What casino stocks pay dividends?

Most mature casino operators pay dividends. Among the industry's dividend-paying stocks are Las Vegas Sands and Wynn.

Is investing in casinos a good idea?

Some casino stocks have been big winners, and they tend to outperform in bull markets. However, investors should be aware of the disruption from online gambling.

What are the most undervalued casino stocks?

One of the most undervalued casino stocks is Boyd Gaming, a regional casino operator that has outperformed the industry in some years.

Do casino stocks do well in a recession?

Casino stocks don't typically do well in a recession. They are sensitive to consumer spending on travel and gaming, as well as business spending on conventions, all of which tend to fall in a recession.

How can I research casino stocks before investing?

The best way to research stocks is to look at quarterly earnings reports and other materials directly sourced from the company. You'll want to compare companies in metrics like revenue growth, profitability, and dividends, and examine their business models.

Are there ETFs that focus on casino stocks?

Yes, there are a number of ETFs that focus on casino stocks. Those include the Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF, and Invesco Next Gen Media and Gaming ETF.

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Learn what's happening with the major players in the casino industry.

By Jeremy Bowman – Updated Sep 8, 2026 at 10:43 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Online gaming now legal in many U.S. states, boosting both old and new casino stocks.
Macau remains the top gambling market, with heavy winnings for few licensed operators.
MGM and Las Vegas Sands show robust revenue growth, promising returns for investors.

A night at the casino might seem like an experience frozen in time -- imagine visions of James Bond or pressing your luck at the craps table -- but the casino industry is changing rapidly, and new developments present a unique opportunity for investors in casino stocks.

Online gaming is becoming legal in many U.S. states, and both old-school casino chains and upstart online gambling stocks are jumping on the trend. Meanwhile, the Asian market, centered on the Chinese territory of Macau, has asserted itself as the largest gambling market in the world, with big winnings for operators who own one of the handful of licenses to do business on the island. Casino stocks are companies that are involved in the gaming industry, whether that means casino operators or online gambling sites like sports betting apps.

If you're looking for some of the best casino stocks out there, keep reading to see six of the most attractive gambling stocks you can buy today.

Top casino stocks to consider

The top casino stocks today include Las Vegas staples like MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Caesars Entertainment, and Wynn Resorts, regional operators like Boyd Gaming, and online platforms like DraftKings.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Current price	Market capMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.	Dividend yield
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM)	$39.65	$10.0 billion	0.00%
Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS)	$41.94	$27.5 billion	2.71%
Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ:WYNN)	$87.43	$9.0 billion	1.14%
Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD)	$76.54	$5.6 billion	0.99%
DraftKings (NASDAQ:DKNG)	$25.07	$12.3 billion	0.00%
Caesars Entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR)	$29.69	$6.0 billion	0.00%

Data as of Sep 15, 2026. Showing 6 of 6 total entries.

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1. MGM Resorts

NYSE: MGM

MGM Resorts International

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

69/100

Today's Change

(-0.46%) $-0.19

Current Price

$39.65

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$10B

Day's Range

$39.34 - $39.78

52wk Range

$29.18 - $51.59

Volume

733.7K

Avg Vol

2.6M

Gross Margin

38.05%

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MGM (MGM -0.50%) has one of the most impressive collections of properties in the casino industry. It owns many of the most familiar casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, including the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Luxor, and New York-New York, as well as locations in Atlantic City, Detroit, and Mississippi, among others. It also has 56% stakes in two Macau casinos: MGM Macau and MGM Cotai.

About two-thirds of its 45,000 guest rooms are on the Strip, making it more exposed to Las Vegas tourism than many of its peers.

In 2025, it achieved record full-year revenue and adjusted property earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) across the business, with revenue up 2% to $17.2 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was up 1% to $2.4 billion.

MGM was one of several casino operators awarded a new 10-year gaming license in Macau at the end of 2022, ensuring its future in the gaming territory, and Macau revenue grew 11% to $4.5 billion.

