Colorado Votes to Expand Gaming Laws

Ok I’m not interested in politics. I don’t have the time to be an educated voter so I’m not even registered. I'm tired of all the ads on TV, radio, and in the mail but there is a bill on the Colorado ballet that I'm paying attention too.

Amendment 50: Limited Gaming in Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek

This amendment would allow the towns in Colorado where gambling is allow to vote on wither or not they want to expand gaming limits, games available, and gaming hours.

My first question was why are we voting to give the right to towns people to vote on an issue. Don’t they have that right in the first place?

My second question was when would this, if passed, be enacted?

With what I can find online it appears that no change could be made till July 09 per the tax regulations. I might be wrong.

Now the increased betting limits (going from $5 max to $100 max) wont effect a player like me, it will mainly affect the card players out there. I'm a penny player and hate betting more than the minimum anyway.

The new games such as roulette and craps might be a onetime adventure for me but I can see the draw for other players.

The one part of the new law which would be more beneficial to me would be the expanded gaming hours. Currently operating from 8 am to 2 am this law would allow for 24 hour gaming.

I have found these limited hours annoying on a few occasions but not many.

My first ever trip to Black Hawk I was so excited. I left from Littleton around 630 am as I was on a time crunch and had to be back in town by noon. I drove as fast as I could up the old mountain route 93 and got to Fortune Valley Casino a little after 730 am. I walked in from the parking garage to find the gates up blocking the casino entrance and all the machine were off. I then noticed the hours sign posted next to the gate. I have now learned to adjust both my sleep and driving styles on days I'm going to the casino.

The second time was during an overnight stay for my birthday with my wife. She doesn't gamble much but when we are staying at a casino the funniest thing happens. She wakes me up in the middle of the night and asks if I want to go down to the slots. Of course I do. While this time she walks me up and I had to say no, there not open yet.

If this bill passes I won’t have to worry about either of these issues again.

I have seen and heard the opponents objectives to the bill and understand their arguments. The main backing is speaking to the betting limits and that people will spend larger amounts of money. I agree completely. People are going to be dropping more money and some of them don’t have it but again that won’t be me.

Now as I said I will take advantage of the expanded hours but will I be driving home/or leaving to go up the mountain at 3 am, hopefully not. I like the Central City Parkway drive off of I-70 but at night that’s one heck of a road. It’s a long way to the bottom if you miss one of the those turns and I know the same thing could happen at 3pm in daylight but I just feel better getting to and from that road before the sun goes down or after it comes up, but that’s just me.

Either way November cant come soon enough. All these political issues out there and only one has sparked enough interest with me to really contemplate.

Here is a link to the local new stations coverage of the bill with all the legalize if you want to know the exacts of the bill. http://www.9news.com/news/elections/article.aspx?storyid=100868&catid=137

Have a great day and Happy Gaming,
J