Golden Gaming acquires Northern Nevada rival
Slot machine route operator Golden Gaming acquired a Northern Nevada rival, which will give the Las Vegas-based firm roughly 8,000 total slot machines in more than 700 statewide locations.
Golden Gaming, which is privately held, did not reveal a sales price it paid Wednesday for Strategic Gaming Management, a Reno company that operates 870 slot machines. Strategic Gaming was considered the second largest slot route operator in Northern Nevada, Golden Gaming officials said.
The deal will close on Jan. 1.
“This transaction exemplifies my family’s commitment to the entire Nevada gaming market and belief that the long term growth and vibrant economic trends in the state will resume over time,” Golden Gaming Chief Executive Officer Blake Sartini said in a statement.
In March 2012, Golden Gaming acquired the bulk of the former Herbst Gaming slot machine route operations, establishing the company as the state’s largest slot machine route operator. Golden Gaming, which also owns more than 40 taverns through three brands, operates three casinos in Pahrump.
Golden Gaming employs 2,200 workers statewide.
Slot machine route operators manage games for bars, taverns, restaurants, supermarkets and other restricted gaming locations (15 or fewer slot machines) in exchange for a flat fee or a percentage of the gaming revenues.
Sartini said the expanded operations in Northern Nevada allow Golden Gaming to increase its technology capabilities into the new locations and increase the company’s players’ rewards program.
Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.
