The Monarch Casino Resort & Spa in Black Hawk undergoing a huge expansion, set to be completed later this year. The operator, who also owns Atlantic Casino Resort & Spa in Nevada, has claimed that the new casino will be a “true destination resort.” The casino is the first that you will see when driving in from Denver and after the remodel will be one of the largest and most luxurious casinos in Colorado.
Following the refurbishment, the casino floor is expanding to double the previous size along with the addition of a 500-room hotel, rooftop pool and spa, and three new restaurants. Once completed you will find over 1,200 video slots, 40 table games, and a brand-new poker room, giving the Ameristar Casino a run for its money. This is for sure a new and exciting place, and a must for all gamblers to check out.
- Address: 488 Main Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422
- Opening Times: 24 hours, seven days per week
- Hotel: Yes
- Loyalty Program: Monarch Rewards loyalty program
- Gaming: Over 1,200 slot and video machines, 40 table games, and brand-new poker room
- Restaurants and Bars: Monarch Chophouse, Twenty-Four 7, Java Etc., and The Buffet
Casino Games
Slots
Monarch Casino Resort & Spa has recently extended its casino floor which is now home to over 1,200 slots and video poker machines. These range from classic games up the most recently developed slots today called their “Exclusive Premiere Games.” These are the newest games on the market and include:
- Crystal Phoenix
- Drop & Lock Deep Sea Magic
- King of Africa
- Mystical Unicorn
- Snow Leopard II
You can sign up to the Exclusive Premiere Text Club where all alerts of new and exclusive slot additions are text straight to your mobile. This allows you to play the newest slots as soon as they come out. To become a member, text “PREMIERE” to 99158. All new sign-ups also receive $5 Free Play to use at the Monarch Casino. Alongside the newest games, there are also several progressive jackpot slots.
On the second floor of the casino, there is also a brand-new High Limit Gaming Area. Here you will find high-limit video poker games and over 50 slot machines. It is the place for any high-roller to be. When in the High Limit area, you will also receive an exclusive food and drinks menu.
Table Games
It is not only the slots floor which has expanded. The table games area has also been extended and is now home to over 40 table games. They cover several variations of Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette with special side bets to maximize your winnings:
Shoe or Double Deck Blackjack
- Bust Bonus: If the dealer busts you win 75 times the value of your wager
- Streak Blackjack: You receive a bigger payout the more hands you win in a row
- Lucky Ladies: You can bet on whether your first two cards will total 20 points
- Blazing 7’s: The more sevens you have, the larger the payout
Craps
- Sharp Shooter: The more hot rolls, the more points and the larger the payout
- Bonus Craps: There are several types of bonus craps. Both an “all small” bet based on hitting 2-6 before a 7, and an “all tall” bet based on hitting 8-12 before a 7, can give you winnings of 35 times your wager. A “make ‘em all” bet is placed on hitting a 2-12 before a 7 and can give you winning of 175 times your wager.
Alongside these classic casino table games, you can also play 3-Card Progressive Poker and Pai Gow Poker. They have also increased the number of high-stakes tables and now many tables offer maximum bets of $100 per hand.
Poker Room
For anyone wanting a game of poker, The Monarch Casino Resort & Spa has a brand-new poker room. Here you are spoilt for choice for poker varieties. They offer the popular Texas Hold’Em Poker, alongside Omaha Hi-Lo, Bonus 6 Poker, and Mississippi Stud variations. Their poker room is complete with a self-serve complimentary bar, table-side dining, and TVs around the room.
The poker room is still in the process of opening up, so whether the casino will offer poker tournaments or just live poker games is yet to be seen.
Casino Loyalty Program
The Monarch Casino has a loyalty program called Monarch Rewards. Membership is free and to sign-up, you need to head to the Guest Services in the casino. Once a member, you are entitled to exclusive offers and prizes, such as Free Play in the casino, complimentary food and drink, invitations to exclusive and premium events, and more. The program works via a five-tiered system; the higher the tier you are in the more rewards that open up to you. The tier you sit in is determined by Tier Points:
- Monarch Tier: 0 points
- Ruby Tier: 250 points
- Emerald Tier: 1,500 points
- Sapphire Tier: 7,500 points
- Royal Diamond Tier: 15,000 points
- Black Diamond Tier: Invitation Only
You earn Tier Points by spending in the casino. Every wager placed earns points, as does purchases made in non-gambling outlets. From the Ruby Tier upwards, playing your favorite slots and table games will also earn you Comp Points. You can exchange $1 of Comp Points for $1 of credit for use in the hotel, spa, and restaurants, $0.50 of Free Play, or $0.25 of cash. You can find all the details of the Monarch Rewards Program here.
