Black Hawk Casinos Outshine Las Vegas Titans
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With consistency reminiscent of the desert’s eternal sun, Las Vegas once again dazzled at the pinnacle of the United States’ commercial casino market in 2023. Yet within the echelons of this high-revenue society—a tableau marked by little fluctuation—there was a notable exception. Black Hawk and Central City in Colorado exemplified vigor, emerging as a beacon of growth within the national gaming industry.
Nestled approximately 35 miles west of Denver’s bustling urban landscape lies the small town of Black Hawk, Colorado’s crown casino market. Its climb up the revenue ranks is marked by a 3.1% year-over-year increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR), with winnings that ballooned to an impressive $923.2 million.
According to a comprehensive update from the American Gaming Association (AGA), Black Hawk singularly ascended at least two rungs on the GGR ladder from the previous year, outstripping stagnant competitors. Only Chicago, The Poconos in Pennsylvania, and Lake Charles in Louisiana scored similarly modest advances, each shifting up by one position.
Coupled with ambition, only two other markets outpaced Black Hawk’s growth rate: Cleveland, with its commanding 5% increase, followed by Wynn Resorts Encore Boston Harbor, riding a 4.1% wave—all the more significant when considering the titans of the industry that line the Las Vegas Strip remain unmatched in sheer GGR volume.
Indeed, the rise of Black Hawk as a formidable contender is apparent when considering its GGR bested both Reno and downtown Las Vegas, with 2023 being a year of matching strides with the latter. Within the upper echelons of the top twenty casino markets by GGR, a paltry five can claim residence in the Western United States, and Black Hawk/Central City, with its bevy of assets, now stands proudly among them.
Factors such as Colorado’s burgeoning population and favorable gaming policies introduced in 2021 have catalyzed Black Hawk’s growth. The policies encourage increased stakes for table games, thereby attracting a higher caliber of gaming enthusiasts. Additionally, the opulent refurbishment of properties such as the Monarch Casino Resort in Black Hawk has elegantly entwined luxury with leisure, priming the market for sustained expansion. If current trajectories hold, Black Hawk may soon vault into the exclusive $1 billion GGR club—a testament to its dynamism.
Outside of this western ascent, it’s intriguing to note that none of Black Hawk’s casino hotels currently number among the top twenty revenue earners outside Las Vegas, a list dominated by venues rooted in the Eastern and Central time zones. Despite this, the AGA survey illuminated other shifts of power, with Resorts World New York in Queens triumphantly reclaiming the top spot, and Atlantic City’s glitterati—Borgata, Hard Rock, and Ocean—contributing to New Jersey’s silver medal position in GGR, remaining just a fraction of Las Vegas’s mammoth yield.
While Black Hawk’s triumphant rise and the waltz of power among casinos across the US have made headlines, there’s an ever-growing digital frontier that beckons. As the world increasingly moves online, platforms are extending patrons the luxury and thrill of the casino experience from the sanctity of their homes. For those in Canada searching for the excitement of the tables without the journey to the mountain towns or the neon sprawl of Vegas, it’s worth exploring the top-ranked online casinos this month. At West Island Blog, we curate a comprehensive guide to help you find premier online gambling destinations. Do take a moment to acquaint yourself with the finest virtual casinos Canada has to offer by visiting [our list of top online casinos for this month](https://www.westislandblog.com/online-casinos/). Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the digital felt, we ensure that the same spirit of gaming excellence is just a click away.
