Colorado Gaming

Colorado Casinos and Gaming

First let me paraphrase this by saying this will start book report style and then get back to my normal witty charm and very casual writing style. I'm not the book report type...

Legalized gaming began in Colorado on October 1, 1991, as a result of a voter approved amendment to the State Constitution. This amendment allowed gaming in three mining towns, whose economy had been paralyzed after their mines began to close. The towns are Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. Both Black Hawk and Central City are 30 minutes west of Denver, and Cripple Creek is 30 minutes southwest of Colorado Springs.

In the beginning there were just eleven casinos between the three towns. Now there are more than 40 casinos, with new projects in development. As the smaller casinos close down, they are being replaced with national chains and mega-resort style casinos.

Colorado gaming is "Limited Gaming", which according to the Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Gaming, is defined as, "Maximum single bet of $5 on slot machines, and live Blackjack or Poker."

Gaming options include Vegas style slots, Blackjack, miscellaneous table games, and card rooms for Texas Hold 'Em. Keno is only offered at the state's 2 tribal casinos. Both casinos are in Southern Colorado - The Ute Mountain Casino near Towaoc, and the Sky Ute Casino and Lodge near Ignacio.

____________________________________________________________________________

Ok now that that's done... I hate book reports, but how do you present all that information without doing it book report style?

So what does all that mean to people like me, the penny player?

First off, we have three legal gambling towns with 40+ casinos in Colorado. This is awesome. In Oregon and California, I have only been able to casino-hop by driving 30 or 45 minutes away. Only in Nevada have I had the pleasure of walking between casinos when it seems my luck has ran out. Colorado is just amazing. All three towns are easy to walk around in, though some areas are a little harsh because of the altitude (sorry mom, I'll explain it to the rest of you someday). Luckily there are shuttles and local area buses that will take you from one end of town to the other, stopping at or near most casino entrances.

I normally start at the top of the hill, hit most the casinos on the way down, and then take the bus back up to the top. It works out very nice since the shuttle runs quite often. The bus is called the "Black Hawk/Central City Tramway", and schedules are available by going to www.nextbus.com. Navigate to Colorado to see maps and pickup times. I've used this website on my cell phone, and there are also signs at most stops indicating how long until the next shuttle arrives.

According to the Colorado Gaming Report, as of April 2006, the number of penny slots has increased by over one thousand machines in Black Hawk alone. Great news for penny players.

Colorado also has the $5 limit. Not a problem for me since I have a hard enough time playing machines with 30 lines, plus a 10 credit buy-in for super pay. That's 40¢ for a total bet. I think I will be ok.

This does, however, affect the Blackjack or card player. Most of the tables that I have seen only offer a $5 minimum bet, which in turn is also the max bet. There is no way to raise or lower your bet depending on game play. I have found that this almost forces the issue of splitting or doubling down. That is the only way to increase your bet, since the law deems that as a second, separate bet. I've noticed myself splitting 7's against a 6-up just to try and rake in a little extra. I don't play tables much, but a friend was in town who wanted to play.

Keno is not available in Black Hawk and Central City, which is a bummer. Keno, to me, is a way to keep gambling while having dinner or a snack in the food court.

Last, but not least, are the things that we don't have. Roulette, Craps, Money Wheel, or Off-Track betting are not available in the gambling towns. There are some private locations throughout Colorado that have live and off-track betting. Oregon has recently added most of these within the last few years. Because of this, I can see Roulette, Craps, and Money Wheel coming to Colorado someday.

As far as development goes, wow. The latest to join in the game is the national chain, Ameristar Casinos. It opened in mid 2005 as a takeover from Mountain High Casino. It has vastly transformed since it's opening in 2005, and it is about to make even more changes.

Expected by Spring of 2008, the Ameristar Black Hawk will open a 500+ room hotel. This property is rumored to have a full spa, and when completed will be the tallest structure between Denver and Salt Lake City. I can't wait for the spa to open, and I will make an appointment for the first available. This will be for my wife, of course. What a great way to get her to go up there! "Honey I got you an appointment for a massage." Hee hee, she will hit me for that one...