The Monarch Casino Resort & Spa in Black Hawk also has a mobile app called Monarch Rewards. It acts as a convenient place to access all current membership rewards and benefits, current tier level, and Comp Point balances.
Sports Betting
As of 1st May 2020, sports betting is legalized in Colorado. The Monarch Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk is amongst many operators to receive their sports betting license. However, it is one of the only casinos to have already launched sportsbook services online via their very own BetMonarch mobile app. The BetMonarch app launched on 13th May 2020, less than two weeks after sports betting was made legal. The casino has also set up its onsite sports betting.
The Monarch Casino sportsbook offers several different wagers types including straight bets, parlays, round robins, and teasers. You can wager on the full game result, half-time and quarter-time results, and point totals. Inside the casino, the minimum bet is $5, and on the BetMonarch mobile app, you can place $1 bets. The benefit of Monarch Casino running their own sportsbook services rather than partnering with operators allows them to have complete control over what they offer.
Hotel
The Monarch Casino Resort & Spa in Black Hawk has a huge 23-floor hotel with 516 luxurious rooms. The hotel is brand new and not currently open. There are several different rooms to choose from:
- Premier: Choice of a king or queen room.
- Grand: Larger king or queen rooms with an additional seating area.
- Luxury: Twin queen rooms sleeping up to four guests.
- Spa Suite: A king-size room for two with a spa tub. Includes VIP check-in, exclusive access to the 20th-floor concierge lounge, and complimentary breakfast and hors d-oeuvres.
In addition, all rooms come with at least one 55” TV, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary access to the spa and pool facilities. The band-new spa is equipped with an outdoor sundeck, steam baths, a fitness center, and an Aqua Spa Lounge. There is also a rooftop pool with indoor and outdoor spas. It provides guests with the perfect place for relaxation.
Dining and Bars
The Monarch Casino Resort & Spa has several restaurants on offer, three of which are brand-new, covering a range of cuisines:
- Monarch Chophouse: For a fine dining experience, try the four-star steakhouse serving steaks, seafood, and cocktails. This third-floor restaurant also offers table-side preparations for many of their meals for extra entertainment.
- The Buffet: A buffet-style restaurant offering dishes from around the globe and open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On Saturdays and Sundays, they also serve a champagne and mimosa brunch between 9am – 2.30pm.
- Twenty-Four 7: As the name suggests, the Twenty-Four 7 Restaurant is open all hours of the day serving American and Asian cuisines.
- Java Etc.: The perfect spot for a quick bite, Java Etc. is a coffee shop that also sells sandwiches, pastries, and snacks.
- Bistro Mariposa: A specialty restaurant serving Baja dishes combining tastes from Mexico, Asia, and the Mediterranean for a colorful and taste-tingling dining experience.
On top of the array of restaurants, there are also four bars on the premises. Over Friday and Saturday nights there are cabaret performances and night-time entertainment. You will be spoilt for dining and drinking options at the Monarch Casino Resort & Spa.
Online Gambling
As of 1st May 2020, sports gambling is legal in Colorado. Monarch Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk is one of the first casinos to offer sports betting, and have launched an online mobile sportsbook app. The app is called BetMonarch and is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. For iPhone users, the app can be downloaded from the App Store. For those of you with Android smartphones, head to the website – monarchblackhawk.com/sports – and click on the “Download for Android” option.
In regard to online slots, table games, and poker, it is illegal in Colorado to partake in any online casino gambling for real money. In line with this law, the casino does not offer any online games for real money. Their Monarch Rewards mobile app, however, does have a Free Games section. Here you can find a range of slots, table games, and video poker to play purely for entertainment purposes.