Ever since the gold rush days of the 1800s, folks have come to Colorado to strike it rich. Today, people can test their luck at nearly 40 casinos in Colorado, where you can play slots, poker, craps and roulette. Many Colorado casinos are open 24 hours a day and also offer lodging, dining and entertainment.
Colorado’s three mountain gambling towns are easy to get to and even fun for the whole family. Central City and Black Hawk are located within a mile of each other, just 34 miles west of Denver. Cripple Creek is 48 miles west of Colorado Springs. Several casinos offer economical round-trip transportation to and from Denver and Colorado Springs; many transportation deals include free drinks and gambling tokens as well.
In Colorado’s Four Corners region, there are also two casino-resorts run by Native American tribes in the towns of Ignacio and Towaoc. The casinos are close to historic attractions and the beautiful scenery of the American Southwest.
Gaming
Get ready for Vegas-style gaming in beautiful Rocky Mountain settings: as of spring 2021, the state of Colorado has no betting limits (though individual casinos may set their own, so be sure to check). You’ll find every type of gaming a high-elevation high roller could dream of, from keno and Sportsbook to blackjack, roulette, poker, craps and, of course, those happily singing slot machines.
Food & Drink
Brace yourself for more deliciousness you can imagine. We’re talking every cuisine under the sun, from standards like pancakes and eggs, snow crab and prime rib to Native American frybread to pasta, tacos and stir-fry. There’s no shortage of beverages either: Upscale coffee concoctions, handcrafted premium cocktails and Colorado craft beers are all standing by to quench your thirst.
Relax to the Max
Not only will you find accommodations with swank perks like luxe bedding, 24-hour room service and plush robes, many casino resorts offer all the spa fixings you can handle. Celebrate your wins with aromatic body wraps, facials, hot-stone massages and even treatments that dust you with snowflakes and essential oils.
Those who unwind in a more active fashion can dip into rooftop pools, putt away on mini-golf courses, sweat it out in sweet hi-tech fitness centers and even roll lucky strikes at onsite bowling alleys.
Explore More of Central City & Black Hawk: Take a day trip on the Peak to Peak byway, a 55-mile scenic drive that starts in the Central City/Black Hawk neck of the woods and ends in Rocky Mountain National Park. Marvel at the works of local artists on Black Hawk’s self-guided sculpture tour. The Gilpin Historical Society offers tours of local points of interest, including the Central City Opera House and the Teller House (a historical hotel). The society also boasts a fun roster of seasonal events, like Cemetery and Creepy crawls, which serve up history with a side of thrills and chills.
Explore More of Cripple Creek: Dive below the surface of the Earth to tour the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine or catch a show at the 1800s-era Butte Theater. Climb abord the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad or tour a former brothel at the Old Homestead House Museum. From mid-May to October, the town’s famous donkey herd roams the streets, and you can buy treats at local shops and museums if you’d like to give ’em a snack. At nearby Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, explore prehistoric plants and insects frozen in time.
Explore More of Towaoc: Schedule a tour of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park; a Ute guide will lead you on an interpretive journey of Ute and Ancestral Puebloan history via petroglyphs, pictographs and ancient dwellings. Visit the Four Corners National Monument to stand in four states — Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona — at once. Don’t leave the area without a trip to Mesa Verde National Park, where you can explore spectacular cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloan people between A.D. 450–1300. In summer, this International Dark Sky Park also hosts ranger-led stargazing programs.
Explore More of Ignacio: Learn about the history and culture of the Ute people at the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum, where exhibits feature traditional baskets, historical lodgings and more. Cast a line for trout at nearby Navajo State Park or rent a pontoon boat to traverse the 35-mile lake, which spans the Colorado-New Mexico border. Pack a picnic and catch a summer concert at Fox Fire Farms Winery. You’ll also have easy access to the Tracks Across Borders byway, perfect for daytripping to Durango to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