Also, early last year marked the opening of Colorado Central Station's new hotel. I had the pleasure of spending my birthday there, and it was great. I had a king/non-smoking room, and it was wonderful. There was plenty of room to move around, a very large TV, a nice seating area, safe in the closet, and a very large bathroom with nice size shower and tub. I definitely recommend this one.

Well that's it for now. Hope this blog helps anyone who was looking for information on Colorado gaming. Check back for reviews of the casinos and trip reports in the future and sign my guest book if you get a chance.

J

Going to the mailbox and finding a letter from a Casino

I love that feeling. You go to the mail box every day and find either junk mail or the dreaded "B" word. Occasionally, if I'm lucky, I go to the mail and find either one of my casino magazines or a letter from one of the local casino's. Its like a cereal box, I opening it hoping to find a prize.

Some are just the normal monthly flyer promoting events or new games but sometimes, owe sometimes, there's that Willy Wonka golden ticket feeling.
A $5.00 voucher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and sometimes two, one for the first half of the month and one for the last.

Man, what feelings and emotions can be conjured by just a little slip of paper. "Come to me and Ill give you five dollars." Why do I picture a witch with an apple when I read this? Hazel and Gretel maybe...... either way.

You give me five, I give you 40. I think im doing something wrong here. I feel like that little kid playing cards with the big kids, anyone remember '52 card Pickup" fell for that once.(or twice)

If you read enough about comps and casino give aways, you know its based on time played and money spent in a casino, they don't give it way to be nice. So its also very sad when you go to the mail box and you don't get letters or vouchers. "Do you not love me anymore, (insert casino name here)? just encase, don't want to show any favoritism just yet....... "Its been a rough month" "Gas Prices suck", ""No money, no fries." (sorry childhood flashback, but it applies)

Then, finally, one day, that "Golden Ticket" reappears in the mail box. Like a beacon in the night, I can pick it out of the other stuff before its even out of the box. "I'm back on the list, baby"

OK, so no coincidence that I went and spent a few bucks in March but anyway, so I get two letters this month. One, that is always a "golden ticket" (I don't get anything from them other wise) and one that is normally one of those event planner things. I should include that this one does always has a half-off buffet coupon or such but that's about it. I give it the normal once over to see whats new. "Do my eyes deceive me" nope it now reads "half-off buffet or $5.00 cash back" Yes, "I've got a golden Ticket" (I really hope Dahl does not sue me for the use of lines from Wonka but it fits)

So that's two $5.00 dollar coupons for this trip, I'm love in it (damn, now McDonald's, what is wrong with me today, I'm never going to get enough coupons to pay my lawyer fee's)

Comps are a funny world. You can read every book, watch every show, research online as much as possible, but it all boils down to money played. Yes, you can find those vouchers in Vegas magazines for new player sign up bonuses and stuff, and they are great for the first time but wheres the love afterwords. A penny player doesn't stand a chance.

Being that my gambling life started in Oregon where your lucky to get a dollar off a buffet on your birthday, I'm happy with my casinos in Colorado. I get stuff for my birthday, (a mug, a pen, a buffet, etc) the monthly mailers, and of course, the occasional "Golden Ticket."

J

St. Maarten Casino Trip Report-May 1st 2007

Transportation: Arrived via the Disney Cruise line

Then a water taxi to Main Street in Philipsburg

Weather: Rain early, very hot and humid by 10 am

What a trip!!!!!

Pre-Arrival

I had done as much research as possible before the trip. Mapping out casino locations, reading what little information there was available, and trying to educate myself on what to expect. Didn’t help much. The hours of operation seem to change based on if there are cruise ships in port or not. Different web pages had different casinos on them, so I found a casino that I had never even read about which was a nice surprise.

While we were on the ship a rumor started buzzing about the Island closing down for a parade. Most of the information was coming from a shopping presentation on board where the narrator told everyone that most, if not all the stores, on the island would be closing at 1:00 PM for “Carnival.” This of course scared me, as I wasn’t sure how it would effect my day of gambling. This was our only stop with any casinos, so I was in panic mode.

I went to the Guest Services on the ship and asked if they knew anything or how it would effect my casino time. They didn’t know much except that it was true that most stores would close at 1 pm and there was a five-hour parade that would run from one side of the island to the other but that was it.

