John Scarffe, Black Hawk. The Black Hawk City Council approved an ordinance implementing Amendment 77 during a virtual, special meeting on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 11 a.m. The Council also approved submitting new casino games to the state.

City Attorney Corey Hoffmann introduced a bill for an ordinance amending the Black Hawk Municipal Code by adding a new article regarding limited gaming to implement the statewide and local voter approval of Amendment 77. At the November 3, 2020, general election, Colorado voters approved Amendment 77 to remove the $100 limit on single bets and the limitation on the types of approved games, subject to local voter approval in the cities of Black Hawk, Central, and Cripple Creek, according to the request. 

Also at the November 3, 2020, general election, local voters in Black Hawk approved Ballot Question 1, contingent upon statewide passage of Amendment 77, to replace the single bet limit of up to $100 with unlimited maximum single bets and to delegate authority to the Black Hawk City Council to authorize by resolution the approval of additional games, provided that the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission also promulgates final rules to implement such additional games. 

Amendment 77 takes effect on May 1, 2021. Hoffmann said they had to wait until the election was certified before bringing this to the Council. Mayor David Spellman said Black Hawk is the first gaming town to implement Amendment 77, and this will be here for the ages.

The Council approved the ordinance.

Hoffmann also introduced a resolution authorizing additional approved games in Black Hawk. Pursuant to the authority granted to it by the local voters at the November 3, 2020, election, and implemented by the City Council by the approval of a new section of the Municipal Code, the Council determines it in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare to approve additional games in the City. 

According to the resolution, the Council resolves that subject to rulemaking by the Limited Gaming Control Commission, the Black Hawk City Council hereby authorizes new casino games, and a list of the games to be added followed. Hoffmann said this is the result of the City reaching out to members of the casino industry and getting their requests for additional games. 

The resolution tries to capture the variations of games requested by the casinos and tried to be as inclusive as possible. A couple of games are not included, Hoffmann said, and Keno is already authorized as a slot machine. This would authorize other forms of Keno. 

Hoffmann said the State lottery may seek to include Keno, but it should not be a lottery game because it is already in gaming. Bingo and Games of Skill are not included because they are already authorized through other agencies and not part of gaming. 

The games included will sent on to the Limited Gaming Control Commission. The Council approved the resolution. 

The Council also approved a $300 Holiday Bonus for all employees, and the sale of two buses, which are not being used.

(Originally published in the December 3, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)