Barrick Gaming Corporation
Barrick Gaming Corporation is a privately held Las Vegas gaming company that formerly operated a portfolio of downtown Las Vegas hotels and casinos.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Barrick Gaming Corporation is a privately held gaming company associated with the ownership and operation of several historic hotel-casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company was founded by D.W. Barrick and Stephen Crystal and is based in Las Vegas. Its best-known period of activity occurred in the mid-2000s, when it assembled a portfolio of older properties concentrated in and around the Fremont Street and downtown Las Vegas areas. The company’s earlier history included a 1993 joint venture with Station Casinos to develop a riverboat casino in Kansas City, Missouri. The project is notable because it shows Barrick’s involvement in gaming development before its later concentration on acquiring established Las Vegas properties. The reference material does not provide details about the project’s completion, operating performance, or long-term corporate structure. Barrick’s most substantial expansion came on March 25, 2004, when it purchased and began operating several properties from longtime Las Vegas casino owner Jackie Gaughan for $82 million. The portfolio included the Gold Spike, the Plaza, the Las Vegas Club, and the Western. Gaughan retained ownership of the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, while Barrick received an option connected to a right of first refusal for that property. The transaction also involved Tamares Real Estate Investments, which owned the land beneath the properties and, according to the reference material, shared ownership of the buildings with Barrick. In October 2004, Barrick expanded again by acquiring the Queen of Hearts Hotel & Casino and the Nevada Hotel & Casino. In November of the same year, it announced a proposed acquisition of the Golden Nugget Laughlin for $31 million plus working capital. The arrangement contemplated limited use of the Golden Nugget name for two years, after which the property would have needed a different name. The transaction was not completed: the agreement expired on May 31, 2005, and Landry’s Restaurants acquired the property in connection with its purchase of the Golden Nugget Las Vegas. Barrick’s ownership position in its principal Las Vegas properties was short-lived. On June 28, 2005, the company announced that it would sell its interest in the first four properties acquired from Gaughan to Tamares. The same announcement also covered Barrick’s interest in approximately 40 other Las Vegas properties. These transactions marked a major contraction of Barrick’s property portfolio and appear to have ended its role as the principal operator of the named downtown properties. The available material does not establish whether the corporation later resumed substantial gaming operations, what properties it currently controls, or whether it remains active beyond its Las Vegas base.
History
Barrick Gaming Corporation was established by D.W. Barrick and Stephen Crystal as a private gaming enterprise based in Las Vegas. The company’s documented early activity dates to 1993, when it formed a joint venture with Station Casinos to pursue development of a riverboat casino in Kansas City, Missouri. The available account does not specify whether the project opened, how long the venture lasted, or what role Barrick retained afterward. The company became more visible in the Las Vegas casino market during 2004. On March 25, it purchased and began operating four properties from Jackie Gaughan: the Gold Spike, Plaza, Las Vegas Club, and Western. The reported purchase price was $82 million. Gaughan continued to own the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, although Barrick had an option associated with a right of first refusal to acquire it. The property arrangements were connected to Tamares Real Estate Investments, which owned the land beneath the casinos and also shared ownership of the buildings with Barrick, according to the cited account. Barrick continued its acquisition program in October 2004 by purchasing the Queen of Hearts Hotel & Casino and the Nevada Hotel & Casino. On November 10, 2004, it announced an agreement to acquire Golden Nugget Laughlin for $31 million plus working capital. Poster Financial Group permitted limited use of the Golden Nugget brand for two years under the proposed arrangement, after which Barrick would have been required to rename the property. The deal did not close. The agreement expired on May 31, 2005, and Landry’s Restaurants ultimately obtained Golden Nugget Laughlin as part of its acquisition of Golden Nugget Las Vegas. The company then reversed much of its expansion. On June 28, 2005, Barrick announced that it would sell its interests in the first four properties acquired from Gaughan to Tamares. The announcement also referred to the sale of Barrick’s interests in about 40 other Las Vegas properties. This disposition substantially reduced Barrick’s position in the city’s casino-property market. The supplied reference does not document later acquisitions, current casino operations, a formal dissolution, or a successor organization. Barrick is therefore best described as a private Las Vegas gaming company with a documented historical operating presence, while its present operating status remains unconfirmed.
- 2005
Golden Nugget Laughlin deal abandoned
[1]The proposed Golden Nugget Laughlin acquisition expired without closing, and Landry’s Restaurants later acquired the property.
