Indigenous Gaming Partners cleared to buy Gamehost's Alberta casinos
Shareholders and an Alberta court have approved the $13.65-a-share deal, which would give the First Nations-owned group seven Alberta casinos.
Indigenous Gaming Partners (IGP) has won approval to buy Gamehost, a deal that would grow its Alberta portfolio to seven casinos and two hotels.
Gamehost shareholders backed the sale at a special meeting on June 11, and the Court of King's Bench of Alberta then issued a final order authorizing it, Yogonet reported. The deal was expected to close before the end of June.
The properties
Gamehost owns Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, Great Northern Casino in Grande Prairie and Rivers Casino and Entertainment Centre in Fort McMurray. It also owns two Grande Prairie hotels: Service Plus Inns & Suites and Encore Suites by Service Plus.
Deal terms
A subsidiary of Pure Casino Entertainment, IGP's operating company, will buy all outstanding Gamehost common shares for $13.65 each in cash. IGP announced the agreement on March 30, 2026. The price was about 16% above Gamehost's closing share price of $11.75 on March 27, the last trading day before the announcement.
The Gamehost board unanimously backed the deal. Directors, officers and the largest shareholder, together holding about 41.3% of the shares, signed agreements to vote in favour. The deal also needed approval under gaming and competition laws.
"I am excited to pass on this legacy to Pure, a proven leader in the Alberta gaming industry," Gamehost chief executive Darcy Will said when the deal was announced.
Pure will operate the gaming businesses. VICI Properties Inc. will own the real estate through a sale-leaseback arrangement. VICI has owned the real estate under IGP's existing Pure-branded casinos since January 2023.
IGP already controls four land-based casinos in Alberta, which it gained when it took over Pure Casino Entertainment last year. Pure runs Pure Casino Edmonton, Yellowhead, Calgary and Lethbridge, and employs more than 1,200 people. IGP was formed in 2024 as a partnership between Sonco Gaming Inc. and five Nova Scotia First Nations: Glooscap, Millbrook, Annapolis Valley, We'koqma'q L'nue'kati and Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation.
The purchase continues a wider trend of First Nations buying established casinos from commercial operators in Western Canada.