Colorado Casino Revenueד Down 3.8% in September, Central City Casino Plan Raises Concerns

Colorado commercial casinos saw revenue fall 3.8% year-on-year in September, dropping from $94.2 million in September 2024 to $90.7 million in 2025. 

Of the total, slots generated $76.5 million, falling 4.7% from $80.2 million, while table games saw revenues remain stable with a small increase of 1.3% from $14 million to $14.2 million. 

Thirty-five years ago last week, a controversial ballot was sponsored by all three gambling regions in Colorado. The ballot would restrict gambling to the former gambling towns in an attempt to save the regions, which had seen their revenue fall from year-round to just three months a year.  More recently, a casino proposal in Black Hawk raises neighbor concerns. 

Negatives All Around For Colorado Casinos

The latest report from the Colorado Department of Revenue, which reports revenues by region, showed that revenue declined year over year in all three areas in the state. 

The Black Hawk region generated the highest revenue in September, with profits totaling $68.5 million. However, this was a decline of 3.2% from the $70.7 million generated in September 2024. Slots revenue fell 4.5% year-on-year from $57.8 million to $55.1 million, but table games saw profits increase by 2.8% from $13 million to $13.3 million. 

Cripple Creek saw similar declines of 3.9% from $16.9 million to $16.2 million, with slots revenue dropping 3.4% from $16 million to $15.5 million. Table games revenue fell by double-digits, dropping 15.5% from $865,240 to $748,653. 

The biggest loser in September was the Central City region, which saw revenue fall 9.8% year-on-year from $6.6 million to $5.9 million. Table games revenue saw the most significant year-on-year loss, dropping 36.4% from $169,592 to $107,925. Slots revenue also declined 9% from $6.4 million to $5.8 million.

Proposed Casino Raises Neighbor Concerns 

A proposed casino project by the G3 Company, the Gregory Gulch Resort in Black Hawk, is raising concerns with local residents. The proposal, which has been submitted to the Central City Council, features a 1.8 million-square-foot resort, including 600 hotel rooms and a 100,000-square-foot casino with 1,000 slots and 50 table games. 

Thirty-five Years Since Ballot Grants Gambling To Three Regions 

Last week marked 35 years since a controversial Ballot Initiative 4 was sponsored by Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City, which was claimed to help pay for the upkeep of historic buildings.

The outcome of the Ballot meant that gambling would be restricted to “the commercial districts” of the three towns and to “structures which conform to the architectural styles and designs common to such areas between 1875 and World War I, regardless of the age of said structures.”

Additionally, a Limited Gaming Control Commission would be created, with a fund set up in the state treasury. 28% would be distributed to the state historical fund, and 28% would go towards the preservation and restoration of Black Hawk, Cripple Creek, and Central City, in an attempt to save the former mining towns, which faced reduced income. 

The Ballot faced opposition from many, including Gov. Roy Romer, who said, “I’m concerned that this limited gambling could lead to an expansion of gambling into other parts of Colorado. There’s no way to prevent it. I think it is very unlikely that it would stay within the limits of those three towns. Once it is established, there would be annual pressures to widen the limits.”

Other concerns included that having limited gambling in the state could bring crime, professional gamblers, and domestic violence. 

Despite all the backlash, the amendment was approved, and casinos remain in the same regions in the state today.