Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Casino operator Boyd Gaming (NYSE: BYD) finished the day with a 10% gain, as investors cheered a strong report on gaming activity in Las Vegas.

So What: According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, gaming revenues on the Las Vegas Strip surged a whopping 21% year over year in August, to $544 million. Not surprisingly, shares of other Las Vegas-based casinos such as Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN), and MGM (NYSE: MGM) are up big on the news.

Now What: It's been a rough few years for many casino operators; Boyd is down almost 80% in that time frame. Today's news is good, but investors need to keep an eye on the bigger picture -- especially the company's ability to handle its debt load.

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