This through off my planning a bit, as some of the casinos that I wanted to go to were near the airport and I couldn’t find out how this parade would effect traffic flow as I’ve read of people getting stuck because of a draw bridge near the airport and missing there cruise.

Time to Play

The ship docked just after 7 am, I think. The plan was to get breakfast on the ship, do some morning shopping, and hit the casinos as they open. Some had open times of 10 and other weren’t advertised to open until 1 or 2.

When we arrived I went out on deck and saw it was raining. At this point it was just a light drizzle but still not a good start. After breakfast, it appeared that the skies were clearing and I was ready to go.

I had revised my planning to include only the downtown casinos, just didn’t want to chance getting stranded. I knew of 4 casinos in the downtown district so I figured that was enough to keep me going. By looking over the maps, I knew that I could either walk about 15 minutes to downtown and around or there was a water taxi for 5 dollars a person that would take me back and forth all day. I went with the water taxi. Lot less walking J

The water taxi was well marked and very close to where we docked. Service was fast and efficient, never waited to long and drivers were very friendly.

There are 3 stops for the water taxi, one at the cruise terminal and one on either side of downtown. We first stopped on the east side of downtown where everyone got off. I asked the driver if it was to early to go to the other side and he said it wasn’t a problem. So it was just my wife and I on the boat, it was like we had rented a private tour of the harbor or something, it was nice.

The water taxi dropped us off at a small dock on the west side of down town. As we were driving up, my wife pointed out a casino, just off the dock, very close.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beach Plaza Casino:

This was my surprise casino as it was not in any of my information but nice. It was rather small but had a good selection of games. Most were relatively old, they had Cash Crop, the game based on Battleship (I don’t know the name, I always thought it was called Battleship, but the gaming case had a different name on it, so I guess I was wrong), and Chicken Run.

The staff was friendly but security was hovering. (a trend which would continue) At this point there are only about 4 people playing in the casino; My wife, a lady right by the door, a local in the back by the cage, and me at the Battleship game, not very busy. This security guard must have come by about five times in as many minutes. I don’t know if he was bored or thought I was going to rob the place. I had an uneasily feeling most of the time.

I discovered something else I didn’t like about gaming in St. Maarten, “The Gamble feature”. Some may remember this but it not as common as it used to be. After you get a winning spin, no matter how big or small, you can chose to gamble with a chance to double up. It’s either a high-low game (guess if the card will be Ace-6 or 7-King thing) or Black/Red Card. I hate this feature. If you read my Florida Report, you will know I like the games to flow, this just slowed things down. After each winning spin you had to hit the take win or gamble buttons, then the repeat bet button. Just a waste of time, in my opinion.

Other than the hovering security guard, my one complaint would have to be that I actually had to wait for a hand pay of a $10 dollar win. I’m not sure if it was the machine I was on or what, but the staff guy came over with Dell palm pilot to pay me. I just laughed. He was using a wireless palm pilot to commutate with the system to verify my win. Seems like a real secure system.

After waiting for him to sync up, we left. About a half hour of playtime and left $5.00 dollars down, not a bad first stop

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As I said this was the surprise stop. I had to relocate myself on my maps to figure out my next plan of action. Also with the parade news, I had to make sure to stop at all the stores on my wife’s list in between casino stops and before 1 PM.

I found some of her stops were just east or to the left of our current location, so if we walked up a block on one side of the street we could hit two of her stores and a casino then come back on the other side of the street, hit a few more of hers and the other casino on the west end of town, and we were covered.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coliseum: Don’t know why it says Princess Casino. I got it at the Coliseum?

First impression, this place is just my style. Large, well lit, lots of people but still plenty of open machines, and tables

Lots of new games, Roulette the slot version (I’ve read about it but hadn’t seen it yet) and a few that are leaving the floors here in the states, Who’s That Girl and such.

Coin pay machines, I’m a complete and total backer of coin less gaming. I don’t like how dirty your hands get with all those coins and it’s heavy if you get lucky.

All and all, the gaming was not that great. Lots of options, just none that I wanted to play.

