This Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the casino game

By Penny Parker

Don’t even try to tell Ed Smith that the gambling business is a young person’s game. He won’t hear of it.

At age 70 apiece, Ed, and his wife, Shirley, are planning to open their third casino in a building they bought years ago at 125 Gregory St. at Main Street in Black Hawk.

The Smiths leased the space originally to Bronco Billy’s then most recently to Bullwhackers. When Bullwhackers opted not to renew the lease, the building came back to the Smiths.

If the gaming license is approved, Ed said he’ll open the Sasquatch Casino, basement and two-story building with 74 slot machines. Ed said he has no plans to install table games to start, and the casino will close at 2 a.m. rather than pulling an all-nighter.

“We’ll have a video arcade for the non-gamblers downstairs,” Ed said. “I think we’ll close at 2 because we don’t have a hotel. We tried extended hours, but without a hotel it’s kind of a lost cause.”

The Smiths opened the first Black Hawk casino when gaming was approved on Oct. 1, 1991. They own and operate Black Hawk Station and Wild Card casino.

The Wild Card holds the singular distinction as the only casino in Black Hawk and Central City that allows smoking inside. The Smiths managed to avoid the statewide smoking ban by meeting all the criteria for the Wild Card to operate as a cigar bar.

When I first visited the smoke-filled room a while back, I kept expecting the smoking police to jump out and pounce upon the public smokers who seemed to be breaking the law. That was until Ed explained the cigar bar exemption.

The name Sasquatch for the new spot was not the first choice on Ed’s list.

“Nobody liked The Red Rat,” he said. “We originally talked about doing a Chinese place, but nobody liked the Red Rat so we got Sasquatch.”

And to punctuate the name, Ed snagged and stuffed a 7-foot 4-inch Sasquatch he claims (wink wink) was found on the side of the road – a victim of an apparent hit and run.

“He’ll be right on the first floor with a 4-foot light overhead,” Ed said. “When you drive by or come in the front door, you can see him. I’m going to call him Harry.”

Poker face. The Isle in Black Hawk invites poker players to pull up a seat in the casino town’s newest poker room.

From 5 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays in May, the Isle will sweeten the pot of one live poker game with $100. From 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, the player with the high hand of the hour will win $100.

On Mondays through Fridays beginning at 10 a.m., players each day playing Aces Cracked Win a Rack could win $100 each if they have pocket aces but don’t win at showdown

Bunch bunch. It’s time to get your team in training for the bed races, a highlight of Madam Lou Bunch Day June 18.

The Central City tradition pits bed heads – each team is composed of two guys and one gal – against each other to race down the middle of Central City. Creative costumes are a must for all miners, madams, “working girls” and dandy Dans.

The free street fest features performances, live music and comedy skits. Here’s your chance to treat dear old dad to a Father’s Day weekend to remember.

- Penny Parker is a columnist for The Denver Post. She’s always on the prowl for tidbits and tips from Colorado’s gaming communities. Call her at 303-619-5209 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.