DENVER -- Next week, new gambling laws take effect in Colorado.

Casinos can increase betting limits, add craps and roulette and stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Amendment 50 passed last November, and it states 78 percent of new gambling tax revenues are earmarked for Colorado community colleges.

But who ensures the money will actually go to those colleges?

"That money, based on constitutional law, is supposed to be in addition to our state funds, not in place of them," said Nancy McCallin, president of Colorado Community Colleges.

Officials from the state's 15 community and junior colleges have been working with the governor and state lawmakers on a formula for funding the community colleges.

The formula essentially gives community colleges 78 percent of new gambling tax revenue. That is -- revenue beyond the average annual tax revenue gambling has brought to the state over the past 20 years or so.

"How do you differentiate where the money comes from? You can't exactly separate money played in the slots before 2 a.m., from money played in the slots after 2 a.m.," said state representative Jack Pommer (D-Boulder) who helped draft the formula.

Although it's not an exact science, the state's community colleges are betting on it.

"We know there’s no state funding coming. So this revenue will help sustain our mission," said McCallin. "We're training dislocated workers so they can be competitive in the 21st century. And our kids do as well, if not better, when transferring to four-year colleges as those who started at those schools as freshman."

McCallin said the state's community colleges have experience a 36 percent increase in enrollment.

Hadijah Bilal, who is from Florida, is studying nursing at Community College of Denver. She's an example of how strong community colleges in Colorado have the ability to attract students from across the nation.

"It's a very good program. I need to be in a program that’s going to teach me and not just me being in there teaching myself," said Bilal.

The CCD nursing program has a better than 90 percent placement rate.

"A lot of people benefit from it as far as getting jobs in the workplace," said Bilal.

McCallin said the money from gambling revenue would be used to add programs and improve existing ones. And she is serious about ensuring the 13 colleges she oversees get the gambling money they were promised.

"It is not to be in place of existing state funds. It is to supplement them, not supplant them," said McCallin. "We know there are some who will say that the increase in gambling limits are not good. But the fact of the matter is we know that this gambling will take place elsewhere if not Colorado. We have an industry that is important to those three mountain areas. It's not expanding outside those mountain areas. And given the fact that we already made the public policy decision to allow gambling in the early '90's, now we have a duty to see that those industries are thriving. "

Pommer said, make no mistake, the big winners are the casinos and the relatively small group of people living in those gambling towns.

"The casinos wanted this. The community colleges were just the hook for them," said Pommer. But he said the tax revenue will provide a substantial boost to community colleges.

And McCallin feels the 59 percent who voted for Amendment 50 also validated the importance of community colleges.

"Statewide initiatives are difficult to pass. And when you have 59 percent of voters, that’s huge," said McCallin. "Now we have to ensure the will of the voters and the intent of the voters is followed."

And for those who attend these schools, it could mean better programs and the shot at a better future.

"I think it’s a great idea. Education is very important,” said CCD student Anubis Muhammadel. "I’m OK with that money coming here because where else would it go? Gambling is not my thing, but if it benefits people who want to learn, I’m all for the decision to give the money to schools.”

Pommer said it’s anybody's guess how much money it will generate for community colleges. Some estimate $10 million the first year and possibly as much as $22 million the second year.

The new gambling laws take effect July 2, 2009.