How Gaming and Entertainment in Colorado Have Changed Over The Years

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Colorado has changed massively over the years in terms of population, culture, and industry. One thing that has remained consistent in the Centennial State is gambling and entertainment.

From the Colorado Silver Boom to the advent of the information age, Coloradans have held gaming at the center of social lives, providing a consistent source of entertainment.

However, that’s not to say that gambling and entertainment have remained the same throughout the decades. Technological advancements have taken gambling from brick-and-mortar casinos to online gaming sites.

This is unsurprising, given the wide range of benefits that digital casinos have. Vlad Grindu, who has shared a library of real money slots, states that online slots offer a wide range of bonuses, from deposit bonuses to free spins.

It’s only natural that the likes of crypto casinos have altered the course of online entertainment and gaming in Colorado. But how did we get to this point? Let's examine how things have changed over the years:

Mining towns and gambling

Gambling started in Colorado during its mining era. Historic towns such as Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek were full of dance halls, saloons, and casinos. These mining communities attracted a lot of wealthy people to the towns, many of whom would spend their money on gambling.

Plus, these towns were bereft of law enforcement, which helped the initial gambling boom in Colorado pick up speed. Informal and unregulated games of poker and faro games would take place constantly. Many miners, who were tired of having to mine all day, would spend all their money on gambling in the hope of achieving financial freedom.

Silver Boom

During the Silver Boom, Denver started to emerge as the most prominent settlement in the state. To take advantage of the newfound wealth that many silver merchants in the area had during this time, local con man Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith II set up many gambling halls throughout the city.

These gambling halls often featured rigged tables, which ensured that Soapy could maximize his profits.

End of the mining era

The end of the silver boom led to mass unemployment in the area. Many miners were forced to move and many of the makeshift casinos ceased operating as a result.

This coincided with the prevalence of conservative values throughout the state, which resulted in the establishment of local law enforcement agencies. Gaming regulation came into play, and gambling could no longer be carried out in public spaces.

Regulated gambling

The first instance of fully regulated gambling came in 1948 with the introduction of the Colorado Gambling on Horse and Animal Races Amendment. This act instigated the formation of the regulatory body, the Colorado Racing Commission.

Under the rules established by this commission, Colorado bettors could now legally gamble on horse and greyhound races.

This was followed up in 1958 with the legalization and regulation of bingo, raffles, and other forms of charitable gambling.

The legalization of casinos

The next major milestone for gambling didn’t come until 1990 when Coloradans voted in favor of the Legalization of Limited Gambling Initiative 57.3% to 42.7%. This measure, also referred to as Amendment 4, legalized “limited gambling” in the former gambling epicenters of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek.

These towns had become rundown since the end of the mining era and this act was passed in the hope that it could revitalize them.

The act became law in 1991, and the first casinos were opened in these former mining towns. Initially, residents and visitors could only bet $5 max per game.

In the years since, many casinos have been established throughout Colorado. Some of these can be found in Black Hawk, including the Ameristar Black Hawk which opened in 2001.

Venues such as this contribute to the $4.16 billion economic impact of gambling in Colorado.

Updates to casino law

The $5 per bet limit was increased to $100 in 2008 through the passing of Amendment 50. This update also permitted casinos to operate 24/7 and offer roulette and craps games for the first time.

This attracted more people to Colorado and incentivized more Coloradans to use their state-regulated gambling premises.

This was closely followed by the passing of House Bill 14-1146, which banned greyhound racing in the state.

Online gambling

In 2019, Colorado residents voted 51.41% in favor of Proposition DD, which made sports betting legal for the first time. This resulted in brick-and-mortar and online sports betting being launched in May 2020. Since then, Colorado residents have been able to wager on basketball and football games either at a physical casino or online using a virtual sportsbook.

There has not yet been a law passed that would allow online casinos to establish themselves in Colorado. However, Coloradans are free to use offshore digital casinos in the meantime.

Final thoughts

While gambling has remained a mainstay since the birth of Colorado, the way Coloradans gamble has changed massively in the years since. Casinos have been banned and reintroduced into former mining towns, and online gambling has taken over somewhat from physical premises - all of which makes for a fascinating history.

If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.