Gambling has a history of been started by the French, Spanish, Irish, even English immigrants as they travelled up the Mississippi river from the south long before the civil war. The saloon called Brown’s Saloon is believed to be the first Syndicate casino to be built on American soil in 1822 on a corner that intersected Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.
This new idea was quickly embraced in the south and spread further west as gold miners travelled from one place to another. Casinos therefore developed all over the place in a bid to capture whatever gold these miners may have.
Over the years, American laws have fluctuated when it comes to gambling. Oftentimes gambling was illegal but with the passage of time, gambling gained support and was legalized in some states of the union in addition some casinos are state developed and regulated.
In 1991, Colorado officially passed the law to have gambling legalized in the state with voters supporting the motion. Although, casino operators made their way into Colorado in 1990, it was legalized in 1991. The legalization also came with certain guidelines like Colorado casino gamblers must be 21 years of age i.e. adults only, all bets must have a maximum stake of $5. The three towns where gambling were legalized by the state government are Cripple Creek, Central City and Black Hawk. To preserve the history of these towns was the major reason why gambling was legalized in addition to the towns been considered as National Historic Districts.
Central city has the highest number of casino gambling facilities but due to their location they generate the least revenue of the three cities. Black hawk rakes in the highest gambling revenue followed by Cripple Creek.
There are also Native American Indian casinos like the Ute Mountain casino in Towaoc, Colorado and the Sky Ute casino in Ignacio, Colorado, both casinos are open 24 hours of the day like the Dream Vegas Casino, unlike other state regulated casinos that have to be closed no later than 2:00am. Therefore, the Native American Indian casinos do not have to follow the same legalized codes that exists in the state of Colorado especially in their hours of operation.
One of the reasons gamblers heading for Colorado, always find Black Hawk first making it more convenient to play in the casinos of Black Hawk and this in turn leads to the town having the highest gambling revenue of the three National Historic Districts. In a bid to match Black Hawks high revenues from their gambling businesses and even pass it, Central City has financed an exit which comes up directly off Interstate-70 near Idaho Springs. This exist called the 4-lane Central City Parkway exist was built to cut down drastically the driving times to reach Central City Colorado casinos in addition cutting gamblers off the road that leads them to Black Hawk.
Another attraction for gamblers to visit Central City Colorado casinos is the utter and complete preservation of national history there. Black Hawk on the other hand, has gone in the opposite direction. The casinos in Black Hawk have a more glamorous, ritzy style constructed similar to the glitzy casinos seen in Las Vegas. Cripple Creek casinos is a cross between the two. With regards to development, they have strayed from the historical characteristic more than Central City, but they have not totally followed the Las Vegas glamorous, flamboyant, glitzy style like Black Hawk casinos.
The Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino with 118 rooms and lavishly decorated suites, state-wide progressive jackpots, $0.05-$5.00 progressive video machines inhouse, slot machines of various kinds, 7 live poker tables, 8 live blackjack tables, is believed to be the largest casino in the history of gambling in Colorado. It is situated in Central City and is a sprawling mass gambling attraction.
Colorado is not only known for its gambling and attractive casinos. A lot of tourist flock to the state to have a go at the slopes. Colorado has some of the most beautiful, challenging slopes for skiing both professionally or even as a beginner. Both residents of the state and tourist flock to the slopes of the Rockies which in turn leads to an increase in gambling revenues for the state of Colorado when they try their hands at the tables or the machines.
With offerings such as slot machines, casino table games, there exist with the state of Colorado other smaller casinos which can be found in large numbers littered across the state. A huge number of tourists who wish to avoid the large crowds and high prices of the more popular casinos in the state of Colorado, head to these other smaller casinos and find that the amenities and excitement is well worth it.
Since 1990 when casino operators came into Colorado and the legalization of the gambling in 1991, the popularity of Colorado’s casino gambling has been on a steady rise. In the beginning of the fiscal year 2007-2008, in the first two months, Colorado reported a gambling revenue of $148 million and this figure has been surpassed in recent times.
Colorado can boast of been one of the first American states to known what gambling is about and also to have first gambling saloon. Las Vegas is the world famous gambling capital and sometimes called ‘sin city’, with its glamorous casinos built to rival some of the most beautiful structures in the world. Although Colorado might not surpass Las Vegas in terms of gambling, the state has skiing which brings in the tourists and even some of the most popular faces in the world into its borders. They flock to the city not only to enjoy the slopes but also to gamble at some of the casinos within the city that have been in existence for a very long time.
Gambling in Colorado started a long time ago plus there is every indication that it would continue into the future and continue to reap generous revenues for the state.
