(AsiaGameHub) –   Golden Entertainment has successfully moved forward with its plan to become a private company. Shareholders have approved the deal with Chief Executive Blake L. Sartini and VICI Properties, positioning the casino operator to exit Nasdaq in the second quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval.

Key Details

• The master transaction agreement received approximately 20.4 million votes in favor.
• Golden shareholders are slated to receive roughly 0.902 shares of VICI stock along with approximately $2.75 in cash per share.
• Seven Nevada casino real estate properties are included in a $1.16 billion sale leaseback agreement with VICI.

Golden Entertainment Shareholder Vote Advances Deal

The shareholder vote demonstrated overwhelming support for the transaction. Golden reported that the deal garnered approximately 20.4 million votes in favor, with only 208,131 votes against and 20,158 abstentions. A related proposal concerning executive compensation tied to the transaction also passed, although it received about 2.3 million votes in opposition.

Upon completion of the transaction, Golden will transition to a private company, and its stock will be delisted from Nasdaq. The terms of the agreement value Golden at $30 per share, which the merger documents indicate represents a 40% premium over the closing price on November 5, 2025. Golden anticipates the closing to occur in the second quarter of 2026, contingent upon gaming approvals and other standard closing conditions.

VICI is handling the real estate component of the transaction. The company has agreed to acquire seven casino properties in Nevada for $1.16 billion and will lease them back to a new entity under the control of Sartini. VICI confirmed that the portfolio includes The STRAT, Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, Arizona Charlie’s Boulder, Aquarius, Edgewater, and Pahrump Nugget; Rocky Gap is not part of this transaction. Following the closing, Golden’s operating assets will be held by the private entity.

Sartini stated:

“I am confident that this transaction maximizes shareholder value by offering a substantial premium to our current share price.”

“We are delighted to integrate our high-quality Nevada casino real estate with one of the nation’s most compelling experiential real estate platforms and to partner in unlocking value within our company and exploring future opportunities.”

Golden operates eight casinos and 73 gaming taverns across Nevada. The company’s portfolio features approximately 5,500 slot machines, 80 table games, and around 6,000 hotel rooms.

“This mission will remain unchanged, and I am profoundly honored to lead Golden’s 5,000 employees into the next phase of our evolution as a private company,” Sartini added.

The timing of this transaction follows a period of weaker financial performance. Golden reported a fourth-quarter adjusted loss of $0.33 per share on $155.6 million in revenue, both figures falling short of analyst expectations. The company also announced it would forgo an earnings call due to the pending transaction. For the full year 2025, the operator recorded a net loss of $6 million.