Golden Entertainment

Golden Gaming was formed in October 2001 as a result of Blake L. Sartini's acquisition of Southwest Gaming Services, a company he founded before selling to Station Casinos.{{Cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2002/feb/27/former-station-exec-buying-pts-pubs-chain/|title=Former Station exec buying PT's Pubs chain - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper|last=Strow|first=David|date=2002-02-27|website=lasvegassun.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}

In 2002, the Golden Tavern Group subsidiary was formed, and it acquired the PT's chain of taverns.

In 2004, the company acquired three casinos in Black Hawk, Colorado: the Golden Gates, Golden Gulch, and Golden Mardi Gras.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/01/17/daily53.html|title=Black Hawk casinos sold|last=|first=|date=20 January 2005|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2020-02-12}}

In 2006, Golden Gaming acquired the Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Gambling Hall from Generation 2000.Associated press on October 20, 2006 by Brendan Riley

In February 2007, Golden began a two-year deal to operate the casino at the Hard Rock Hotel while its new owner, Morgans Hotel Group, applied for a gaming license.{{cite news|title=Golden Gaming to end deal to manage casino|url=http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/golden-gaming-to-end-deal-to-manage-casino-170525|access-date=19 October 2011|newspaper=Casino City Times|date=7 January 2008}} Golden paid $20.7 million a year to lease the casino, and received a $3.3 million monthly management fee, plus a portion of revenue. Golden pulled out of the deal early when Morgans received its gaming license in January 2008, citing a desire to focus on its other operations.{{cite news|last=Knightly|first=Arnold|title=Hard Rock owners given license|url=http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/hard-rock-owners-given-license-170887|access-date=19 October 2011|newspaper=Casino City Times|date=25 January 2008}}

Golden Gaming agreed in November 2007 to buy the Saddle West casino in Pahrump from Anthony Marnell III and Sher Gaming, but canceled the deal the following June, deciding instead to focus on the Pahrump Nugget, where it began an $11 million expansion and remodeling.{{cite news|title=Pahrump Nugget will be expanded|date=26 June 2008|first=Arnold|last=Knightly|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/21712099.html|access-date=22 March 2012}}

In 2010, Golden Gaming agreed to take over operation of four small casinos owned by The Siegel Group, previously operated by United Coin: the Gold Spike, Siegel Slots and Suites, the Resort on Mount Charleston, and Rumor.{{cite news|title=Golden Gaming division OKs deal to manage four smaller casinos|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Howard|last=Stutz|date=September 9, 2010|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/golden-gaming-division-oks-deal-to-manage-four-smaller-casinos-102517379.html|access-date=2012-08-24}}

File:Gold Town Casino.jpg, the former Terrible's Town Casino, seen in 2019, which Golden Gaming acquired in 2012.]]

In March 2012, Golden bought from Affinity Gaming the Terrible's Town Casino and Terrible's Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump and Affinity's slot route operation (except for Terrible Herbst locations).{{cite news|last=Stutz|first=Howard|title=Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming shuffles holdings|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/affinity-gaming-remakes-the-company-sells-slot-routes-to-herbst-gold-gaming-130347918.html|access-date=26 September 2011|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=22 September 2011}}{{cite news|last=Stutz|first=Howard|title=Las Vegas gaming companies complete transactions involving casinos, slot machine routes|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/las-vegas-gaming-companies-complete-transactions-involving-casinos-slot-machine-routes-141027053.html|access-date=1 March 2012|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=1 March 2012}} The deal made Golden the largest employer and largest gaming operator in Nye County, and the largest slot route operator in Nevada, with about 8,500 machines in 650 locations, making up 45% of the market.{{cite news|last=Stutz|first=Howard|title=Focused on success, committed to Nevada|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/focused-on-success-committed-to-nevada-131940338.html|access-date=19 October 2011|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=16 October 2011}} Affinity in turn bought Golden's three casinos in Black Hawk, which were valued at a total of $76–92 million.

Golden Gaming agreed in January 2015 to merge with Lakes Entertainment. Sartini would own 35% of the company and serve as its chief executive officer.{{cite news|title=Golden Gaming to merge with Lakes Entertainment, acquire Maryland casino|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|first=Howard|last=Stutz|date=January 26, 2015|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/golden-gaming-merge-lakes-entertainment-acquire-maryland-casino|access-date=2015-01-26}} The merger was completed on August 3, 2015, establishing Golden Entertainment.

The company expanded into Montana in 2016, purchasing slot routes with 2,800 machines for a total of $45 million.{{cite news|title=Golden Entertainment heads into Montana with completion of $20M transaction|newspaper=Vegas Inc.|author=J.D. Morris|date=February 1, 2016|url=http://vegasinc.com/business/gaming/2016/feb/01/golden-entertainment-heads-into-montana-with-compl/|access-date=2016-02-02}}{{cite news|title=Golden Entertainment buys Montana gaming-machine vendor for $25 million|newspaper=Vegas Inc.|author=Erik Olson|date=May 14, 2016|url=http://vegasinc.com/business/gaming/2016/may/14/golden-entertainment-buys-montana-gaming-machine-v/|access-date=2016-05-14}} In June 2017, Golden Entertainment was granted a license for slot route operations in Illinois. This marked the fourth state Golden is licensed.{{cite news|last1=Velotta|first1=Rick|title=Golden Entertainment subsidiary licensed to operate video gaming terminals in Illinois|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/golden-entertainment-subsidiary-licensed-to-operate-video-gaming-terminals-in-illinois/|access-date=7 July 2017|agency=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

