Monarch Casino Black Hawk is a smoke-free casino resort at the Highway 119 entrance to Black Hawk, Colorado, with live poker, a retail sportsbook, and a 516-room hotel. Its strongest draw is convenience: gambling, dinner, a room, and a rooftop pool are in one building. The main trade-off is cost, including a $29 nightly resort fee and separate charges for full spa access. I see it as a better fit for an adult getaway than a bare-bones gambling stop.
Monarch Casino Black Hawk at a glance
| Address | 488 Main Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Casino resort, hotel, and spa |
| Owner and operator | Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc. |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Casino size | Approximately 60,000 square feet |
| Slots | Approximately 1,000 |
| Table games | Approximately 43; availability varies |
| Poker room | Yes; 16 tables listed in June 2025 company materials |
| Retail sportsbook | Yes, BetMonarch |
| Other gaming | Video poker and keno |
| Hotel | 516 rooms, including 106 suites |
| Resort fee | $29 per night; full spa access costs extra |
| Check-in / check-out | 4 p.m. / noon |
| Dining | Four restaurants, plus Java, etc. |
| Parking | Complimentary self-parking and valet |
| Smoking | Smoke-free indoors; designated outdoor smoking areas |
| Rewards program | Monarch Rewards |
| Information updated | October 24, 2026; gaming counts are approximate company-reported inventory figures |
What kind of casino is Monarch?
Monarch is a resort first, not merely a casino with somewhere to sleep upstairs. Its dining choices, pool, and spa give you reasons to stay after the gambling budget has been put away.
The property occupies the former Riviera Black Hawk site. The parent company’s property history describes its 2012 acquisition and subsequent transformation into the larger resort visitors see today. This is not the same small casino wearing a new sign.
The entrance-to-town location is useful for drivers arriving via Highway 119. You can park, check in, and spend the evening without moving the car. Compared with a smaller, machine-focused casino, Monarch offers more options for a group with different interests.
My reservation is value, not variety. If you will swim, have a proper dinner, and stay overnight, the resort setup has a purpose. If you only want an hour at the machines, the hotel and spa do not make your gambling dollar go any farther. For alternatives, see our guide to Colorado casinos.
Casino floor and games
Monarch’s annual report for the year ended December 31, 2025 describes approximately 60,000 square feet of casino space, 1,000 slot machines, and 43 table games, plus live poker, keno, and a sportsbook. These are approximate inventory figures, not a promise that every game or table will be available when you arrive.
The advantage is breadth: slot players, table players, poker players, and sports bettors can use the same property. Monarch also advertises high-limit areas for slots and table games.
Slots and video poker
Approximately 1,000 slots account for a substantial part of the floor, and video poker is also available. Cabinets, denominations, and pay tables can change, so check before building a trip around one machine.
For slots, compare the total wager rather than the denomination on the cabinet. A penny machine can require a much larger bet per spin once its credit requirements and features are included.
For video poker, compare pay tables. The same game name can have different payouts, and an attractive casino does not automatically mean attractive returns. Neither a jackpot photograph nor someone’s losing afternoon establishes a property-wide payout rate.
Table games
The approximately 43-table inventory includes a high-limit offering. Open tables and minimum bets depend on the game and session.
I would walk the floor before sitting down. Compare the posted minimum, payout, and rules, particularly for blackjack. The lowest minimum is not necessarily the best deal if the rules are worse, and the total table count tells you little about available seats at your preferred price.
Poker room
Monarch has a dedicated player-versus-player poker room. Its June 2025 company presentation listed 16 tables. The later annual report confirms the room without restating its table count.
This is live poker, separate from video poker and house-banked poker-style games. If poker is the reason for the drive, ask about current games, stakes, waiting lists, and tournaments. A room does not guarantee that your preferred game will be running or a seat will be waiting.
BetMonarch sportsbook
Monarch has a retail BetMonarch sportsbook and a Sportsbook Bar and Lounge. The property FAQ lists staffed sportsbook hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Mountain Time, with possible extensions for certain events.
The published minimum wager is $5 inside the casino versus $1 on the BetMonarch app, a $4 difference. The app allows smaller individual bets, but the FAQ specifies $40 in funding to start wagering. You must be physically in Colorado to place an app bet.
The app is described as available around the clock, but outside staffed hours, wagering limits are lower and some events may be closed. App access does not mean the betting counter is open.
