Before booking, I noticed Ameristar had a surprisingly low 2.8 average review score on Yelp, which…read morealmost made me hesitant. However, after staying here, I honestly do not see a solid reason for such a low rating, other than perhaps the elevator situation or people reacting to typical resort food prices. I stay in Las Vegas quite a bit at properties like Bellagio, Encore, and Park MGM, so I have high standards for hotel stays, and Ameristar exceeded our expectations in almost every way. We stayed in one of their pet-friendly rooms with our dog, and it was easily one of the best dog-friendly stays we have ever had. Usually, dog-friendly hotel rooms are a disappointment. They can smell, feel relegated to a run-down wing of the building, and cost a fortune in pet fees. In fact, the only other option in Black Hawk, Lady Luck, charges a steep $75 per night fee. Ameristar charges a very reasonable $50 per stay, which is such a fantastic value. Service was great right from the valet when we pulled up. It is worth noting that there are no dedicated bellmen on staff, but you can easily grab luggage carts from the front desk by leaving your driver's license with them while you unpack. The room itself was clean, spacious, and features a super comfy bed. I loved that there was no carpet in the dog-friendly room, just clean LVP flooring, which makes so much sense for pet stays. The bathroom setup reminded me a lot of Encore, complete with dual sinks, a large soaking tub, a walk-in shower, a private toilet closet, full-size toiletries including lotion (which is so useful in the mountain air), and plenty of extra towels. They catered to our pet so thoughtfully. The room included a nice built-in dog crate, elevated dog bowls with a food mat, an in-room refrigerator to store food, and a sweet welcome bag with goodies like poop bags. A couple of quick operational notes for future guests: a few elevators seemed to be down during our visit, which could cause a bit of a wait during peak hours. Also, the dog relief area is across the street. Traffic over there can be surprisingly busy with people speeding, so just exercise a little caution when crossing with your pet. Overall, do not let the lower review scores scare you off. We were thoroughly impressed by the cleanliness, service, and thoughtful amenities, and we will definitely be back!

This was my first time staying at Ameristar and will also be my last. I came here for my birthday…read moreexpecting to have a relaxing and fun night, but instead, I ended up spending about an hour dealing with issues with our room before I could even settle in. It was honestly a very disappointing way to start a birthday stay. When we first walked into our room, I was immediately shocked by how dirty it was. There was dirt on the bed, crumbs everywhere, and the room just did not feel like it had been properly cleaned before we arrived. I understand that hotels can occasionally miss something during housekeeping, but this was more than just one small oversight. When you're paying to stay at a hotel, especially for a birthday celebration, you expect the room to be clean and ready when you arrive. We ended up getting switched to another room, but unfortunately, that room had cleanliness issues too. The tub and toilet were dirty, which was extremely frustrating after we had already gone through the trouble of changing rooms. At that point, I was just hoping we could finally settle in and enjoy the night without having to deal with another issue. Then, the next morning, I woke up with bug bites on my legs and abdomen. I obviously can't say for certain what caused the bites or that there are bedbugs at the hotel, but given everything else that had already happened with the cleanliness of the rooms, it was definitely concerning and made me question the cleanliness of the room even more. That was not exactly how I wanted to wake up after coming here for my birthday. Unfortunately, even the actual casino came with its own issue because the craps machine ended up taking my money, and a formal investigation had to be done on the machine. I understand that technical issues can happen, but when you're already dealing with multiple problems during your stay, having another unexpected issue just adds to the frustration. I really wanted this to be a fun and relaxing birthday stay, but instead, I spent a significant amount of time dealing with problems that I shouldn't have had to deal with in the first place. Having to switch rooms because the first one was dirty, finding cleanliness issues in the second room, waking up with unexplained bites, and then having an issue with the casino machine made the entire experience feel like more hassle than it was worth. The pool, hot tub, and casino had some positives, but unfortunately, those things weren't enough to make up for everything else. This was my first time staying at Ameristar, and based on this experience, I don't think I'll be rushing back. I usually stay at the Monarch, and after this trip, I think I'll be keeping it that way. For what I expected to be a relaxing birthday getaway, it was way more stressful than it needed to be.

Casino games, hotel, restaurants, bars! They have it all at Monarch. Free parking, daily restaurant…read morespecials. If you need a break go to the mountains in Black Hawk where you'll find plenty of casinos. Take a wad of cash, get their free reward card and play the games! Know ahead of time you will be taking home less cash... unless you get super lucky!

I met my cousin at the monarch casino for a few days of fun and boy was it…read more Our room was lovely and we had fun gambling. We ate at several restaurants in the casino each very good. The pool area on the roof is pretty fantastic w an outdoor hot tub where you can see the surrounding mountains. The place was clean and smoke free. We're already planning our next visit.