People Incorporated, the media holding company formerly known as IAC/Interactive, offered to acquire MGM for $48.30 a share in cash, or $18 billion, in June 2026. IAC first invested in MGM in 2020 and has a roughly 26% stake in the casino operator.

MGM stock spiked on the offer, and as of Sept. 8, 2026, the company is actively evaluating the bid.

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2. Las Vegas Sands

NYSE: LVS

Las Vegas Sands

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

65/100

Today's Change

(-1.10%) $-0.47

Current Price

$41.94

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$27B

Day's Range

$41.88 - $42.45

52wk Range

$41.88 - $70.45

Volume

2.3M

Avg Vol

5.1M

Gross Margin

37.43%

Dividend Yield

2.71%

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If you're looking to make a bet on Macau, Las Vegas Sands (LVS -1.24%) is the way to go. The company is focused entirely on the Asian market, with five casinos in Macau and the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. In March 2021, it sold its Las Vegas business, including the Venetian, to a private equity firm for $6.25 billion.

Unfortunately, the strategy of focusing on Asia backfired during the COVID-19 pandemic as traffic to Macau plunged due to strict lockdowns in China and other Asian regions. But the business has recovered since then. In 2025, revenue rose 15% to $13 billion, and operating income was up 17% to $2.8 billion, showing it's back on solid footing and delivering strong operating margins.

The company is also experiencing a better-than-expected recovery at its Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, and it has invested $8 billion into a massive expansion of the Marina Bay Sands resort.

With its focus on the international market, Las Vegas Sands has been slower to move into online gaming, and it abandoned its online ambitions in October 2025 when it said it would shutter its digital gaming arm to focus on its business in Macau and Singapore.

Patrick Dumont took over as CEO of Las Vegas Sands in March 2026. Dumont is the son-in-law of Sheldon Adelson, the now-deceased founder of LVS, and had served as CFO and COO of LVS, where he guided the transition to international growth markets. Dumont has ramped up share buybacks, announcing a $6 billion share repurchase authorization, and is focused on improving margins at its Macau properties and potentially expanding into the United Arab Emirates.

3. Wynn Resorts

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NASDAQ: WYNN

Wynn Resorts

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

61/100

Today's Change

(-0.38%) $-0.33

Current Price

$87.43

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$9.0B

Day's Range

$87.19 - $88.25

52wk Range

$86.80 - $134.72

Volume

699.6K

Avg Vol

1.6M

Gross Margin

32.09%

Dividend Yield

1.14%

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Wynn Resorts (WYNN -0.38%) is another diversified casino operator, with 72% ownership of the Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau in Macau. Additionally, it wholly owns the Wynn and Encore in Las Vegas and the Encore Boston Harbor, which opened in 2019.

After a push into online gambling during the pandemic, WynnBET, its online platform, ceased operations in most states in 2023 and 2024.

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SPAC

A SPAC, or special purpose acquisition company, is an entity with no commercial operations that completes an initial public offering (IPO).

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Still, its core casino business remains solid. In 2025, revenue was flat at $7.1 billion, and the company generated $1.1 billion in operating income.

Wynn aims to continue developing big luxury properties and recently announced plans for Wynn Al Marjan Island, a $3.9 billion resort near Dubai set to open in early 2027, which will have 1,500 rooms, a private beach, a deep-water marina, and 25 dining and lounge experiences. The company's focus on new markets, such as Dubai and the Boston area, could pay off for investors down the road.

4. Boyd Gaming

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NYSE: BYD

Boyd Gaming

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

68/100

Today's Change

(-0.53%) $-0.41

Current Price

$76.54

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$5.6B

Day's Range

$76.47 - $77.34

52wk Range

$74.80 - $91.41

Volume

339.3K

Avg Vol

913.9K

Gross Margin

40.45%

Dividend Yield

0.99%

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Boyd Gaming is a differentiated casino operator, known for catering to the Las Vegas locals market with properties like The Orleans, Gold Coast, and Sam's Town, as well as several properties in downtown Las Vegas. It owns more than a dozen regional casinos across the U.S. as well.

