Merger mania

U.S. casino operators are scooping up smaller competitors at the fastest pace in a decade amid low borrowing rates and an improving gaming market outlook.

There have been more than 20 acquisitions totaling more than $10 billion over the past four years, according to Union Gaming data.

Caesars Entertainment completed a $1.7 billion acquisition Monday of two casinos in Indiana. MGM Resorts International agreed to buy a casino in Yonkers, New York, in May for $850 million.

Boyd Gaming has spent nearly $1 billion over the past seven months snapping up assets across the country.

Eldorado Resorts and Penn National have also been in buying mode. Eldorado announced in April that it would acquire seven properties from Tropicana Entertainment for $1.85 billion. Penn National agreed in December to buy Pinnacle Entertainment for $2.8 billion. Boyd participated in that transaction, one of the largest in recent years.

residents of Arizona and Southern California and Clark County locals.

The Edgewater and Colorado Belle have more than 1,400 slot machines, 40 table games and 2,150 hotel rooms combined.

They are situated next to the Aquarius, which features more than 1,200 slot machines, more than 30 table games and almost 2,000 hotel rooms.

The three properties are situated on 55 contiguous acres, according to the company. Decree said Golden will be able to centralize management of the three properties, combine their marketing and purchasing efforts and better employ staff.

Golden’s Laughlin properties will compete head to head with the Tropicana, Harrah’s, Riverside Resort and Laughlin River Lodge.

Contact Todd Prince at 702-3830386 or tprince@reviewjournal. com. Follow @toddprincetv on Twitter.