Johnny Nolon’s Casino is a slots-and-video-poker stop at Third Street and Bennett Avenue in downtown Cripple Creek, Colorado, with a bar and Italian dining at Nonna’s Italiano. Its strongest appeal is convenience: it fits into a walk between downtown casinos, with a meal along the way. The main limitation is that the available information does not establish an on-site hotel or current live-table lineup. I see it as a better fit for machine players and casual casino explorers than visitors planning an entire getaway under one roof.
Johnny Nolon’s Casino at a glance
| Address | 301 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Downtown casino and saloon with dining |
| Documented games | Slots, video poker, and progressive slots |
| Casino hours | Third-party listings show 24-hour operation daily; confirm overnight access directly |
| Restaurant | Nonna’s Italiano at Nolon’s; confirm current kitchen hours |
| Bar and food service | Official site advertises a bar and food ordering on the casino floor |
| Rewards program | Official site lists Legend Rewards |
| Phone | 719-689-2080 |
| Website | www.johnnynolonscasino.com |
| Source material collected | October 12, 2026 |
Property overview
The city’s directory lists the property as Johnny Nolon’s Saloon & Gambling Emporium. Its corner location is central to its appeal: you can include it in a downtown casino circuit rather than commit your entire visit to one gaming floor.
I would approach it as a gambling-and-dining stop, not a miniature casino resort. For a broader look at the state’s destinations, see our guide to Colorado casinos.
One ownership qualification matters: Gaming America reported an agreement for Rocky Mountain Gaming to acquire Johnny Nolon’s operating assets from Minter Holdings LLC. The report described the deal as pending Colorado Division of Gaming approval and licensing, not as a completed ownership change.
Slots, video poker, and other gaming
The municipal listing documents slots, video poker, progressives, and promotions. It does not provide a current machine count, gaming-floor size, or denomination breakdown. An older inventory number would add precision without necessarily adding accuracy.
Slots
Progressive slots are part of the published offering, but specific titles and jackpot conditions are not established in the published information. Check the total bet and any qualifying wager before playing. A penny denomination does not necessarily mean a penny spin.
Guest descriptions disagree about the machines. Loc8NearMe’s summary emphasizes older games with some newer ones, while a displayed July 2026 review describes the machines as current by local standards. Neither impression establishes today’s inventory. Call if a particular title is essential to your visit.
No property-specific payout figure is presented here. Winning stories and marketing do not establish your likely return, and a machine is not due to pay because it has been quiet.
Video poker
Video poker is specifically documented, but variants and pay tables are not. My advice is to inspect the payout schedule before choosing a seat. Two machines with the same game name can have different payouts.
Table games, poker room, and sportsbook
A current live-table lineup, live poker room, and retail sportsbook are unconfirmed in the supplied sources. Wanderlog’s broader description mentions table games, but does not resolve which games are available.
Plan around the documented machine gaming rather than declaring every other offering absent. If blackjack, live poker, or an in-person sports wager is the purpose of your trip, confirm availability before choosing Johnny Nolon’s.
How it compares with other downtown casino stops
I find a comparison of documented offerings more useful here than a reputation ranking. The city’s casino directory describes these properties differently:
| Your priority | Documented option | Practical takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Slots, video poker, and Italian dining | Johnny Nolon’s lists machine gaming; the dining directory names Nonna’s Italiano | A sensible stop on a downtown gambling-and-dining walk |
| Live table games | Golden Nugget’s listing names blackjack, craps, roulette, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em | A more clearly documented starting point for table players; confirm hours and limits |
| Electronic table games | Century’s listing specifies an electronic table-games area | A documented alternative beyond slots and video poker |
This compares published offerings, not tested game quality, service, or value. For a mixed group, I would build the itinerary around each person’s must-have game rather than expect one property to satisfy everyone.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino: Published visitor address and telephone | The official dining page lists 301 E Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813, and +1 (719) 689-2080. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino: Municipal gaming listing | The city lists slots, video poker, progressives, and promotions at Third Street and Bennett Avenue. This passage does not establish table games, a machine count, or payout percentages. |
| Golden Nugget Casino & Hotel: Published alternative for table-game players | Unlike the city’s machine-focused description of Johnny Nolon’s, its Golden Nugget listing explicitly names Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, blackjack, craps, and roulette. |
| Century Casino Cripple Creek: Published alternative with electronic table games | The city explicitly lists an electronic table-games area at Century, offering a documented comparison for visitors seeking something beyond slots and video poker. |
| Nonna’s Italiano at Nolon’s: Municipal restaurant identification | The city’s dining directory identifies Nonna’s Italiano at Nolon’s, providing a named Italian dining option rather than only a generic casino restaurant. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino: Official dining service description | The official dining page advertises ordering food on the gaming floor; the extracted passage provides no prices or service hours. |
