Black Hawk Adopts Amendment 50 Changes
On January 13th, 2009, a tiny group of people in the casino gaming town of Black Hawk has decided to increase the stakes. The voters in the ex-mining town approved an initiative that will allow casino to boost the wagering limits to $100 from $5, add the game of craps and roulette and stay open for 24 hours. The changes will take into effect after July 1st, 2009.
The Black Hawk residents, who mailed in their ballots, approved the gaming proposal by a vote of fifty-four-six. Tom Austin, who works as a cashier at the Canyon Casino for more than 6 years and brought a home in Black Hawk, said that he thinks that the proposal will only bring good changes in Black Hawk. He added that it is only a natural step for them. Every gaming community like them has done the same thing. Since casino facilities were approved in 1991, Colorado has fixed the wagers at $5 and limited gaming options to slot machines, poker and blackjack.
Half of the tax revenue generated by gaming goes to Colorado's general fund, with 28% going to the historical society, 12% to Gilpin County and Teller County and 10% to Cripple Creek, Central City and Black Hawk. On November 2008, Colorado state voters approved the Amendment 50, permitting residents of the three gaming towns to decide on whether they want to adopt the propose changes. Of the additional tax profit produced in the three gambling towns, more than three-quarters will be given to the community colleges.
The casino operators, like Ameristar, contributed million of dollars into the Amendment 50 campaign. Anti-gaming critics are worried that the Amendment 50 will just increase problems that the community will encounter. Black Hawk and its casino facilities have experienced a big drop in casino revenues in recent months and have pointed to the weak economy, tough gaming competition and a smoking ban as some of the reasons for the revenue drop. Austin, who is one of the 115 registered voters in Black Hawk, said that the bigger betting minimum could translate to more employment opportunities for the three gaming communities.
February 04, 2009
Jeneth Grenville
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