The Nevada Gaming Commission has unanimously approved licenses and amended registration orders for MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment. The decision allows both companies to raise capital through shelf offerings over three years and advances two of the largest take-private deals in Las Vegas.
MGM Resorts is in talks with billionaire Barry Diller and his People Inc. over a buyout. Terms are expected when MGM reports quarterly earnings. It remains unclear how privatisation would affect operations in Macau and the Osaka resort under construction, scheduled to open in 2030.
Caesars Entertainment is being acquired by Tilman Fertitta through Fertitta Entertainment for $17.6 billion. The commission licensed CFO Richard Liem and general counsel Steven Scheinthal, both previously licensed in Nevada. Closing is expected in spring pending shareholder approval, FTC and Department of Justice antitrust review under Hart-Scott-Rodino, and clearance in roughly 25 gaming jurisdictions. The FTC filing has been submitted with no fixed timeline. The go-shop period for competing bids ended 11 July with no offers.
Scheinthal confirmed Golden Nugget operations will be integrated into the Caesars system rather than the reverse, citing the scale of Caesars' organisation. He mentioned strengthened AML controls at Caesars following a $7.8 million penalty over bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. Golden Nugget had no AML issues under Fertitta because 'it doesn't take the kind of play that would cause problems', he said.
Scheinthal separately stated that disputes over prediction markets in the US will reach the Supreme Court, where state-rights arguments may prevail. He does not expect casino legalisation in Texas under the current political alignment, with the next window not opening before 2032.
