Buffet Coupons
How far is Black Hawk from Denver?
About 35 miles. Depending on traffic and starting destination, it takes about 50 minutes to drive from downtown Denver to Black Hawk. Denver International Airport is 55 miles from Black Hawk and is about an hour and ten-minute drive. There are both trains and busses accessible from the airport that go to Black Hawk, sometimes with transfers.
Is it easy to park in Black Hawk?
Yes. Most casinos in Black Hawk offer free covered or uncovered parking garages for guests of the casino. Guests may use these parking garages for their entire stay at the casino. Some of the larger casinos also offer free valet service, although tipping the valet attendants is always encouraged.
Joseph Alexander, Gilpin County. Isn’t it that siblings make the best rivals, that something about nearly being the same thing makes for more competition and intensity when the small differences are noticed? With this analogy in mind, your correspondent would say that anybody would be hard pressed to find two towns more like a pair of scrappy mountain brothers than Black Hawk and Central City (legally known as the City of Central and once known as Mountain City but most often referred to Central City). Both towns were put on the modern day map so to speak, when on May 6, 1859, in a gulch between the two towns, a gold vein was found by a gold miner named John H. Gregory, since that day they have been competing.
While in the 1920s through the 1930s “the richest square mile on earth,” or Central City flourished as a prospecting and mining town, “The City of Mills,” or Black Hawk, was home to Colorado’s first ore smelter and became a home to the processing of much of the gold ore and ore from other precious metals from around the area. Due to the success of and industry around mining both of these towns were then home to many brothels, gambling houses (which your correspondent has to assume were operating based on frontier lawlessness and not in the legal matter of those which fill the streets of both of these towns today) and saloons of the type which only wild west movies can do justice to describing. Some famous residents during this time are said to have been Buffalo Bill himself as well as a frontier famous Madam and poker player named Poker Alice.
Despite the happening nature of these two “it towns” of the early twentieth century, by World War II, gold mining was not as lucrative and the country turned its industrial eye and investments to the processing and building of weapon’s grade metal and weapons respectively.
From the end of World War II until 1991, with the passing of a legal allowance for casinos to be built in both towns, both of these small mountain towns who had already gone from mining towns to ghost towns were about to go through another massive transition. This would take them into how we know them today in the twenty-first century between the Second World War and the passing of the casino bill. This reporter has had a hard time finding any information as to what went on in either of these towns during those fifty years, other than a brief mention of Central City in Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road in which he and another writer Neil Cassidy travel up to Central City from Denver to party and leave back to Denver in a stolen car later that night.
Gambling Vacations Black Hawk Co
Since the passing of the 1991 casino bill, the towns have grown into a more recent rivalry, mainly due to the fact that because of its closer position to Highway 119, Black Hawk (which before the casinos was a smaller and less profitable town) has become rather wealthy whereas Central City has had a harder time convincing casino clientele to travel just a mile further up into the hills to gamble at their casinos. This ongoing imbalance in casino attendance prompted Central City to build the Central City Parkway with the hopes of pulling traffic coming from the direction of Idaho Springs towards their open casino doors, to mixed results. Today Central City, while focusing on the casino industry, also seems to put much of its time into the history of the town, promoting the long running and locally famous Central City Opera as well as various other historical attractions and events. Meanwhile Black Hawk, with its larger casinos, focuses more on the casino aspect of the town’s culture but still has time to also rejuvenate various historical landmarks and buildings in the area.
Black Hawk Co Casinos
And now in 2020, another change came on election day, one that could pull more people up here to these sibling towns, and that is Amendment 77, which was passed as of the writing of this article. This amendment allows an increase in the maximum single bet allowed for any game beyond the current statewide limit of $100. Additionally, Amendment 77 allows voters to approve games other than those currently allowed by Colorado law. Currently allowed games in Colorado casinos include blackjack, craps, poker, roulette, and slot machines.
All this may lead to an expansion in what can be offered as games in these casinos and thus an expansion of the casinos and their revenues as well. And while we may not know how these changes will play out, based on our lookback through the history of these two rival towns situated just one dusty mile apart from another, we can be sure of two things: firstly that there will be, as there always has been, changes that irrevocably reshape the way these two towns function and exist as we know them today and secondly, that there will continue to be wild west style, one-up antics and friendly rivalries between these two towns for as long as they both shall exist.
To find out more about the goings on in either of these towns please visit their websites; Central City https://centralcity.colorado.gov/ and Black Hawk https://site.cityofblackhawk.org/
(Originally published in the November 12, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)