The company also owned a 5% stake in FanDuel, but sold it in 2025 for $1.755 billion, cashing in on one of the two leading online gambling platforms.

The company is using that money to pay down debt and to secure a contract to provide FanDuel with digital market access in some states through 2038.

In 2025, revenue rose 4% to $4.1 billion, and adjusted earnings per share rose from $6.55 to $7.40.

Boyd trades at a low valuation and has a strong track record of buying back its stock, reducing shares outstanding by roughly a third over the last five years. It's a good alternative for casino investors looking to diversify away from the major Las Vegas and international players.

5. DraftKings

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NASDAQ: DKNG

DraftKings

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

68/100

Today's Change

(0.86%) $0.22

Current Price

$25.07

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$12B

Day's Range

$24.52 - $25.10

52wk Range

$20.46 - $44.22

Volume

4.2M

Avg Vol

11.5M

Gross Margin

40.54%

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DraftKings (DKNG +0.99%), which went public through a SPAC in 2020, is the only pure-play online gambling company on this list. It has something of a duopoly in online sports betting with FanDuel, which claims 44% of the market, ahead of DraftKings' 34%.

Like many of its peers, DraftKings has used acquisitions to help it grow. In August 2021, it spent $1.5 billion to acquire Golden Nugget Online Gaming, strengthening its position in online casino games to expand its reach beyond sports betting and daily fantasy sports.

Social distancing and stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a boom in online sports betting and gambling, and DraftKings' revenue has continued to surge well after the pandemic has faded. In 2025, revenue jumped 27% to $6.05 billion, and it significantly narrowed its operating loss to $16 million. It reported a profit in the first quarter of 2026, though it returned to a loss in the second quarter.

It is also cutting jobs as it attempts to stave off competition from prediction markets. The company has launched its own predictions market, DraftKings Predictions, to push back on that threat, and management sees a significant opportunity in predictions.

The company reached 4.8 million monthly unique payers as of the first quarter of 2026, with total users down 4% following its exit from online lottery operations in Texas.

While there's still a lot of uncertainty facing the company, if you're looking for growth in the casino industry, DraftKings' potential is hard to beat.

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6. Caesars Entertainment

NASDAQ: CZR

Caesars Entertainment

Premium Feature

Moneyball Superscore

54/100

Today's Change

(0.03%) $0.01

Current Price

$29.69

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$6.0B

Day's Range

$29.68 - $29.75

52wk Range

$17.86 - $30.88

Volume

1.9M

Avg Vol

3.8M

Gross Margin

37.69%

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In 2020, Eldorado Resorts acquired Caesars Entertainment (CZR +0.03%), retaining the Caesars name after the deal. Post-merger, Caesars became the largest casino operator in the U.S., with 54 properties worldwide, including eight on the Las Vegas Strip. Caesars operates casinos in 16 states.

Eldorado had been a top casino stock prior to the merger. The company, now known as Caesars, has delivered returns of roughly 1,700% since its 2014 initial public offering (IPO), thanks in part to Eldorado's aggressive acquisition strategy. The company spent $4 billion to buy British online gaming company William Hill Group in April 2021.

Although Caesars has made strides in online gaming, the majority of its business still comes from its Las Vegas and regional casinos. Like other casino chains, Caesars seeks to leverage its national network through a loyalty program that encourages visits to multiple properties.

With a strong push into online gaming, a well-respected sportsbook, and a balanced casino business between Las Vegas and regional locations, Caesars looks well-positioned for future growth, especially if you're looking to avoid the risk in international markets. Revenue rose 2% in 2025 from $11.2 billion to $11.5 billion as its Las Vegas business declined slightly, offset by its regional and digital business. However, Las Vegas is the most profitable of its segments.

How to invest in casino stocks

If you're interested in buying casino stocks, the process is simple. Just follow these steps.

