Golden Entertainment, Wynn Resorts Tipped for Success, Says Analyst

An expert analyst recently highlighted a number of stock picks for the year, mentioning several companies within the gambling sector.

Fox Can Enter the Gambling Vertical Through Share Purchase in FanDuel

That’s the opinion of Mario Gabelli, Gabelli Funds’ CEO and chairman, who participated in Barron’s “Roundtable,” along with five other experts. Those professionals shared a total of 34 stock investment ideas for 2025. However, Gabelli was the only analyst to name gaming companies on the roundtable’s latest edition. Gabelli Funds’ boss mentioned Fox, Golden Entertainment as well as Wynn Resorts.

Speaking about Fox, he pointed to the company’s strong position across the United States. While Gabelli noted that the company isn’t directly involved in the gambling sector, he acknowledged its 2.4% ownership in Flutter Entertainment. In addition, he mentioned that this ownership grants Fox the option to purchase 18.6% of FanDuel Group, one of the top betting and gaming companies in the country.

The Expert Is Bullish on Golden Entertainment

Notably, the expert pointed to Golden Entertainment’s strategic move to “skin down” its businesses in Nevada. He explained that the company now operates more than 72 taverns across Las Vegas Valley and its stock is trading for $31.25. Pointing out that Golden’s market cap is approximately $850 million, Gabelli explained that the company earned $1.70 a share in 2024. The expert was optimistic about Golden Entertainment, predicting its shares to earn $0.90 this year, as well as $1.30 in 2026.

Adding that the company benefits from royalty payments, Gabelli noted that Golden also “contracted out the slot machines in its taverns to J&J Gaming, which operates them.” Speaking about the former company’s assets, he acknowledged it owns the Strat hotel and casino near the Las Vegas Strip. Besides the Strat, Gabelli deemed the adjacent land, approximately nine acres, as “extremely valuable.”

Wynn Resorts Has Earnings Power

The investment expert spoke about the expansion of sports betting which started in 2018 after PASPA was struck down. Focusing on one of the recognizable gaming and hospitality companies, Wynn Resorts, Gabelli pointed to its 71% ownership in Wynn Macau which may become an issue due to “Chinese policy, but it isn’t a worry right now.”

Per the expert, Wynn possesses “significant cash-flow and earnings power.” This strong position is further positively impacted by recent developments, such as the United Arab Emirates gaming license obtained by Wynn only recently.

Gabelli is bullish on Wynn, pointing to two major shareholders in the company, Tilman Fertitta, who owns 10.7 million shares, as well as Elaine Wynn, who owns 9.5 million shares. He said that it appears the duo intends to develop a casino in Houston. Still, that project is contingent on the approval of gambling in Texas, Gabelli added.