John Scarffe, Peak to Peak. The Elections Division of the Colorado Secretary of State’s office has announced that Proposed Initiative 257 for local voter approval of gaming limits in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek obtained the sufficient number of signatures and has qualified for inclusion on the 2020 General Election ballot.   

The Local Voter Approval of Gaming Limits in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek Initiative submitted 209,855 petition signatures, needing 124,632 valid signatures to qualify for inclusion on the 2020 ballot. Since Proposed Initiative #257 seeks to change the Colorado constitution, the petition must also contain signatures from each state senate district equal to two percent of the total registered electors in each respective district.  These requirements are outlined by Article V, Section 1 (2.5) of the Colorado constitution.

According to the initiative, through local elections, the voters of the cities of Central, Black Hawk and Cripple Creek are authorized to revise limits on gaming that apply to licensees operating in their city’s gaming district. The amount of a bet made pursuant to this article 30 shall not be more on the initial bet or subsequent bet than the amounts approved by the voters of Central, Black Hawk or Cripple Creek at a local election held in each city to control the conduct of gaming in that jurisdiction, subject to rules promulgated by the commission.

Specific rules for blackjack, poker, craps and such other games as are approved by the voters of Central, Black Hawk or Cripple Creek at a location election in each city to control the conduct of gaming in that jurisdiction shall be approved by the commission and clearly posted within plain view of the games. These amendments take effect on May 1, 2021, if voters approve.

(Originally published in the October 8, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)