Workers at Bally’s Black Hawk Casinos Complete Card-Check Vote to Join Teamsters Local 455

Staff members employed across Bally’s three Black Hawk properties completed a card-check process and voted to affiliate with Teamsters Local 455, covering 110 employees who work as bartenders, cashiers, cooks, maintenance personnel, slot attendants, and technicians. This action establishes the first union representation for casino workers anywhere in Colorado and follows a neutrality agreement the company reached with the union in November 2025. Reports from the vote confirm that employees at the East, North, and West locations participated in the same process, which allowed them to demonstrate majority support through signed authorization cards rather than a traditional secret-ballot election.

Details of the Representation Vote

The card-check procedure took place at the three Bally’s sites located in Black Hawk, a mountain town that hosts multiple gaming operations; observers note that the combined workforce at these properties now holds formal union status. According to the neutrality agreement signed in late 2025, Bally’s agreed not to campaign against the organizing effort, which enabled the process to move forward without extended disputes. The 110 workers who joined Teamsters Local 455 perform roles that support daily casino operations, including food and beverage service, equipment maintenance, and gaming floor support.

Those who monitored the process indicate that the three properties operated as separate locations yet shared the same union representation outcome, creating a single bargaining unit across the East, North, and West sites. The agreement covers the listed job classifications without extending to management or supervisory positions, consistent with standard union organizing practices in the hospitality sector.

Scope of the New Bargaining Unit

The newly represented employees handle a range of operational tasks that keep the casinos running, from preparing food in kitchens to maintaining slot machines and assisting guests at cashier stations. Teamsters Local 455 now holds responsibility for negotiating the first collective bargaining agreement covering wages, benefits, and working conditions for these 110 individuals. Because the vote occurred through card-check, the union secured recognition once a majority of eligible workers submitted signed cards, avoiding the need for a longer election campaign.

State labor filings confirm that no prior casino workforce in Colorado had achieved union status before this development, making the Bally’s Black Hawk outcome a distinct milestone within the state’s gaming industry. The three properties continue normal operations while the union and company prepare for contract negotiations, which typically begin after certification is finalized.

Next Steps Following Certification

With representation established, Teamsters Local 455 will schedule meetings with the newly covered employees to identify priorities for the upcoming contract talks. Bally’s management has stated that it will engage in good-faith bargaining as required under the neutrality agreement and applicable labor law. The process is expected to address standard issues such as scheduling, health coverage, and workplace safety protocols that affect the bartenders, cashiers, cooks, maintenance staff, slot attendants, and technicians at the East, North, and West locations.

Current records show the vote took place during the summer of 2026, placing the certification roughly eight months after the November 2025 neutrality agreement. This timeline aligns with typical durations for card-check campaigns once employer neutrality is secured. As of August 2026, the bargaining unit remains the only unionized casino workforce in Colorado, though future organizing efforts at other properties could follow similar patterns.

Conclusion

The successful card-check vote at Bally’s three Black Hawk casinos adds 110 workers to Teamsters Local 455 and marks the first instance of casino employee unionization in the state. The outcome stems directly from the neutrality agreement executed in November 2025 and covers specific job classifications across the East, North, and West properties. Negotiations for an initial contract are scheduled to begin in the coming months, with both parties operating under the framework established by the earlier agreement. Additional details on the bargaining timeline will become available once formal talks commence.