Lakes Entertainment shareholders OK merger with Golden Gaming

By HOWARD STUTZ LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

June 23, 2015 - 4:01 pm

Lakes Entertainment shareholders approved the company’s merger with Las Vegas-based tavern and slot machine route operator Golden Gaming during a vote on June 17, the company said in a securities filing.

The transaction will create a new publicly traded company, Golden Entertainment. The Sartini family owns Golden Gaming, which is Nevada’s largest slot machine route company.

Nevada gaming regulators are expected to consider the merger in July.

The $128 million deal also requires approval by regulators in Montana, where Sartini Gaming is licensed to operate a slot machine route. Maryland gaming regulators approved the merger last week. Lakes Entertainment owns the Rocky Gap Casino Resort near Cumberland, Md.

The companies have said they hope to close the deal in the fall.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Find @howardstutz on Twitter.

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