Golden Entertainment Reports Revenue Declines Amid Super Bowl Absence

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A lively gaming environment on the Las Vegas Strip, representing the challenges faced by local businesses.

News Summary

Golden Entertainment, based in Las Vegas, has reported a year-over-year revenue decline of 4.3% in its first quarter financial results. The decline is attributed to reduced business surrounding the Super Bowl and lower hotel occupancy at The Strat, with some areas experiencing significant drops. Despite these challenges, the CEO emphasizes a commitment to improving operations and customer experience. Meanwhile, competitor Light & Wonder has secured a multimillion-dollar partnership to modernize casino operations, showcasing the ongoing evolution of the Las Vegas entertainment landscape.

Las Vegas – Golden Entertainment Reports Declines Amid Super Bowl Absence

Las Vegas-based Golden Entertainment has announced a year-over-year revenue decline as reported in its first quarter financial results for 2025. The company reported nearly $161 million in revenue, reflecting a decrease of 4.3% compared to the same period in 2024. The reduction is primarily attributed to a lack of business surrounding the Super Bowl coupled with lower hotel occupancy rates.

Hotel room occupancy at The Strat, one of Golden Entertainment’s key properties, faced a significant dip of 5% during the quarter, with February alone experiencing a notable 12% decline year-over-year. The decline follows the company’s divestment of its Nevada distributed gaming operations in early 2024, which previously contributed nearly $6 million in revenue.

Despite the declines, Blake Sartini, CEO of Golden Entertainment, emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining strong financial performance amidst macroeconomic challenges. The focus remains on enhancing customer experience and operational efficiencies to better serve their clientele.

In contrast to Golden Entertainment’s struggles, Las Vegas-based Light & Wonder has made headlines with a new multimillion-dollar partnership with Buffalo Thunder and Cities of Gold casinos in New Mexico. This collaboration focuses on modernizing casino operations to improve player engagement. The agreement involves the deployment of the iView Pro S hardware system across 1,400 slot machines, which is designed to enrich the gaming experience through dynamic content and improved customer interaction.

The iView Pro system aims to streamline casino operations and reduce IT overhead costs while enhancing the overall gameplay experience for patrons. Light & Wonder’s president of Global Systems and Services expressed enthusiasm about transforming the gaming environment at the tribal casinos, indicating high expectations for the impact of this innovative technology.

In addition to these developments, changes in Colorado’s sports betting laws are set to reduce the deductions that sportsbooks can claim on promotional bets. This legislative shift aims to ensure more funding is allocated for the state’s critical water projects. The deduction cap on promotional wagering will be phased out by July 1, 2026, with a gradual reduction to 2% beginning in mid-2025.

The Las Vegas Strip continues to face challenges beyond just financial performance, as three lawsuits have recently emerged against two Strip properties following guest reports of bedbug bites, including one case necessitating hospital treatment. In response to evolving consumer needs, the Federal Trade Commission’s new “junk fee” regulations have taken effect, enhancing protections for consumers against excessive fees associated with short-term lodging and live-event ticketing.

Las Vegas entertainment remains vibrant despite these challenges. Recent big wins on slot machines have captured attention, including a visitor from Arizona who won $109,371 at Pahrump Nugget and two Californians who claimed jackpots of $2,462,616.17 and $1,313,000 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

However, not all shows have fared as well; the “iLuminate” show at The Strat is set to close on May 31 due to sluggish ticket sales since its launch in 2022. Following its closure, renowned performer Terry Fator is scheduled to take over the 7 p.m. slot at The Strat, aiming to bring new energy to the evening entertainment lineup.

As the landscape in Las Vegas continues to evolve, the casino and entertainment sectors remain intertwined with fluctuations in performance, new technology deployments, and changes in regulations that influence the local economy and visitor experiences.