Sports viewing also includes televisions around the property and a video wall at Stage Bar. Monarch says it does not provide a place to watch pay-per-view fights or fights on premium cable channels, so check before arranging a fight-night gathering.
Hotel rooms, resort fees, and booking policies
The hotel has 516 rooms, including 106 suites. Staying upstairs removes one obvious inconvenience from an evening of dinner and gambling: the drive home through the mountains.
I would start with a standard room and compare the complete reservation total before considering a suite. Extra space is worthwhile if you will use it, less so if the room is mainly somewhere to sleep.
The hotel’s published policies set check-in at 4 p.m. and check-out at noon, with a $29 nightly resort fee. An illustrative two-night stay adds $58 before any applicable tax to the room budget. Dining, drinks, and spa treatments are separate.
The fee includes the fitness center, indoor pool, and hot tubs, along with listed services such as parking. However, self-parking and valet are also published as complimentary. I would not count parking as an exclusive hotel benefit that makes the fee a bargain.
- Payment: The policy says reservations are charged in full.
- Additional adults: Rates increase by $25 or more for each additional adult aged 18 or older.
- Cancellation: The published policy requires cancellation 48 hours before arrival to avoid a penalty of the first night’s room and tax. Read your booking’s specific terms.
- Check-in requirements: You must be at least 21 to reserve a room and present government-issued photo identification and a credit card at check-in.
- Pets: The resort is pet-free, with qualifying service animals accepted.
Rooftop pool and Spa Monarch
The indoor pool and spa facility occupy the hotel tower’s top floor. They provide somewhere to spend part of the day without gambling or ordering another meal.
Pool access is not full spa access. The resort fee includes the indoor pool, hot tubs, and fitness center. Treatments, spa services, and access beyond those listed amenities cost extra.
If a treatment is central to the trip, book ahead. My advice is to price the room and spa plan separately, then decide whether the combined cost still makes sense.
Family restrictions
Families can stay and dine here, but Monarch is not an unrestricted family resort. Guests under 21 cannot enter the gaming areas or sportsbook, and minors must wear visible wristbands.
Families with minors have pool access from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; children under 16 need adult accompaniment. Guests under 21 also have a 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, and minors cannot be left unattended anywhere in the resort. An adult getaway is easier to organize than a family trip with competing schedules.
Restaurants and bars
Four restaurants and a coffee counter make dining a useful reason to choose Monarch, even when gambling is only part of the plan.
| Venue | Food and format | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Monarch Chophouse | Fine-dining steakhouse with prime beef, seafood, and Colorado lamb | A celebration or dinner-focused evening |
| Bistro Mariposa | Modern Latin-inspired cuisine, tequila, and Colorado craft beer | A sit-down alternative to the steakhouse |
| The Buffet | International buffet selection | Groups that want variety |
| Twenty-Four 7 | American and Asian dishes; described by the operator as serving 24 hours | A casual meal or late-night stop |
| Java, etc. | Specialty coffee, sandwiches, gelato, and pastries | A lighter breakfast or quick break |
I would reserve Monarch Chophouse ahead when dinner needs to fit a particular schedule. Bistro Mariposa offers another direction if a steakhouse evening does not appeal.
The Buffet is about selection, not automatic savings. Its published prices list adult weekday lunch at $28.99 versus $58.99 for Friday through Sunday dinner. Lunch is the lower-cost choice if variety matters more than the dinner selection. Check current prices and service hours before planning around either meal.
Twenty-Four 7 is particularly useful for an overnight stay, when late-night food can matter more than another elaborate dining room. Bar options include the Sportsbook Bar and Lounge, Stage Bar, and Chophouse Bar.
Directions, parking, and transportation
Monarch is at 488 Main Street, at the entrance to Black Hawk for arrivals via Highway 119. Its Getting Here guide provides directions and transportation options. Allow for mountain weather, road conditions, and traffic rather than treating a map estimate as a reservation guarantee.
The property estimates Denver International Airport is approximately 55 miles away, typically 1 to 1.5 hours by car. Without a rental car, arrange the return journey as carefully as the arrival.
Free parking and EV charging
Self-parking and valet are complimentary. The attached nine-level garage has 1,350 self-parking spaces and direct connections to the tower. Valet is available 24 hours a day.
The parking information page lists 40 EV charging stations, including four ADA-accessible stations, and says the chargers are Tesla-compatible. Complimentary parking does not mean charging is free.