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Benefits and risks of investing in casino stocks

Casinos tend to be high-beta, meaning they have outsize swings as the market goes up and down. They are cyclical by nature and dependent on discretionary spending, and that underscores some of the benefits they offer:

Capable of outperforming in bull markets
Demand for gaming has significant growth potential, especially with international and online expansion.
Regulations around gaming seem to be loosening.
Most established casino operators generate strong profits.
The industry tends to trade at a reasonable valuation.

Compared to the average stock market sector, the casino industry probably has more risks. Let's take a look at some of the bigger ones.

The casino industry is highly regulated, and changes in regulation have a huge impact on performance. For instance, it would be devastating to a casino to lose its license to operate in Macau.
The rise of online gambling poses a threat to traditional casinos, and now prediction markets, which operate outside of the scope of the gaming industry, threaten gambling, especially online gambling.
The industry is highly sensitive to the macroeconomic climate as it depends on consumers having discretionary income to spend and on their ability to travel and take vacations.
Casinos compete with other forms of entertainment, and they may lose market share over time to other options.
Casinos also have a reputational risk as "sin stocks" and they could experience a backlash, much like smoking has.

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Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Casino stocks have had mixed performances in recent years. Some stocks, like Penn Entertainment, popped during the pandemic on hopes for online gambling, but have since faded.

Overall, industry stocks have underperformed since surging in 2021 on hopes for the post-pandemic reopening.

However, these stocks represent a range of industry leaders, and most of them have performed well historically. Size and scale often confer advantage in the casino industry, though regional operators have also found ways to win.

This group of stocks can give you exposure to the opportunities that the casino sector offers, including dividend income, value, growth, and international exposure. Still, investors should be mindful of the recent sector performance, as broad-market gains have been driven by AI.

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FAQ: Casino stocks

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About the Author

Jeremy Bowman has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst, covering technology, consumer goods, and macroeconomic trends since 2011. Before The Motley Fool, Jeremy was a newspaper reporter, restaurant manager, and English teacher abroad. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Colorado College and a master’s degree in business administration from American University. One of his Motley Fool headlines was briefly featured on Late Night with Stephen Colbert.

TMFHobo

@TMFBowman

Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best Casino Stocks to Buy in 2026 and How to Invest in Them

Learn what's happening with the major players in the casino industry.

Key Points

Top casino stocks to consider

1. MGM Resorts

Key Data Points

2. Las Vegas Sands

Key Data Points

3. Wynn Resorts

Key Data Points

4. Boyd Gaming

Key Data Points

5. DraftKings

Key Data Points

6. Caesars Entertainment

Key Data Points

How to invest in casino stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in casino stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

Related investing topics

5 Best Entertainment Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

10 Best Growth Stocks for 2026

Investing in Restaurant Stocks

5 Best Video Game Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

FAQ: Casino stocks

What casino stocks pay dividends?

What casino stocks pay dividends?

Is investing in casinos a good idea?

Is investing in casinos a good idea?

What are the most undervalued casino stocks?

What are the most undervalued casino stocks?

Do casino stocks do well in a recession?

Do casino stocks do well in a recession?

How can I research casino stocks before investing?

How can I research casino stocks before investing?

Are there ETFs that focus on casino stocks?

Are there ETFs that focus on casino stocks?

About the Author

Read Next

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

Top casino stocks to consider

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

4. Boyd Gaming

Key Data Points

5. DraftKings

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

How to invest in casino stocks

Benefits and risks of investing in casino stocks

Methodology: How these stocks were chosen

5 Best Entertainment Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

10 Best Growth Stocks for 2026

Investing in Restaurant Stocks

5 Best Video Game Stocks for 2026 and How to Invest

FAQ: Casino stocks

What casino stocks pay dividends?

What casino stocks pay dividends?

Is investing in casinos a good idea?

Is investing in casinos a good idea?

What are the most undervalued casino stocks?

What are the most undervalued casino stocks?

Do casino stocks do well in a recession?

Do casino stocks do well in a recession?

How can I research casino stocks before investing?

How can I research casino stocks before investing?

Are there ETFs that focus on casino stocks?

Are there ETFs that focus on casino stocks?

3. Wynn Resorts