In October 2017, Golden Entertainment acquired American Casino & Entertainment Properties for $850 million, which expanded the company's casino portfolio by four: the Stratosphere, Arizona Charlie's Boulder, Arizona Charlie's Decatur and the Aquarius Casino Resort.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/golden-closes-on-850m-deal-for-stratosphere-3-other-casinos/|title=Golden closes on $850M deal for Stratosphere, 3 other casinos|date=2017-10-23|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-12}}{{cite news|title=Owner of PT's Pubs to buy Stratosphere, 3 other Nevada casinos|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Richard N. Velotta|date=June 12, 2017|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/owner-of-pts-pubs-to-buy-stratosphere-3-other-nevada-casinos/|access-date=2017-06-12}} The following year, the company announced a $140 million renovation of the Stratosphere.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/golden-entertainment-to-invest-140m-in-stratosphere/|title=Golden Entertainment to invest $140M in Stratosphere|date=2018-03-15|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-12}}

In January 2019, the company bought the Colorado Belle and Edgewater casinos in Laughlin, Nevada from Marnell Gaming (owner and operator of Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks) for $190 million.{{cite news|title=Golden Entertainment closer to operating 2 Laughlin casinos|newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Richard N. Velotta|date=December 5, 2018|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/golden-entertainment-closer-to-operating-2-laughlin-casinos-1543161/|access-date=2019-01-14}}{{cite press release|title=Golden Entertainment completes acquisition of two Laughlin, Nevada casino resorts|publisher=Golden Entertainment|date=January 14, 2019|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190114005753/en/Golden-Entertainment-Completes-Acquisition-Laughlin-Nevada-Casino|via=BusinessWire|access-date=2019-01-14}} The acquisition of the Colorado Belle and Edgewater gives the company dominance in the market with three of 11 Laughlin properties, including the Aquarius.{{cite web |last1=Velotta |first1=Richard |title=Golden Entertainment closes $190M deal for 2 Laughlin resorts |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/golden-entertainment-closes-190m-deal-for-2-laughlin-resorts-1573537/ |website=Review Journal |date=15 January 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2019}}

Golden sold the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in 2023 to Vici Properties and Century Casinos for $260 million.{{cite news|title=Century Casinos acquires Rocky Gap operations from Golden Entertainment|work=CDC Gaming Reports|author=Buck Wargo|date=July 25, 2023|url=https://cdcgaming.com/century-casinos-acquires-rocky-gap-operations-from-golden-entertainment/|accessdate=2023-09-04}} Also in 2023, Golden sold its Nevada and Montana slot routes to J&J Ventures.https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/golden-entertainment-selling-nevada-montana-slot-routes-for-322-5m-will-focus-on-taverns-casinos

File:Aerial view Casino Stratosphere LAS 09 2017 4912.jpg

• Aquarius Casino Resort — Laughlin, Nevada
• Arizona Charlie's Boulder — Las Vegas, Nevada
• Arizona Charlie's Decatur — Las Vegas, Nevada
• Edgewater Hotel and Casino — Laughlin, Nevada
• Gold Town Casino — Pahrump, Nevada
• Lakeside Hotel & Casino — Pahrump, Nevada
• Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Gambling Hall — Pahrump, Nevada
• The Strat Hotel, Casino and Skypod — Las Vegas, Nevada

• PT's Brewing Co
• Las Vegas
• Great American Pub{{cite web | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/new-brands-will-help-pts-taverns-chain-grow-in-las-vegas-valley-3064320/ | title=New brands will help PT's Taverns chain grow in Las Vegas Valley | date=7 June 2024 }}
• Henderson (1 location)
• Las Vegas (2 locations)
• Lucky's{{cite web | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/new-brands-will-help-pts-taverns-chain-grow-in-las-vegas-valley-3064320/ | title=New brands will help PT's Taverns chain grow in Las Vegas Valley | date=7 June 2024 }}
• Henderson (1 location)
• Las Vegas (2 locations)
• Reno (1 location)
• PT's Gold
• Henderson (5 locations)
• Las Vegas (24 locations)
• North Las Vegas (2 locations)
• PT's Place
• Las Vegas (3 locations)
• PT's Pub
• Henderson (2 locations)
• Las Vegas (15 locations)
• North Las Vegas (1 location)
• PT's Ranch
• Henderson (1 location)
• Las Vegas (2 locations)
• Sean Patrick's
• Las Vegas (2 locations)
• North Las Vegas (2 locations)
• SG Bar
• Las Vegas
• Sierra Gold
• Las Vegas (4 locations)
• North Las Vegas (1 location)
• Reno (2 locations)

• Colorado Belle — Laughlin, Nevada
• Golden Gates Casino — Black Hawk, Colorado
• Golden Gulch Casino — Black Hawk, Colorado
• Golden Mardi Gras Casino — Black Hawk, Colorado
• Rocky Gap Resort Casino — Flintstone, Maryland

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.goldenentertainment.com|Golden Entertainment}}

{{Golden Entertainment}}

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Category:2015 establishments in Nevada

Category:American companies established in 2015

Category:Companies based in Enterprise, Nevada

Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq

Category:Entertainment companies established in 2015

Category:Gambling companies of the United States

Category:Hospitality companies established in 2015