We decided to leave pretty quickly. On the way out, they have one of the oversized dollar machines, still with the giant arm. I just felt like playing it. While I was playing, my wife wanted to take my picture, so she snaps a few shots. Immediately 3 security guards surround her, I didn’t even have time to move. They are yelling at her about taking photos, saying she’s an international and she should know better. There was actually one of the guards who was being very nice just saying he needed to see her delete the photo and it would be ok, but one guy was just over the top.

Now as you can tell from the site we take photos everywhere. We took all kinds of photos at Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas; we take photos in all the casinos we go to here in the states and have never had anyone say a thing. I know that you couldn’t take photos in the old days but you used to not be able to talk on your cell phones either. We asked a few people back on the ship and at home and got different responses from everyone on this issue.

Either way, my wife was not happy and not happy with me for playing out my credits in the machine. She was not giving that casino anymore of her money and we were leaving.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I was trying to find more of her stores to try and calm her down but the security guards had defiantly scared the heck out of her and the camera didn’t came back out of her bag for a few hours. After we got somewhat settled we moved to the next casino.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rouge et Noir Casino:

This was the most themed casino on our trip. It was a beautiful place with a Mardi Gras/Carnival theme. Would have loved to take some photos………….

Gaming floor was small, three rooms with limited gaming. Not many penny machines. 6 tables or so on the lower level with 5-dollar minimums, I think. We didn’t stay long. I played a Cash Crop machine, while the wife played something beside me just trying to get past her unpleasant experience.

The staff was nice and the place was great. Just don’t think the personal mood was right to enjoy it enough. Would defiantly go back on a future visit, spend more time, and ask to take photos…..

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We then walked down to the east end of the Philipsburg area. People began to come out to the main street and set up chairs and stuff for the parade. Still no information on where and when the thing was coming but at least we finally had evidence that something was really happening.

We stopped at a few stores and the Guava berry Museum. Bought some BBQ sauce that I can’t wait to try, and then made it to our next stop.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diamond Casino:

On the far east end of the main street near the first water taxi stop was this rather small casino, (I did see some stairs so it may have been two floors but I didn’t investigate), Found some games that I had never seen and hope to never see again. Weird line configurations almost like Aristocrat’s 50 Lions but much worse. At least 50 Lions pays.

Its tables and a large virtual horse racing game dominated this place. The thing that threw me off the most was when I went to get change, the attendant was just standing at a machine talking to someone, a friend I assumed, saw me, walked to the cage, opened the door, got me my change, (wouldn’t break down a 20 into 5’s, even when we asked), then walked back out the door and started her conversation back up with her friend. Interesting to say the least.

In and out and won’t be back. Not worth the time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directly across the street, well actually around the corner a bit, was the last casino on my list for downtown.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jump-Up Casino: This casino is actually advertised as being themed after the “Carnival” but I didn’t see it. It was very large in size but not much inside. It seems like they have huge dances or maybe they used to have tables in it but just a bunch of unused space. I guess if you were in a wheel chair or ECV, this would be a good place with lots of room between machines, but just felt hollow to me.

Really didn’t play much in here either. I found an IC Money machine and did nothing. Saw a coin and an Island pass by once but came nowhere near matching up for me.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This trip was fun; being that how many times do you get the chance to go to St. Maarten in the first place. I’m the type of person who just enjoys getting to go to a casino. I may complain about gaming types, selection of machines, or whatever, but in the end, if I got to go to a casino of any sort. I’m happy

Recommendations: Even though the security guards scarred the heck out of my wife, I would have to say that out of the five casinos we went too, I enjoyed the Coliseum Casino the most. It had a nice selection of games, the general staff was nice, and décor was warm and inviting.

Second place would be the Beach Plaza Casino. I can get past the hovering security guard, I’ll write it off as he must have been bored. I can look past the hand pay for a $10 win as a machine issue or something; I didn’t see anyone else getting hand pays. It was a nice place with friendly staff and enough machines to keep you busy. I’m defiantly biased due to them having one of my old favorites in Battleship but there was a nice mixture of somewhat new and old machines.

That’s it; it was an all and all-amazing couple of hours of casino time. If I were to ever visit again I would first make sure there was no parade scheduled for that time and second I would try the casinos near the airport in Maho Bay before I spent time in downtown again.

Till next time,

J