Next Step For Colorado Casino Gambling? Twenty-Four Hour Alcohol

Colorado casinos received a big boost this past year when they were allowed to move to twenty-four hour gambling. At the time, however, they did not realize that there was such a big connection between alcohol consumption and gambling in the late night hours.

Now that the casinos have seen that revenue is declining after liquor sales stop, they are moving to change the liquor laws to allow alcohol sales around the clock. Currently, they cannot sell alcohol from 2AM to 7AM.

Those five hours are prime time for the hospitality industry. Bartenders, restaurant employees, and other members of the hospitality industry are just getting out of work at 2AM and they are usually looking for a place where they can extend their evening with a couple of cocktails.

"Our interest is strictly to be able to provide our patrons something that they expect," said John Bohannon, General Manager of the Isle Casino in Black Hawk, to The Denver Post, "Most jurisdictions where you have twenty-four hour gaming, you're going to have twenty-four hour liquor service as well."

Already opposition groups are lining up against the idea of around the clock liquor sales at the casino. These groups are concerned that the full-time alcohol sales could lead to more binge drinking and alcohol related traffic accidents at times when many people are traveling to work.

These type of changes take time and this issue should be no different. The casinos may not even have anything prepared to make it on the ballot in 2010, setting their sights possibly on the 2011 ballot.

October 20, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

ATM Malfunction Sends Pennsylvania Casino Patrons Home Unhappy
Indiana Begins Preparations For Casino Gambling Revenue Loss
Cherokee County, Kansas, Receives One Bid For Casino By Deadline
Senecas Expanding Buffalo Casino, No Word On Permanent Structure
AC Councilman Wants To Play Copy Cat With Casino Smoking Ban