| Colorado Grande Casino & Hotel: Officially identified sister property | Johnny Nolon’s dining page identifies Colorado Grande Casino & Hotel as its sister property. This does not establish that hotel rooms are inside Johnny Nolon’s. |
| Maggie’s Restaurant: Sister-property dining location and access | The city places Maggie’s on Colorado Grande’s lower level and describes a separate street entrance, distinguishing it from dining inside Johnny Nolon’s. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino dining: Third-party published price range | Restaurant Guru lists a per-person range of $10.00–$25.00. Treat it as an approximate budgeting reference, not a current menu or an all-in price. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino: Third-party operating-hours listing | Restaurant Guru lists 24-hour opening throughout the week. Its listing does not independently establish restaurant kitchen hours. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino: Third-party accessibility designation | Restaurant Guru labels the property wheelchair accessible, but provides no entrance, elevator, restroom, or upstairs dining-access details. |
| Nonna’s Italiano at Johnny Nolon’s: Displayed dining-review example | A displayed review praises pasta, meatball, sausage, and garlic cheese bread. This is an individual dining experience, not proof of consistent food quality. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino: Dated guest report of changes | Loc8NearMe displays a July 2026 review describing a remodeled bar and a new upstairs Italian restaurant. These details are guest-reported rather than an official renovation announcement. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino: Dated staff-service review example | A displayed June 2026 review praises staff and management attentiveness. It supports a positive review example, not a measured service consensus. |
| Johnny Nolon’s Casino dining: Third-party review-summary contrast | Wanderlog’s summary reports both slow-service and food complaints and praise for friendly restaurant staff. This is the aggregator’s characterization, not a newly assessed review sample. |
| Home Café at Bronco Billy’s: Published family-access alternative | A dining guide last updated September 18, 2024, explicitly describes a family entrance for minors dining at Home Café. Confirm the policy before using it as an alternative; it does not establish access rules at Johnny Nolon’s. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Illustrative dining budget for two: lower end of the published range | $20.00 | Use this as a low-end dining allowance, not a guaranteed meal price or an all-in bill; confirm menu prices, taxes, and gratuity separately. |
| Illustrative dining budget for two: upper end of the published range | $50.00 | The upper end offers a more cautious dining allowance, but the listing does not establish what is included or whether it reflects the current Italian menu. |
| Per-person spread in the published dining price range | $15.00 per diner | Meal choice can materially affect the dining allowance; keep food money separate from the gambling budget. |
Research references: johnnynolonscasino.com, cityofcripplecreek.com 2, cityofcripplecreek.com 3, restaurantguru.com, loc8nearme.com, wanderlog.com, uscasinoadvantage.com.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-12. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
Hotel and overnight planning
An on-site Johnny Nolon’s hotel is not established here. Its website identifies Colorado Grande Casino & Hotel as a sister property. Hotel links do not mean rooms are inside Johnny Nolon’s.
If booking through a linked offer, ask for the actual property name and address. That matters when carrying luggage or expecting an indoor route from the machines to your room. Compare the full lodging charge, including taxes, mandatory fees, parking, and cancellation terms.
Restaurants and bars
Nonna’s Italiano at Nolon’s
The current municipal dining directory names Nonna’s Italiano at Nolon’s. Older material refers to Johnny’s Restaurant or Johnny Nolon’s Restaurant; those menus and schedules should not be treated as current Nonna’s information.
Displayed reviews of the newer Italian restaurant repeatedly praise pasta, meatballs, lasagna, chicken parmesan, garlic bread, and desserts. Some Google reviews appear on multiple aggregators, so repetition is not independent confirmation from additional diners.
The newer comments make Nonna’s worth considering during a casino walk, but do not establish that every dish or service experience will be equally good. Confirm the menu, hours, and whether your group should reserve a table.
Bar and food on the casino floor
The official page advertises a bar and floor food ordering, without establishing service hours, prices, delivery charges, or complimentary-drink terms. A displayed July 2026 review describes a remodeled bar and an upstairs Italian restaurant. That is a guest report, not an official renovation announcement.
Maggie’s Restaurant should not be counted as dining inside Johnny Nolon’s. The city places it on Colorado Grande’s lower level, with a separate street entrance.
Illustrative dining budget
Restaurant Guru lists an approximate range of $10.00 to $25.00 per person. This is a third-party budgeting reference, not a current official menu quote, and it may not reflect the newer Italian menu.
The supplied calculation produces an illustrative allowance of $20.00 to $50.00 for two diners. The per-person range has a $15.00 spread. Taxes, tips, and drinks may require additional money because the listing does not explain what is included.
I would keep food money separate from the gambling bankroll. Dinner should not depend on whether the next bonus round arrives.
Entertainment and amenities
The documented extras are the bar, dining, and advertised floor food ordering. A current concert, comedy, or other live-entertainment schedule is not established, nor are an on-site pool, spa, or fitness center.