I wish I could have came out a winner here, but that is how gambling goes. But at least I did not…read morelose big either. I signed up for their players card as you get new member perks. 1 point equals $1 dollar in coin in value. We wanted to try the lobster tails at the buffet as that was their promotion. My wife and I played here and I went straight to the high limit room. I have to admit they do have a great selection of games for high volatility to low ones as well. I played this cheesy carnival game that I never seen before and I ended up getting the bonus twice. The rest of the games I either broke even and decided to walk away with any bonuses. I hardly got any bonuses on the games. So here were the incentives of play 1. 100 points $15 dollar in food credit 2. 250 points free play (ranges from $10 to $500) 3. 1000 points (got food $25 credit and $50 free play) I ended up getting the 1000 points and I played 2 spins on black diamond and ended up getting $300 dollars which was nice. I played top dollar, butterfly 7's, Wheel of Fortune, some selection of high limit aristocrat game and Stinkin Riches, but no bonuses. I probably would have played longer here if I was winning, but that was okay. I had a good time here with the little time I had at the casino. I ended up eating at Jake's. Not so sure what offers they will send me but my wife and I are not going to go to Colorado anytime soon.

Just another generic casino in Blackhawk... like it honestly looks the exact same on the inside as…read more90% of the casinos in Blackhawk, like I can never tell when this casino ends, and another one begins...

This is my to go casino! Staff is very friendly. Clean casino, bathrooms. It's not over packed…read morewhere u can't move around, it's just right. My only complaint is the restaurant on 3rd floor needs later hours. And the lady in the front behind the desk at the restraunt is rude but I'm still giving 5 stars because I enjoy the atmosphere and ppl are very friendly! Coffee always hot all u can drink and soda! Food is also great!

All I can say is, YUCK!!!…read more No care or concern by the City to allow driving to the upper road to access the top of the property; road closed, snowed in... wow... first time I've ever seen that. The place... SMELLS... inside the elevator, the main floor, the restaurant... the gaming floor... are you kidding me... YUCK! Don't you people know how to clean your building and restrooms... obviously NOT! GROSS!!! I walked around the floor at this casino and their other two properties; Golden Gulch... TOTAL GROSS OUT OVER THERE and if you're not a local that demands the spots in front of there favorite slot machines, you can't play! Perfect example of a place that has well worn out their welcome... SHOULD BE TORN DOWN and better off as a parking lot! Golden Gates = The Poker casino... YUCK!!! Smells, stains on the floors, people "smirk-smile" at best, very unfriendly and "ugly" place... Do yourself and your family and your friends a big favor and... SPEND YOUR TIME AND MONEY ANYWHERE ELSE...! AVOID BLACKHAWK AND CENTRAL CITY ALL TOGETHER!!!

The restaurant upstairs is what makes the Red Dolly worth going to. Great food at a great price, I…read moreeat most of my meals here when I'm in town. 4 stars instead of 5 because, if you're expecting a casino, you're going to be disappointed; it's really just a bar with a few slot machines. Update: Went back yesterday for dinner and I see what some people are complaining about; from the time I got seated it took a good 20 minutes before the waitress took my order. In her defense, she was by herself and she was acting as hostess/waitress/cashier/busboy and the place was pretty busy...I didn't hold it against her, they need more help. Also, there's a lot more slot machines here than I thought. My guess was that they had a couple dozen, but it's more like 100. Always somebody playing, so I guess some people like to play here.

Initially wanting to take the family to an AYCE buffet but the pricing has gotten so insane that we…read morewere looking around for deal. $9.99 for prime rib dinner cannot be beat. Actually, everything on the menu was super reasonable and they were busy for dinner on a Thursday night. Our server Aggy was amazing, the restaurant area is not huge but she ran it like a champ. Provided topnotch service and remembered all of our orders accurately without any notes. She was the only one running the show while we were there. She also celebrated her 22nd anniversary working at Red Dolly the night we visited the restaurant. The prime rib was thin-ish but delicious, baked potato was creamy, the dinner came with a potato - mashed, baked or fries - of your choosing, or you can pick onion rings. It also came with a side of green beans, a small roll and horseradish sauce. All in all we had a great time at the Red Dolly at the end of the town and would highly recommend their prime rib special for anyone looking for a tasty deal. Thanks Aggy for taking care of us and happy work anniversary!

We ended up coming here late at night. The parking lot can be a confusing experience as the hotel…read morecheck in is on the bottom floor, then is the casino floor and then the parking lot. We ended up getting a junior suite which looked like a regular room. We did get a balcony however and used it to get fresh air and to let a fly outside the window. Bathroom was standard and had two faucets. They have no gift shop, but just a tiny store. Room was just okay and nothing to impressive. Beginners luck, I think so at this casino. The first night was alright was down a little bit, but on the 2nd day after going onto the train ride, I ended up doing really well. But only on non volatile machines I did extremely well. The volatile machines I did get some machine here and there, but I was having fun. One thing good is I ended up getting 5x reward points for playing on Monday/Tuesday and 5x tier points for being a new player which is nice if only Arizona offered that I would be happy. The machines malfunctioned, but the slot attendant came quickly to take a look which was nice of them. They have two soda machines spread out the casino. We did not eat here however despite having a lot of reward points, but it is okay. Anyways overall we coined in 5000 points which is good and I ended up making a profit here which was nice. I gave away 1000 dollars the following day, but that was okay I came downstairs with a budget in mind. I would definitely would not mind coming back here.

