Colorado Casino Staff at Bally’s Black Hawk Properties Complete Historic Unionization Vote

Employees across Bally’s three Black Hawk casinos completed a card-check vote to join Teamsters Local 455 and this action covers 110 workers in roles that include bartenders, cashiers, cooks, maintenance staff, slot attendants and technicians while marking the first instance of casino worker unionization in Colorado.

The process followed a neutrality agreement that Bally’s reached with the union in November 2025 and observers note that the card-check method allowed workers to demonstrate support through signed authorization cards rather than a traditional ballot election.

Details of the Unionization Process

Workers at the East, North and West properties participated in the card-check and the outcome established representation rights for the specified group of employees while the agreement ensured Bally’s maintained a neutral stance during organizing efforts and this approach reduced the timeline compared with contested elections in other industries.

Those involved in the vote handled day-to-day operations across the three locations and the 110 covered positions span food service, gaming floor support, facility upkeep and technical roles and the single bargaining unit brings these staff under one contract negotiation framework going forward.

Background on the Neutrality Agreement

Bally’s entered the neutrality agreement in November 2025 and that framework set the conditions for the subsequent card-check vote while the company agreed not to campaign against the union drive and this step allowed the process to move directly to verification of signed cards.

Teamsters Local 455 conducted the card collection and the local will now represent the workers in contract discussions with Bally’s management and the agreement also addressed access rights for union representatives during the organizing period.

Significance Within Colorado Gaming

This vote represents the first time casino workers in Colorado have successfully unionized and the event occurred after the neutrality agreement established a clear path for recognition and reports indicate that the 110 workers across the three Black Hawk sites now hold collective bargaining status.

According to coverage on casino.org the outcome followed standard card-check procedures and the union will begin negotiations for an initial contract covering wages, benefits and working conditions at the affected properties.

State labor records show that prior organizing attempts in Colorado gaming had not reached similar recognition levels and the Bally’s vote therefore sets a new precedent for employee representation in the sector while the three properties continue normal operations during the transition to union status.

Next Steps After Recognition

Following certification the union and Bally’s will enter bargaining sessions and the process will address contract terms for the 110 covered employees across the East, North and West locations and both parties have indicated a timeline that aligns with typical post-recognition negotiations in hospitality settings.

Teamsters Local 455 will provide representation services and members will elect stewards to handle workplace matters while the neutrality agreement’s provisions remain in effect until a full contract is ratified and this structure supports continued operations at the Black Hawk casinos.

Conclusion

The card-check vote at Bally’s three Black Hawk properties delivered union representation for 110 workers in a range of operational roles and the outcome stands as the first casino unionization in Colorado after the November 2025 neutrality agreement and the three sites now move into the contract negotiation phase under Teamsters Local 455.