Published on: February 26, 2026, 12:00h.
Updated on: February 26, 2026, 12:00h.
- Boyd is disposing of Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino in Shreveport to Bally’s
- Financial details remain undisclosed
- Transaction expected to finalize in Q3
Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD) announced today that it has finalized an agreement to sell the Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino in Shreveport, Louisiana to Bally’s.
Based in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming has been managing the Louisiana casino since 2004. The sale makes logistical sense, given that Sam’s Town is located next to Bally’s Shreveport Casino & Hotel in downtown Shreveport.
Sam’s Town Shreveport features a 29,000-square-foot casino, with 750 slot machines and 14 table games, a 514-room hotel, several dining options, a live entertainment space, and dedicated convention and meeting areas,” stated a release from the regional gaming operators.
The specifics of the deal, expected to close in the third quarter, were not disclosed.
Bally’s Expands Its Louisiana Presence
As previously mentioned, the Rhode Island-based company already operates a gaming venue in Shreveport, making it a familiar name among Louisiana gamblers.
Once the Sam’s Town transition is complete, Bally’s will oversee four casinos in Louisiana. Alongside the two Shreveport locations, Bally’s also manages Bally’s Baton Rouge and the Queen Baton Rouge, both situated in the state’s capital.
Conversely, Boyd will still maintain a substantial presence in Louisiana. After the sale of Sam’s Town Shreveport, the company will continue to operate four casinos in the state: Amelia Belle, Delta Downs racino, Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, and Treasure Chest Casino.
“The divestiture of our Sam’s Town Shreveport property aligns with our ongoing commitment to refining our operational strategy and our nationwide portfolio,” remarked Boyd CEO Keith Smith in the announcement.
Boyd manages 10 gaming establishments in its home market, which includes Aliante, California, Cannery, Fremont, Gold Coast, Jokers Wild, Main Street Station, Sam’s Town, Suncoast, and The Orleans. This number is set to increase to 11 next month with the opening of Cadence Crossing Casino in Henderson, Nevada. The company also operates casinos regionally across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
What Happens to Sam’s Town Property?
It appears that Boyd Gaming holds the ownership rights to the real estate associated with Sam’s Town Shreveport, indicating this property will be transferred to Bally’s once the deal is finalized.
This detail is noteworthy because Bally’s is known for engaging in sale-leaseback transactions to generate cash, indicating the operator does not typically maintain ownership of the real estate on which its casinos are situated.
The primary landlord for Bally’s is Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ: GLPI), which already controls the property assets of seven Louisiana casinos, including the previously mentioned Bally’s venues. However, the real estate investment trust (REIT) has not publicly confirmed any intentions to acquire the real estate associated with Sam’s Town.