Cripple Creek casinos may soon have round-the-clock alcohol sales

Casinos in Cripple Creek may soon be able to serve alcohol 24 hours a day, every day.

The City Council will vote on the change Wednesday during the council meeting.

Many city leaders are on board with the idea, including Mayor Bruce Brown.

“Our casinos are already open 24/7 so this seems to be a good piece of the puzzle,” Brown said.

He touted casinos as the biggest revenue earner for the city and said the round-the-clock sales should help increase those earnings.

“It will boost their customer base and we’re here to support them and the community,” Brown said. “We’re hoping more people will stay longer in the casinos.”

But not everyone is on board. Casino regular Clarence Young is worried about the safety aspect.

“Highway 67 is dangerous enough any time, you really have to pay attention to what you’re doing” Young said. “I just don’t think sales are worth it.”

He said he’s seen casinos take a big hit when they banned smoking, but argued: “Alcohol isn’t the answer. It won’t make them enough money.”

But Police Chief Mike Rulo said Young’s concerns aren’t falling on deaf ears.

“We’ve planned for this and are confident we can handle this transition,” he said. “We’re working with Colorado State Highway Patrol, Teller County Sheriff’s Department and the Division of Gaming and Liquor and we’ll be quite vigilant once this starts.”

And he said the liquor change may reduce the problems they experience now at closing time.

“The hope is that folks can pace themselves and, as they say, ‘Get a room,'” Rulo said.

If passed, it could go into effect as early as Thursday for the casinos that have already applied for their new liquor license.