Kiowa County’s longshot bet to land casino gambling to spur economic development is on hold.
The Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Monday postponed indefinitely a measure to allow Kiowa County voters to “authorize limited gaming activities within 5 miles of the boundaries of the town of Eads.”
Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, introduced the concurrent resolution without a House sponsor. It sought to refer a measure to the November ballot that would amend the constitution to include Kiowa County among jurisdictions where limited-stakes gaming is legal. The others are Black Hawk, Cripple Creek and Central City.
In dire need of an economic boost, Kiowa County officials had hoped to place a casino along U.S. 287 that would draw business from the long-haul truckers who pass through the southeastern Colorado ranching and farming community.
County commissioners said gaming revenue would help preserve national heritage-tourism sites tied to the Sand Creek Massacre and Towner School Bus Tragedy.
They planned to use gaming funds to build a visitor center for the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic site in downtown Eads and to preserve the site of the 1931 bus tragedy in which several students and the driver died after their bus was stranded for more than a day during a spring blizzard.
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