“This has the potential to be the busiest weekend in Colorado gaming history,” said Christopher Abraham, a spokesman for Golden Gaming, as Colorado’s three casino towns welcomed an increase in gaming limits in the state.

Voters approved the changes in a statewide referendum last November. Just after midnight on July 2, bet limits were raised, new games were added and operating hours increased, resulting in huge attendance and record casino wins. According to the Denver Post, the Lodge and Gilpin casinos in Black Hawk had nearly three times more gamblers than they did on the same day in 2008.

“It’s fair to characterize the launch as successful,” said John East, a vice president with Jacobs Entertainment, which owns the Lodge and Gilpin casinos.

Gamblers flocked to the new craps and roulette tables until well into the morning, East told the Post.

The new regulations allow casinos in Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek to add craps and roulette and raise betting limits from $5 to $100. The casinos can also stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; the previous closing time was 2 a.m.

“We’re really excited about kicking it off,” said Stephen Roark, president of Jacobs Entertainment Inc.

Preliminary figures showed that business at the Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk was up about 60 percent, according to General Manager John Bohannon.

“We saw our table games volumes increase almost four times, compared to an average Wednesday,” Bohannon told the Post. According to news reports, hotels were booked all the way to Idaho Springs, about 20 minutes away.