Golden Entertainment's Second Quarter Net Revenue Rises 7.7% to Record $110.5 Million and Adjusted EBITDA Rises 12.8% to Record $15.0 Million

Golden Entertainment, Inc. GDEN ("Golden Entertainment" or the "Company"), today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, as summarized below.

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Blake L. Sartini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Entertainment, commented, "Our record 2017 second quarter financial results benefited from double-digit Adjusted EBITDA growth in our Nevada and Montana distributed gaming businesses as well as at our Rocky Gap Casino in Maryland. Golden Entertainment generated second quarter 2017 consolidated net revenue growth of 7.7% and grew Adjusted EBITDA by a healthy 12.8%.

"In June, we announced our $850 million acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties which will bring four exciting Southern Nevada properties – the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower, Arizona Charlie's Decatur and Arizona Charlie's Boulder in the Las Vegas Valley and Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin – into the Golden Entertainment family. Upon completion of the transaction, these four properties are expected to complement our existing portfolio and allow us to pursue a strategy of cross-regional promotion to our mid-market customers in Nevada, Montana and Maryland. In addition, the transaction will significantly expand our presence in Nevada, which we see as the country's strongest, most stable regional gaming market.

"Late in the second quarter we were granted a terminal operator license by the Illinois Gaming Board, representing Golden Entertainment's fourth licensed jurisdiction. We believe Illinois is an attractive and growing distributed gaming market where we intend to establish a presence through both organic and inorganic means. Given our leading distributed gaming operations in Nevada and Montana, we believe we are well suited to emerge as a partner of choice for existing and new distributed gaming locations throughout the state of Illinois.

"As we look to the second half of 2017, our Company remains well positioned to benefit from ongoing investment in our existing businesses as we continue to evaluate further opportunities to expand our footprint. To date in 2017 we have opened three of our planned seven new Las Vegas tavern locations and, more recently, completed the acquisition of the state-owned slot machines on our Rocky Gap slot floor. This investment has reduced our Maryland slot tax rate by 10% and we expect to realize an approximately $3 million increase in Rocky Gap's property Adjusted EBITDA on an annualized basis. This is an exciting period of growth for Golden Entertainment and we believe our diverse business expansion efforts, combined with our pending acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties, will significantly enhance long-term value for our shareholders."

Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

Consolidated net revenues for the 2017 second quarter were $110.5 million, compared to $102.6 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase in net revenues was driven primarily by an increase in gaming revenues, reflecting the opening of new taverns and the addition of one of the Company's Montana distributed gaming operations which was acquired in April 2016, as well as by continued growth at Rocky Gap Casino. The Company's Distributed Gaming business grew net revenue 8.3% year over year to $84.2 million. Net revenues for the Company's Casino operations grew 6.1% over the prior-year period to $26.2 million.

For the second quarter of 2017, net income was $1.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to $2.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. Our Distributed Gaming business grew net income 24.8% year over year, and net income for the Company's Casino operations grew 0.5% year over year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the 2017 second quarter was $15.0 million, compared to $13.3 million for the prior-year period. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven primarily by the growth in consolidated net revenues, reflecting the opening of new taverns, the addition of one of the Company's distributed gaming operations in Montana and growth at Rocky Gap, partially offset by weaker performance in Pahrump. Our Distributed Gaming business grew Adjusted EBITDA 18.6% year over year, and Adjusted EBITDA for the Company's Casino operations grew 1.3% year over year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of June 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $49.8 million and total outstanding debt of $178.7 million. Outstanding debt under the Company's senior credit facility included $144 million in senior secured term loans and $27 million in borrowings under the Company's revolving credit facility. The weighted-average effective interest rate on outstanding borrowings under these facilities for the first six months of 2017 was approximately 3.4%.

Charles H. Protell, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "Golden Entertainment's continued strong financial performance enabled us to further invest across our business while reducing overall leverage in the second quarter of 2017. Total borrowings on our credit facility declined $3 million while we completed $5.4 million of capital expenditures at our properties. We expect to maintain the strong operating performance of our existing businesses in the second half of 2017 and, as we look forward to the closing of our acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties, we will continue to evaluate new strategic opportunities to enhance our portfolio of leading casino resorts and distributed gaming operations."