Terrible service from mgmt. The hotel is generic. No whistles, no bells. Rooms need major facelift…read more Lights and outlets in the rooms don't work. Explanation by mgmt, it's a safety issue. Had to bathe in the dark. The casino is ok. Very clean. Restaurants are ok also.

Great casino..points earn cash and you can win..the machines do not lock up st 140 or 200 do a…read morelarge payoff involves a very small wait. Very great employees bathrooms and casino cleam..smoking room out back..check them out! Points also earn food..nice smaller feel to top it off

Female manager on duty last night was seriously lacking in customer service and professionalism…read more Will not be back

We did not stay here as we saw that the suites were more money. Unfortunately, staying here is a…read moreseparate wing vs. the casino and can be confusing. It looks like the step child vs. the Horseshoe. This place was no restaurant, but has a bar. Their bingo on the 2nd floor was closed. The casino is small around 900 machines, but they had some machines I enjoyed playing and really old ones. I had really good luck with the Volcanic 7's as I got a $400 dollar hit and $1000 hit on that one. I played Aristocrat games there and got bonuses. Believe it or not I spent more time at both casinos. The drink machine was on the other side of the casino. One thing bad or good is they have different promotions. I had a lot of luck at this casino and ended up making a profit here. I know that was not the case on the third day there, but it is okay, I had fun.

Let me tell you about this place…read more.. The frustration started the second we checked in. There was absolutely NO ONE at the front desk. And I don't mean for a minute or two... we waited 10-15 minutes before anyone finally showed up. Once we got into our room, it honestly just felt... dirty. I'm pretty sure the carpet has been there since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. The whole room just had that gross, grimy feeling. The customer service didn't get much better. Around midnight, I called the front desk to ask if they had feminine products. The gentleman on the phone said, "Yes, just come down to the front desk." So down I went... only to find myself standing there waiting. Again. After about 10 minutes, I noticed a sign that said to call a number if no one was at the desk. I called and was told no one would be there until the morning. Seriously? Thankfully, another employee happened to walk by and told me there *should* be feminine products in a few of the vending machines. Great! Except... nope. I checked three different machines, and not a single one had any. By this point, I felt like I'd walked a marathon. You know how casino hotels are... everything is somehow a mile away. I ended up rushing over to a different casino and made it with about five minutes before their store closed. The entire stay was one frustration after another. Between the lack of staff, the dirty room, and the poor customer service, this place was a huge disappointment. I won't be staying here again.

Great pizza, awesome beer, reasonable prices, and dog-friendly!…read more Dostal Alley is such a cool piece of Central City history. The staff was super nice, the pizza was delicious, and their craft beer hit the spot. We were honestly shocked at how reasonable the prices were for the quality. Plus, while we didn't have our dog with us this time, they have a dog-friendly patio--which is extremely hard to find in the Black Hawk/Central City area! A must-visit spot for great food, history, and friendly service.

I first visited Dostal Alley when they opened, during the early years of gaming in Central City. My…read morefamily has deep roots in the area from long before gaming arrived, and we've always made an effort to support local businesses and owners. In those early days, Dostal was a place where people came for a good pizza or sub and enjoyed a little gaming on the side. It was part of the community. Unfortunately, the place today feels like a shell of what it once was. The food has always been average, which is something many customers can accept, but poor and disrespectful service is never acceptable. I brought my concerns to the owner, Lisa, hoping they would be taken seriously, but the response was disappointing and dismissive. It's unfortunate to see a longtime local establishment lose the character it once had. Good food and good ownership go hand in hand, and when both are lacking, customers notice. After many years of supporting Dostal Alley, I won't be returning. Farewell, Dostal Alley.

Came here tonight and sat at the bar area and immediately me and my friend were hit with an…read moreoverwhelming sewer smell, it was freaking AWFUL! I assume they were having some kind of sewer issue..? We ended up quickly leaving because of how bad it was... sooo freaking gross.

I don't want to recommend this place because I lost $5k which is nothing to some lol but when the…read moredevil wears Prada you gotta pay for the curtains. This location has two buildings or maybe 3 but I fersure know you gotta walk across the street to get to the jail. The sign says OH SNAP! GAMBLE INSIDE A FORMER JAIL! Bally's #BALLYSBLACKHAWK It's newly renovated-ish but they still have a lot of work to do. The women's bathroom next to the blackjack tables (curse you blackjack lol) was missing a whole sink! So there's that. All the slot machines worked and you can tell at least the slot machines were well taken care of. Until next time Bally's see you in 10 years , can't wait to see what you've don't to the place.