The downtown setting is the more useful non-gaming advantage: you can step away from the machines and explore the surrounding casino district. Check any event or attraction’s schedule separately.
Parking, directions, and practical information
Use 301 E Bennett Ave as your destination. From the Colorado Springs area, the usual approach is through the mountains via US 24 and Colorado Highway 67. This is a mountain-town outing, not a casino beside Interstate 25. Check weather and road conditions, especially in winter.
- Parking: Current guest lots, fees, overnight permissions, valet service, and EV charging are not established. Ask where to park rather than assuming a nearby space belongs to the casino.
- Hours: Third-party listings show 24-hour casino operation. Confirm overnight access directly, and ask separately about kitchen and bar hours.
- Accessibility: Restaurant Guru labels the property wheelchair accessible but does not detail entrances, restrooms, elevators, or access to the reportedly upstairs restaurant. Ask about your specific route and needs.
- Identification: Gambling in Colorado casinos is for adults 21 and older. Bring valid identification, and confirm dining-access rules before arriving with children.
- Smoking and transportation: Current property-specific smoking arrangements and shuttle services are not established here.
Allow time for breaks and mountain travel. A long gambling session should not dictate when you start the drive home.
Rewards and promotions
The official site’s navigation lists Legend Rewards, and the city mentions promotions. Current earning rates, redemption rules, enrollment offers, and any rewards relationship between sister properties are not established.
Ask how to enroll and whether your games qualify. Check promotional-play activation requirements and expiration dates. I like a useful offer, but not enough to expand a gambling budget just to chase it.
Guest praise and common complaints
What guests tend to like
Friendly staff and a welcoming, nostalgic atmosphere recur in the supplied summaries and displayed reviews. A June 2026 comment praises staff and management attentiveness. Newer Italian-restaurant reviews also give specific praise to dishes and desserts.
Where expectations need adjusting
Service speed is a caution. Aggregator summaries mention slow food service and occasional slow beverage service. The material does not establish their frequency or whether they persist under the newer dining concept.
Food opinions differ across time. Older summaries include disappointing meals, while newer Nonna’s comments are positive. I would give the newer restaurant-specific reports more weight when considering Nonna’s, without assuming every older problem has disappeared.
Incomplete amenity information is the main planning limitation. Settle any essential hotel, table-game, sportsbook, or accessibility questions before traveling. These selected reviews are subjective reports, not a representative survey or evidence of a personal Gamboool visit.
Who Johnny Nolon’s is best for
- Slot and video poker players seeking a straightforward downtown stop.
- Casino explorers who prefer moving between properties on foot.
- Visitors considering an Italian meal alongside machine gaming, after confirming Nonna’s hours.
My bottom line: Johnny Nolon’s has a clear role in a Bennett Avenue visit. I would include it for documented machine gaming and Italian dining, but choose lodging and any essential table-game or resort amenities separately.
Frequently asked questions
Is Johnny Nolon’s Casino still operating?
The supplied October 12, 2026, material includes an active official dining page and municipal casino listing, supporting its description as listed as operating. Call for same-day availability.
Is Johnny Nolon’s open 24 hours?
Third-party listings show 24-hour operation daily. Confirm before an overnight trip, and ask separately about food service.
Does it have blackjack, live poker, or a sportsbook?
There is no dedicated poker room or on-site sportsbook.
Does Johnny Nolon’s have a hotel?
An on-site hotel is not established. Colorado Grande Casino & Hotel is identified as a sister property, not as rooms inside Johnny Nolon’s.
What is the restaurant called?
The current municipal listing names Nonna’s Italiano at Nolon’s. Older Johnny’s Restaurant references do not establish today’s menu or hours.
Sources and editorial note
- Official casino website.
- Official dining page: address, phone, bar, floor food ordering, rewards navigation, and sister-property identification.
- City casino directory: operating listing, location, machine gaming, and comparison properties.
- City dining directory: Nonna’s Italiano and Maggie’s separate location.
- Municipal visitor-directory PDF: older restaurant naming.
- US Casino Advantage dining guide: historical naming and schedules, last updated September 18, 2024; not treated as current Nonna’s hours.
- Restaurant Guru: displayed reviews, indicative prices, hours, and accessibility designation.
- Loc8NearMe: dated guest reports and review-summary themes.
- Wanderlog: food and service impressions, hours, and unresolved table-games description.
Editorial note: This guide uses supplied public-source material collected October 12, 2026. Gamboool’s contribution is the published-offering comparison, dining-concept-aware review synthesis, and supplied illustrative budget calculations, not firsthand tests, exclusive underlying research, or a representative survey. Some reviews are duplicated across aggregators. Prices, schedules, parking, and specific access arrangements remain for user editorial review before publication. The existing photograph and attachment identity are preserved; no new photo license, attribution, or AI hero asset is claimed. This draft is ready for editorial review, not independently fact-checked or published.