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a webcast and conference call today, August 4, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the second quarter 2017 results. The conference call may be accessed live by dialing (844) 465-3054 or (480) 685-5227 for international callers and entering the passcode 61529965. A replay will be available beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on August 4, 2017 and may be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 for international callers; the passcode is 61529965. The replay will be available until August 7, 2017. The call will also be webcast live through the "Investors" section of the Company's website, www.goldenent.com. A replay of the audio webcast will also be archived on the Company's website, www.goldenent.com.

If you have questions about Golden Entertainment or are interested in conducting a conference call with Golden Entertainment management, please contact JCIR at (212) 835-8500 or gden@jcir.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "potential," "seek," "should," "think," "will," "would" and similar expressions. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's strategies, objectives, business opportunities and plans for future expansion, developments or acquisitions, anticipated future growth and trends in the Company's business or key markets, projections of future financial condition, operating results, capital expenditures, or other financial items, anticipated regulatory and legislative changes, as well as other statements that are not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements regarding our pending acquisition of the outstanding membership interests of American Casino & Entertainment Properties, LLC (the "Transaction") include statements regarding the planned completion of the Transaction, the benefits of the Transaction, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions regarding the Transaction, and the expected timing of completion of the Transaction. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's business, the economy and other future conditions. These forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may change at any time, and readers are therefore cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors relating to the Transaction that could cause our actual results to differ materially include, among other things: the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals for the Transaction (including the approval of gaming and antitrust authorities necessary to complete the Transaction), the timing of obtaining such approvals and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could materially adversely affect us, American and the expected benefits of the Transaction; the risk that a condition to closing of the Transaction may not be satisfied on a timely basis or at all, the failure of the Transaction to close for any other reason and the risk of liability to us in connection therewith; access to available financing (including financing for the acquisition) on a timely basis and on reasonable terms; the effects of disruption caused by the Transaction making it more difficult for us to execute our operating plan effectively or to maintain relationships with employees, vendors and other business partners; failure to realize the anticipated cost savings, synergies and other benefits of the Transaction; litigation in connection with the Transaction; and our ability to successfully integrate American's businesses. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the Company's ability to realize the anticipated cost savings, synergies and other benefits of the merger with Sartini Gaming, Inc. and the acquisitions of distributed gaming assets in Montana, and integration risks relating to such transactions, changes in national, regional and local economic and market conditions, legislative and regulatory matters (including the cost of compliance or failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations), increases in gaming taxes and fees in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates, litigation, increased competition, the Company's ability to renew its distributed gaming contracts, reliance on key personnel (including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy and Financial Officer), the level of the Company's indebtedness and the Company's ability to comply with covenants in its debt facilities, terrorist incidents, natural disasters, severe weather conditions, the effects of environmental and structural building conditions, the effects of disruptions to the Company's information technology and other systems and infrastructure, an unexpected occurrence of an "ownership change" as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, and factors affecting the gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in the Company's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA, which measure the Company believes is appropriate to provide meaningful comparison with, and to enhance an overall understanding of, the Company's past financial performance and prospects for the future. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA (and associated margin calculations) provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding specific expenses and gains that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating results. Further, Adjusted EBITDA is a measure of operating performance used by management, as well as industry analysts, to evaluate operations and operating performance and is widely used in the gaming industry. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies in the gaming industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than the Company does. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) are provided in the financial information tables below.

The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as earnings before interest and other non-operating income (expense), income taxes, depreciation and amortization, preopening expenses, acquisition and merger expenses, class action litigation expense, share-based compensation expenses, executive severance and sign-on bonuses, impairments and other gains and losses. Adjusted EBITDA for a particular segment or operation is Adjusted EBITDA before corporate overhead, which is not allocated to each segment or operation. The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDA margins" for the Company or a particular segment or operation as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues for the Company or such segment or operation, as applicable.

About Golden Entertainment, Inc.

Golden Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates gaming properties across two divisions – distributed gaming and resort and casino operations. Golden Entertainment operates approximately 12,000 gaming devices and nearly 30 table games in Nevada, Maryland and Montana. The Company owns four casino properties, more than 50 taverns and operates approximately 1,000 distributed gaming locations in multiple jurisdictions. Golden Entertainment is focused on maximizing the value of its portfolio by leveraging its scale, leadership position and proven management capabilities across its two divisions. For more information, visit www.goldenent.com.

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