Golden Nugget Casino: A Deep Dive into Ownership, Structure, and Legacy
Golden Nugget Casino: The Golden Nugget Casino is one of the most iconic names in American gaming history. From its birth in the heart of downtown Las Vegas to its expansion across the United States, the Golden Nugget name has become synonymous with classic Vegas elegance and high-stakes excitement.
But behind the glittering lights and roulette wheels lies a story of strategic ownership, mergers, and a powerful corporate engine. So, who really owns the Golden Nugget Casino today? Let’s explore.
The Origins of the Golden Nugget
The Golden Nugget Las Vegas was established in 1946 by Guy McAfee, a former Los Angeles police officer turned casino mogul. At the time, it was one of the first luxury casinos on Fremont Street, offering a taste of opulence in a gritty desert town.
Over the decades, the property changed hands multiple times, each time adding layers to its reputation and reach.
Ownership Timeline
The table below outlines the key changes in ownership of the Golden Nugget properties over the decades:
| Year | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Guy McAfee | Founder and original operator |
| 1973 | Steve Wynn (through Golden Nugget Companies) | Wynn began transforming the property into a luxury destination |
| 2000 | Mirage Resorts (Steve Wynn) merged into MGM Grand Inc. | Formation of MGM Mirage |
| 2004 | Poster Financial Group | Bought the Las Vegas and Laughlin properties |
| 2005 | Landry’s, Inc. (Tilman Fertitta) | Acquired Golden Nugget Las Vegas and Laughlin |
| 2020 | GNOG (Golden Nugget Online Gaming) spin-off | Online division spun off into separate public entity |
| 2022 | DraftKings acquired GNOG | DraftKings purchased the online division for $1.56 billion |
Current Owner: Tilman Fertitta and Landry’s, Inc.
Today, the Golden Nugget Casino brand (physical properties) is owned and operated by Landry’s, Inc., a Houston-based hospitality giant owned privately by billionaire Tilman Fertitta.
Who Is Tilman Fertitta?
Tilman Fertitta is a Texas-born entrepreneur who built a multibillion-dollar empire in the hospitality and gaming industries. He is known for:
- Hosting the reality show “Billion Dollar Buyer”
- Owning Landry’s, Inc., which operates over 600 restaurants and several casino resorts
- Owning the Houston Rockets NBA team
- Having a personal net worth estimated at over $8 billion (as of 2025)
Properties Under the Golden Nugget Brand
Landry’s owns and operates multiple Golden Nugget Casinos in key markets:
| Location | Type | Opened | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | Casino Resort | 1946 | Historic property in downtown Fremont Street |
| Laughlin, NV | Casino Hotel | 1967 | Riverfront views and relaxed gaming |
| Atlantic City, NJ | Casino Resort | 1985 (as Trump Marina), rebranded in 2011 | Full-service East Coast casino |
| Biloxi, MS | Casino Resort | 1992 (as Isle of Capri), acquired 2011 | Gulf Coast gaming and luxury amenities |
| Lake Charles, LA | Casino Resort | 2005 | One of the largest casinos in Louisiana |
All of these properties are wholly owned by Landry’s, Inc., and their management is overseen directly by Fertitta’s executive team.
Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG): A Separate Journey
While Landry’s continues to own the physical Golden Nugget casinos, the online division took a slightly different path.
In 2020, Golden Nugget Online Gaming (GNOG) was spun off as a public company under the symbol GNOG on NASDAQ. The move allowed Fertitta to tap into the booming online gambling market while keeping control of the original brand.
Acquisition by DraftKings
In 2022, DraftKings finalized its acquisition of GNOG in an all-stock deal valued at $1.56 billion. However, Tilman Fertitta retained a major stake in DraftKings and joined the board of directors, effectively keeping a hand in the digital expansion of his empire.
Ownership Structure Summary
| Asset | Current Owner | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Nugget Las Vegas | Landry’s, Inc. | Privately owned |
| Golden Nugget Laughlin | Landry’s, Inc. | Privately owned |
| Golden Nugget Atlantic City | Landry’s, Inc. | Privately owned |
| Golden Nugget Biloxi | Landry’s, Inc. | Privately owned |
| Golden Nugget Lake Charles | Landry’s, Inc. | Privately owned |
| GNOG (Online Gaming) | DraftKings Inc. | Public company |
Strategic Significance of Fertitta’s Ownership
Fertitta’s tight control of Golden Nugget’s physical casinos ensures:
- Unified branding across properties
- Operational synergy with his restaurant and entertainment holdings
- Long-term investment in property redevelopment and customer experience
He also uses the casinos as platforms to cross-promote other brands like:
- Morton’s Steakhouse
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
- Chart House
- Saltgrass Steak House
All of these brands operate inside various Golden Nugget properties.
Final Thoughts
The Golden Nugget Casino is not just a building with card tables and slot machines—it’s a brand that reflects decades of American gaming history, guided today by one of the most influential names in hospitality, Tilman Fertitta.
While the online and offline components are now separated through the DraftKings-GNOG deal, the physical Golden Nugget Casinos remain firmly under Fertitta’s private empire, ensuring consistency and strategic control. This unique ownership structure exemplifies modern hybrid business strategies—blending legacy brick-and-mortar assets with the power of digital scalability.
