Colorado casinos haven’t been blessed with great news over the last four months.
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the state’s casinos and three gaming towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek, Gilpin and Teller counties, and the state. And, of course, the workers.
Monarch Casino and Resort is working to change that.
Monarch Casino now hiring
The casino in Black Hawk is looking to hire hundreds of new employees.
According to a press release, the positions are for hotel and hospitality, food and beverage, security and housekeeping. As the release notes, “this is great news for anyone whose COVID-19 unemployment benefits are coming to an end this month.” Or simply for anyone who is looking for a career change.
For those who are interested, Monarch is holding a job fair on Thursday in Lakewood near Denver.
Monarch job fair
What: Monarch Casino and Resort job fair
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday
Where: Sheraton Denver West Hotel, 360 Union Blvd., Lakewood, CO, 80228
The press release notes that if you can’t make it in person, all of the positions are available on the casino’s careers page.
Despite the economic upheaval from the pandemic, Monarch did not lay off any of its employees. As the release notes, furloughed team members kept their health insurance coverage.
As Monarch’s director of casino marketing, Erica Ferris, said to PlayColorado:
“We still have team members on furlough. Those team members have been given the option to return in other positions that we currently have available with an immediate transfer back to their department when those departments need them. We have had a number of team members return in other positions.”
Health and safety are a priority
In that refrain, health and safety are top of mind.
Since casinos were given the go-ahead to reopen in mid-June, they have followed strict guidelines from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). That goes for current Monarch employees and prospective team members.
As the press release notes, all prospective team members will receive free COVID-19 tests and orientation before beginning work.
Gov. Jared Polis also issued a mask requirement last Thursday. Included in that statewide order is a two-week pause on variance requests to CDPHE.
In terms of casinos, that means the push to get table games brought back is on hold for now. When and if Polis lifts the pause, and if the variance requests are approved for at least Gilpin County, which has filed a request, it will bring back even more employees to the casinos.
There’s no official word from Teller County.
New Monarch resort set to open soon
Those who do apply and are hired will eventually work in a brand-new resort.
When the new Monarch hotel eventually opens, that is also great news for Black Hawk and Gilpin County.
As Ferris said:
“Opening our new resort featuring 516 rooms, four new restaurants, an expanded gaming floor, spa and rooftop pool will have a huge impact on both Black Hawk and Gilpin County. Both in the short-term and the long-term health of the county.”
The last four months have been rough on Colorado casinos and everyone associated with them.
The fact Monarch is hiring hundreds of new employees is a welcome win.
According to Ferris:
“Monarch Casino is thrilled to not only get Colorado back to work but also back to fun.”
