Published on: March 30, 2026, 11:20 AM.

Updated on: March 30, 2026, 11:20 AM.

• Gamehost reveals the sale of its Alberta casino properties to Pure Casino Entertainment
• VICI Properties steps in as the financial support
• Properties to be incorporated into an existing long-term master lease with VICI-Pure

Gamehost Inc., which operates three land-based casinos and two hotels in Alberta, has announced its acquisition by Pure Casino Entertainment Limited Partnership, part of Indigenous Gaming Partners Inc., which includes five institutional Nova Scotia First Nations and Sonco Gaming Inc.

Transaction Details

Pure Casino has proposed to buy all outstanding shares of Gamehost for CA$13.65 per share in cash, pending approval from the majority of shareholders. This amount reflects a 16% premium compared to Gamehost’s closing price of CA$11.75 on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of March 27, 2026, which was the final trading day before the announcement.

The transaction is anticipated to finalize in mid-2026, contingent on receiving regulatory approvals.

Gamehost operates establishments including the Great Northern Casino in Grande Prairie, Rivers Casino and Entertainment Centre in Fort McMurray, and Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, as well as two hotels: Service Plus Inn & Suites and Encore Suites by Service Plus, also in Grande Prairie. Additionally, it owns an investment property adjacent to the Service Plus Inn in Grande Prairie.

Collaboration of Casino Entities

“For the past 20 years, my dedicated team and I have created an entertainment and hospitality company that delivers exceptional experiences for our guests, employees, and the community,” stated Darcy Will, President and CEO of Gamehost. “I am thrilled to pass this legacy to Pure, a well-respected leader in Alberta’s gaming sector, and I am confident they will maintain the high-quality guest experiences and supportive environment for our staff.”

Pure, headquartered in Edmonton, manages multiple casinos, including Pure Casino Edmonton, Pure Casino Yellowhead, Pure Casino Calgary, and Pure Casino Lethbridge, employing over 1,200 individuals. Indigenous Gaming Partners Inc. consists of Glooscap First Nation, Millbrook First Nation, Annapolis Valley First Nation, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati, and Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. Sonco Gaming is a Canadian entity specializing in casino management and development.

Financial Backing from VICI Properties

VICI Properties Inc., a U.S.-based experiential real estate investment trust, is supporting the Gamehost-Pure acquisition. VICI has separately announced its CA$200.6 million acquisition of the real estate assets of Deerfoot, Great Northern, and the two hotel properties adjacent to Great Northern.

Once the Gamehost-Pure real estate transaction completes, these properties will be integrated into the existing master lease agreement between VICI and Pure, resulting in an annual rental increase of CA$16.1 million.

We are currently confirming whether Gamehost’s Rivers Casino and Entertainment Centre is part of the master lease agreement.

Structure of Sale-Leaseback Agreement

“We are incredibly excited to enhance our position within the Canadian gaming landscape, a consistently robust gaming market, through our collaboration with an existing partner,” remarked John Payne, President and COO of VICI Properties. “Through our experience with IGP and PURE, we have witnessed their capability to operate and scale a leading gaming platform, and we take pride in continuing to support their growth as their real estate and capital partner.”

“This transaction exemplifies VICI’s commitment to supporting premier operators in executing their growth strategies, and we look forward to further developing our partnership with IGP and PURE for many years ahead.”