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.

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. Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk. $$ Hotels, Casinos. “ being told a second time, as I had the straw in my mouth drinking, I had to wear my mask or I would have to leave was unexplainable. There were so few in the casino and most were locals. I'm not sure what the political game” more. These places are best for casinos & gambling in Black Hawk: Ameristar Casino Black Hawk; The Lodge Casino; Monarch Casino Resort Spa; The Gilpin Casino; Sasquatch Casino; See more casinos & gambling in Black Hawk on Tripadvisor $.

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.

• Last March, April and May, gamblers at casinos in Cripple Creek, Central City and Black Hawk lost $213.5 million, providing Colorado with $38.92 million in gambling taxes. The state collected a little more than $5 million in gambling taxes in the first two weeks of March, and zero in April and May.
• After nine years of preparation, Monarch Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk will debut the first phase of its $442 million expansion Thursday, opening the doors to a new hotel, expanded casino floor.

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.

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.)

OVER A DOZEN CASINOS AND ENDLESS GAMING FUN

Looking for the nearest casinos to Denver and Boulder? Whether you’re visiting for a day or planning a multi-day vacation, Black Hawk Casinos are some of the best destinations in Colorado. Immerse yourself in Black Hawk, Colorado by visiting historic casinos and newer ones alike. No matter where you land, you’ll be happy you did.
Learn more about each individual casino below and be sure to check out some of the featured casino games available in Black Hawk.

Z Casino

Make Z Casino your first stop for fun. With plenty of parking in our convenient surface parking lot right on the corner of Gregory Street and SH 119 (via Selak St), Z Casino features hundreds of your favorite slots (many hot, new slots arriving daily), live-action black jack, craps and cards along with two bars, two restaurants and the friendliest team in town. When you are in Black Hawk—Win at the Z!

AMERISTAR CASINO

With over 1,500 slot machines, table games and poker, Ameristar brings outstanding gaming to the Denver metropolitan area. Its hotel, spa and dining options have transformed Ameristar into your ultimate weekend getaway and gaming destination.

Black Hawk Co Gambling

Black Hawk Co Casinos

Gilpin Casino

Come Experience All The Gilpin has to Offer! Fabulous food, the newest machines, friendly staff and 24-hour gaming excitement – The Gilpin’s Got It! Winning comes easy with our non-stop casino action and the most rewarding Winners Club in Colorado.

Golden Gates Casino

Visit Golden Gates Casino to win big on any one of the 180+ slot machines, live table games or in our custom built Poker Room, home of the Colorado Poker Championship. Enjoy the coldest beer on the hill at the Gold Bar or try the famous Double Up Burger in Full House Café.

Golden Gulch Casino

Golden Gulch Casino offers the most unique gaming experience in Black Hawk with 100% all-coin in slot machines! Enjoy the classic gambling experience with big payouts.

Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk

Experience the best action in Colorado at The Isle Casino Hotel® Black Hawk. The good times are waiting just an hour from Denver. Try your luck at any of our 1,000+ slot machines, 30 hot tables or try your bluffs at the 2nd-floor live-action poker room. Enjoy tasty dining options of your choosing including The Roxy Restaurant and Grill, Farmer’s Pick Buffet, or Dash Cafe. And when you’re ready to call it a day, just make a night of it by staying in our fantastic 402-room hotel.

Lady Luck Casino

The inviting Lady Luck® Casino Black Hawk offers a homegrown destination for nonstop gaming action high in the Rockies. Just focus on the fun you are going to have; from the latest and greatest slots machines to action-packed table games to live-action poker. Odds are, we’ve got just the game for you! And you can take your excitement to a whole other level by signing up for our Fan Club®. Membership makes you eligible for great promotions, amazing rewards and outstanding mail offers based on your play – that’s enough to make anyone a fan.

Lodge Casino

Black Hawk Co Gambling

The Lodge Casino is Colorado’s 1st Choice for Fun! Play the newest slots at The Lodge or join in the action at our table games. Win more cash and prizes in our monthly promotions and events, enjoy our delicious dining options and the comfort and convenience of our hotel. Experience all that The Lodge Casino has to offer!

Mardi Gras Casino

Mardi Gras Casino offers more than 650 of the most popular slot and video poker machines. Choose from a wide selection of machines ranging from penny machines to $25 machines in our High Limit area. Plus, visit the Table Games pit on the Second Floor for all the live action. Try the best food and beverages in Black Hawk by visiting Bourbon Street Café, the Masquerade Bar or Creekside Deli.

Monarch Casino

Monarch Casino is your first stop in Black Hawk for exciting gaming action and features hot, new Exclusive Premiere slots, exciting tables games, a sensational nightly whole Maine lobster, crab and USDA prime rib buffet and Black Hawk’s friendliest team. With over 600 slots, video poker, and table games to choose from, remember to make it Monarch. “You Bet It’s Fun!”

Saratoga Casino

Experience mountains of winning at Saratoga Casino Black Hawk. It’s non-stop fun and excitement with the hottest slots, table game favorites like Roulette, Blackjack and Craps, plus delicious dining at The Main Street Café. We’re also home to Colorado’s first Sportsbook. So don’t miss a minute of the action – we bet you’ll love it here!

Black Hawk Co Casino Map

Sasquatch Casino

Black Hawk Co Casino Promotions

Sasquatch Casino features a comfortable, relaxed environment under the watching gaze of “Harry” the casino’s 7’4″ Sasquatch. The casino’s 6,000+ sq feet features two floors of gaming with over 145 slot machines, video poker, two restaurants and a bar featuring our very own Sasquatch Wheat Ale.

Black Hawk Co Casino Hotels

Wild Card Casino

Black Hawk Co Casino Lodging

A down home local’s casino, family owned and operated, the Wild Card Saloon and Casino on Main Street in Black Hawk is nestled next door to Bull Durham Casino across from the Mill City Chophouse.