Lawmakers reject proposal to abolish $5 bet limit in casinos

DENVER (AP) - One attempt to raise the betting limit at Colorado casinos is dead, but another one is still alive.

A Senate committee on Tuesday rejected a proposal to ask voters to get rid of the $5 limit. Lawmakers expressed concern that so many issues may be on the November ballot that voters will kill most of them.

But a petition drive is planned to get an initiative on the ballot that would raise the bet limit to $100, expand casino hours and add roulette and craps games. Currently, casinos may offer only blackjack, poker and slot machines.

Increasing the bet limit would mean extra tax revenue.

Organizers of the initiative want the money to go to the state's community colleges and the cities and counties where the casinos are located.