Affinity Gaming licensed in Colorado; company will take control of three casinos

Affinity Gaming has been licensed in Colorado, allowing the Las Vegas-based casino operator to complete its acquisition of three gaming properties outside of Denver.

The company announced Friday it was licensed by the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission. The company plans to take control of the Golden Mardi Gras Casino, Golden Gates Casino and Golden Gulch Casino on Oct. 31.

The three casinos, which are in Black Hawk, Colo., were acquired in February in an asset swap with Golden Gaming, which took over Affinity's slot machine route business. Golden Gaming had been operating the casinos until the licensing was approved.

In a statement, Affinity Gaming said it plans to improve the access, layout, slot machine offerings and food outlets at the properties.

"The Black Hawk casinos are an important part of our future," Affinity Gaming Chief Executive Officer David Ross said.

Affinity operates 12 casinos: nine in Nevada, two in Missouri and one in Iowa.

In Southern Nevada, Affinity operates the three Primm resorts and the off-Strip Terrible's. Affinity also has a consulting agreement for the Rampart Casino at the JW Marriott.

"We think Black Hawk patrons will be thrilled with the improvements we have in store for them," Ross aid. "Our expansion of the Mardi Gras casino will not only give the property a dramatic new entrance, but it will allow us the space to deliver a more comfortable and fully equipped gaming experience for our customers."

Affinity's key executives and the company's largest shareholders, Z Capital Partners, LLC and SPH Investment LLC, were also licensed in Colorado.