After charging finishes, there is a one-hour grace period, followed by an idle fee of $0.15 per minute. An illustrative 30 chargeable minutes after that entire grace period costs $4.50 in idle fees, excluding charging costs. Set a reminder to move the car.
Local buses versus a hotel shuttle
The free Black Hawk and Central City Tramway connects the two towns. Paid casino buses serve pickup locations in Arvada, Aurora, and Lakewood, with varying schedules and fees.
These are not Monarch-operated transfers. Monarch says it does not currently have a shuttle program. Confirm the route, pickup point, fare, and last return before relying on a bus.
Smoking, identification, and accessibility
Monarch is smoke-free indoors, including guest rooms. Smoking and vaping are restricted to designated outdoor areas; marijuana smoking is prohibited anywhere on the property. Room smoking violations can bring a cleaning charge starting at $250.
You must be 21 to gamble. Bring valid government-issued photo identification for gambling-related transactions, rewards enrollment, and hotel check-in.
For accessibility needs, request the specific room features and routes you require. A roll-in shower, bed configuration, and short route to the elevators are different requests. Accessible EV stations alone do not establish whether a particular room will suit you.
Monarch Rewards: compare redemption values
Monarch Rewards covers eligible slots, video poker, table games, poker, keno, and sports betting. Use your card from the beginning and ask how play is recorded for your game.
A Comp Dollar does not have the same redemption value everywhere. Each converts to $1 in eligible outlet or hotel credit, $0.50 in Free Play, or $0.25 in Cash Back.
For an illustrative balance of 40 Comp Dollars, that means:
| Redemption | Value |
|---|---|
| Eligible outlet or hotel credit | $40 |
| Free Play | $20, not cash winnings |
| Cash Back | $10 |
I would favor an eligible meal or hotel purchase if it replaces something already in the budget. Cash Back is cash, while Free Play requires gambling and has an uncertain eventual cash outcome. There is little value in ordering an unwanted dinner just to preserve more face value.
The rewards brochure marked July 2024 specifies $5 increments for Free Play and Cash Back and excludes gratuities from comp use. Check current redemption conditions at the desk.
Comp Dollars can be redeemed across participating Monarch properties, including Atlantis in Reno. Free Play offers are restricted to the issuing property. Rewards should remain a side benefit of planned play, not a reason to stretch the gambling budget.
Is Monarch Casino Black Hawk worth visiting?
Monarch’s clearest strengths are its smoke-free interiors, broad gaming selection, dining variety, and convenient overnight setup. Complimentary parking also makes a day visit straightforward without a hotel booking. The trade-offs are the resort fee, additional spa charges, restrictions on minors, and the planning involved in a mountain trip.
Monarch suits adults who want live gaming, several dining choices, and an overnight stay with time for the rooftop pool or a separately booked spa treatment. I particularly like the combination of smoke-free interiors, complimentary parking, and everything under one roof. Choose a simpler property if your priority is an inexpensive room or a short gambling stop: the nightly resort fee and extra spa charges add to the bill, while restrictions on minors make family trips less flexible.
My dividing line is simple: choose Monarch for the whole stay, not because you assume the resort setting improves the odds downstairs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Monarch Casino Black Hawk have poker and a sportsbook?
Yes. It has a dedicated live poker room and a retail BetMonarch sportsbook. Company materials listed 16 poker tables in June 2025. Contact the room for current games and seating, and distinguish staffed sportsbook hours from app availability.
How much is Monarch’s resort fee?
The published fee is $29 per night, separate from the room rate. An illustrative two-night stay adds $58 before any applicable tax.
Does the resort fee include spa access?
It includes the indoor pool, hot tubs, and fitness center, but not full spa access or treatments. Additional charges apply beyond those included amenities.
What are check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is at 4 p.m., and check-out is at noon.
Is Monarch smoke-free, and is parking free?
Yes. The resort is smoke-free indoors, with designated outdoor smoking areas. Self-parking and valet are complimentary; EV charging and post-charge idle fees are separate.
Can guests under 21 visit?
Families can stay and dine, but guests under 21 cannot enter the gaming areas or sportsbook. Minors also have designated pool hours, supervision requirements, and a 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.
Does Monarch have an airport shuttle?
Monarch says it does not currently operate a shuttle program. The local tramway and paid casino buses are separate services, not hotel airport transfers.