Monarch Casino Review
Monarch Casino Black Hawk is one of 40 casinos in the state of Colorado. The property is owned and operated by Monarch Casino & Resort, INC., which also owns and operates Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada.
Monarch Casino, formerly known as Riviera Casino, is the first casino in Black Hawk visitors from Denver see when arriving on Highway 119. Monarch features 740 slot machines, 14 table games, a 250-seat buffet-style restaurant, and an all-new parking structure with more than 1,300 spaces.
The property has undergone various remodels and improvements and is in the process of finishing up the latest one in 2020. The ongoing expansion will nearly double the casino space and add a 23-story hotel tower with 500 rooms, an upscale pool, and three additional restaurants.
Monarch Casino Resort Spa
- Address: 488 Main St., Black Hawk, CO
- Owner: Monarch Casino & Resort, INC.
- Operator: Monarch Casino & Resort, INC.
- Hours: 24 hours / 7 days a week
- Casino games: 740 slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, poker
- Sportsbook: BetMonarch Sportsbook
- Poker: Does not have a poker room at this time
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Monarch Casino gaming floor
Monarch Casino has approximately 32,000 square feet of gaming space which includes 740 gaming machines and 14 tables games. Monarch Casino is the first Black Hawk casino visitors see when coming from Denver on Highway 119.
Monarch Casinos slot and video poker machines range in price from pennies to $100.
When the current renovations are complete, the casino space will nearly double in size and three restaurants will be added. Plus, a 23-story hotel tower will add roughly 500 rooms. And, of course, the new state-of-the-art sportsbook.
Slot machines
Monarch Casino strives to always have the most exciting and newest slots available, as well as plenty of video poker machines. There are 740 slot and video poker machines, ranging in price from pennies to $100, the highest amount allowed in the state. Monarch also offers a range of video poker progressive jackpots.
If you’re looking for slots you can’t find at other Colorado casinos, Monarch is the spot for you. The property claims they are the only one in Black Hawk with the following titles:
- Crystal Phoenix
- Snow Leopard 2
- King of Africa
- Mystical Unicorn
- Drop & Lock Sweet Tweet
- Drop & Lock Deep Sea Magic
Table games
There are 14 tables available for play at Monarch Casino. The games available to play are poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette. Under current Colorado gaming law, these are the only games allowed.
Monarch Casino poker room
Monarch Casino does not have a poker room currently.
Monarch Casino rewards program
Monarch Casino offers a rewards program known as Monarch Rewards and it is shared with its sister property Atlantis Casino in Reno, NV. That means players can earn points when playing at both casinos, which can be used for benefits and rewards at both as well.
Enrollment is free and once enrolled, players can immediately begin earning points to move up the five levels of rewards. The more points a member accrues, the higher tier they reach and the more rewards they receive. Players earn points the more they play both table games and slot and video poker machines. Tier points accumulate over six-month periods, in order to maintain your level, you must earn that tier’s level every six months.
Here’s a look at the five levels including the points needed to reach each and a few of the benefits associated with each level:
- Monarch: 0-249 points. Discounted hotel rates, complimentary beverages and $2 buffet discounts.
- Ruby: 250-1,499 points. Above benefits, plus $5 buffet discounts and the ability to earn complimentary meals, hotel stays, and bonus bets.
- Emerald: 1,500-7,499 points. Above benefits, plus $10 buffet discounts, a birthday gift and one free monthly buffet.
- Sapphire: 7,500-14,999 points. Above benefits, plus daily free buffet, access to premium events, VIP check-in and annual trip to Atlantis Casino, flight and hotel included.
- Royal Diamond: 15,000+ points. All the above benefits, as well as a twice-yearly trip to Atlantis Casino, and access to ultra-premium events and VIP lounge.
Monarch Casino hotel amenities
Hotel
Monarch Casino is in the midst of a master-planned expansion of its property and when complete it will include a 23-story hotel tower with roughly 500 guests rooms and suites, an upscale spa and pool facility, and three new restaurants plus additional bars.
Currently the hotel is not open, but there are two restaurants to choose from now.
Dining
- The Buffet: Exactly what it sounds like, a buffet that serves whole Maine lobster, crab, and USDA prime rib. Various buffet options to choose from such as phó, Southwest, American, and dessert as well.
- Chicago Dogs Eatery: Hot dogs and hamburgers, also serves breakfast, hot and cold sandwiches, and tons of salads.
Casino history
When it first opened on February 4, 2000, it was known as the Riviera Casino. Monarch Casino & Resort, INC. purchased the casino and neighboring land in 2012 for a reported $76 million, at which point the named was changed to Monarch Casino.
Three years later, the company announced it was going to make it a resort complex, with planned upgrades totaling nearly $300 million. The construction is expected to be finished sometime in 2020.
When complete, the new 23-story hotel will have nearly 500 rooms, while the casino gaming space is expected to almost double. Three new restaurants also will open.
Sports betting is new for Monarch Casino, but is not new for Monarch’s parent company. The organization has plenty of experience with wagering and mobile betting at its other property, Atlantis in Reno.
When Nevada was the only state with legalized sports betting Atlantis was known for being one of the first sportsbooks to release win totals for Major League Baseball. It gave the Reno casino some clout to offer something previously only released by Las Vegas books. Professional bettors would fly in for the day they were announced.
Today, Atlantis is one of the few casinos remaining as independent sportsbook operators in the state. It also was the first Reno-based casino with a sports betting app.
Monarch Casino sportsbook
May 1, 2020, marked the launch of online betting apps in Colorado. Monarch followed a few days later, debuting its BetMonarch betting app on May 11. It is unique in that it owns and operates its own sportsbook, rather than partnering with a commercial operator.
BetMonarch is also unique in that it is only accessible via an Android or iOS app. There is no browser version of the sportsbook.
Unlike Monarch’s other property, Atlantis Casino in Reno, Stadium powers the technology of the BetMonarch app. Atlantis, like many betting apps in Nevada, runs on Miomni software.