Joint Resolution Approved by City Leaders; Plans Mulled to Join National Organization
Rick Langenberg
The city of Cripple Creek is not playing roulette or craps, when it comes to the prospects of legalizing internet gaming.
And if local officials have their druthers, they hope to never hear the word I-Gaming for the remainder of the 2025 legislative session, or in future years. Currently, a flourish of rumors has circulated about an I-Gaming surprise at the state Capitol in the 11th hour, but nothing concrete has developed. Still, Cripple Creek leaders aren’t taking any chances and are doubling down in efforts to squash probable legislation that could allow for online casino activity, through a wide variety of digital platforms.
In their most recent session, City Administrator Frank Salvato reiterated concerns echoed at a previous meeting during which the issue was discussed at length. Again, the city administrator emphasized the need to vigilantly watch current legislation in the next few weeks to assure no late surprises occur, such as a I-Gaming package being attached to another bill. This could thwart any chance for the impacted towns to officially comment.
They made it clear that I-Gaming could adversely affect the current brick and mortar, casino environment in Cripple Creek.
The city earlier passed its own anti-I-Gaming measure. Now, it has approved a joint measure, endorsed by several other entities, including Teller County, and several of the impacted gaming towns.
And down the road, Salvato indicated the town may consider joining forces with the National Association Against I-Gaming, which has already recruited Black Hawk, the predominant champion of limited stakes gambling in Colorado. Ironically, Cripple Creek is teaming up with Black Hawk in fighting I-Gaming. For years, Cripple Creek and Black Hawk often battled each other in court over historic preservation issues and the distribution of gaming tax monies.
Those days are over, as the towns have united over several key issues, such as statewide opposition to I-Gaming.
Cripple Creek Mayor Annie Durham has stressed the importance of this issue for the entire community. She noted that two-thirds of the town’s operational budget comes from gaming-related revenue and device fees.
“This is one of the biggest concerns we have faced since I have been sitting in this seat,” said Durham at a recent council meeting.
The latest anti-I-Gaming resolution doesn’t hold back any punches. Similar to an earlier measure, the latest resolution emphasized the devastating financial impacts of I-Gaming and highlights the fact that Colorado voters have continued to reject plans to expand gaming beyond the confines of the three historic mountain towns (Cripple Creek, Black Hawk and Central City) where limited stakes gambling is permitted.
To date, the gaming communities have succeeded in thwarting attempts to expand legal betting, such as allowing it to occur at racetracks and in other entertainment-based establishments, or other rivaling towns. In fact, state votes on proposals for the expansion of gambling in Colorado have been soundly defeated.
But some are worried about I-Gaming due to the state’s current budget situation, with the fear that certain legislators may view I-Gaming as a fiscal rescue package for Colorado. Local officials also see comparisons between I-Gaming and the sports betting explosion, which completely bypassed the gaming communities when it came to receiving any revenue, even though they played a key role in allowing this activity to occur.
Salvato stressed that I-Gaming activity, even in Cripple Creek, would require a state vote. City attorney Erin Smith agreed to review this situation more to assure no rules were being broken within the gaming community.