- 2005
Sale of Las Vegas property interests
[1]Barrick announced the sale of its interests in its first four acquired properties and approximately 40 additional Las Vegas properties to Tamares.
- 2004
Acquisition of four Las Vegas properties
[1]Barrick purchased and began operating the Gold Spike, Plaza, Las Vegas Club, and Western from Jackie Gaughan for $82 million.
- 2004
Expansion into additional casino hotels
[1]Barrick acquired the Queen of Hearts Hotel & Casino and the Nevada Hotel & Casino.
- 2004
Proposed Golden Nugget Laughlin purchase
[1]Barrick announced a proposed $31 million acquisition of Golden Nugget Laughlin, plus working capital, subject to a limited brand-use arrangement.
- 1993
Kansas City riverboat casino joint venture
[1]Barrick formed a joint venture with Station Casinos to develop a riverboat casino in Kansas City, Missouri.
Products and positioning
A private gaming and property company focused on acquiring and operating established casino hotels, particularly in Las Vegas.
Casino hotel
Gold Spike
The Gold Spike was one of the four Las Vegas properties Barrick acquired from Jackie Gaughan in March 2004 and began operating. It formed part of Barrick’s downtown-focused casino portfolio before the company announced the sale of its interest to Tamares in 2005.
Hotel and casino
Plaza
The Plaza was included in Barrick’s March 2004 acquisition from Jackie Gaughan. As a hotel-casino property, it represented one of the company’s principal Las Vegas operating assets during its short period of portfolio expansion. Barrick later announced the sale of its interest in the property to Tamares.
Casino hotel
Las Vegas Club
The Las Vegas Club was among the four properties Barrick purchased and operated beginning March 25, 2004. It was part of the downtown Las Vegas portfolio that Barrick later agreed to transfer, along with its other principal acquired properties, to Tamares.
Casino
The Western
The Western was acquired by Barrick from Jackie Gaughan in the March 2004 transaction. It was operated within Barrick’s Las Vegas portfolio until the company announced the sale of its interest to Tamares in 2005.
Hotel and casino
Queen of Hearts Hotel & Casino
Barrick acquired the Queen of Hearts Hotel & Casino in October 2004 as part of its expansion in the Las Vegas gaming market. The supplied reference does not provide further information about its facilities, branding, or subsequent ownership.
Hotel and casino
Nevada Hotel & Casino
The Nevada Hotel & Casino was acquired by Barrick in October 2004. It was one of the additional properties added during the company’s mid-2000s expansion, although the available material does not describe its operations or later disposition separately.
Brand decisions
2005
Disposition of Las Vegas property interestsM&ABackground
After its rapid 2004 expansion, Barrick announced a substantial reduction in its Las Vegas property holdings.
Action taken
The company announced the sale of its interests in the first four acquired properties and approximately 40 other Las Vegas properties to privately held Tamares.
Aftermath
The transaction substantially curtailed Barrick’s documented role as an operator of the named Las Vegas casino properties.
2004
Purchase of Jackie Gaughan’s Las Vegas propertiesM&ABackground
Barrick sought to build a Las Vegas casino portfolio by acquiring established properties from longtime operator Jackie Gaughan.
Action taken
It purchased and began operating the Gold Spike, Plaza, Las Vegas Club, and Western for $82 million.
Aftermath
Barrick later announced that it would sell its interests in these four properties to Tamares in 2005.
Purchase price. $82 million (March 25, 2004 transaction)
2004
Proposed acquisition of Golden Nugget LaughlinM&ABackground
Barrick attempted to expand beyond its existing Las Vegas holdings through an agreement to acquire Golden Nugget Laughlin.
Action taken
It announced a proposed purchase for $31 million plus working capital, with limited permission to use the Golden Nugget name for two years.
Aftermath
The agreement expired on May 31, 2005, without a completed acquisition. Landry’s Restaurants subsequently acquired the property.
Proposed purchase price. $31 million plus working capital (November 10, 2004 announcement)
Recent events
- 2005
Golden Nugget Laughlin acquisition agreement expires[1]
M&A
Barrick’s proposed acquisition of Golden Nugget Laughlin expired without a completed transaction; Landry’s Restaurants subsequently acquired the property as part of its Golden Nugget Las Vegas deal.
- 2005
Barrick announces sale of interests in Las Vegas properties to Tamares[1]
M&A
Barrick announced the sale of its interests in the four properties acquired in March 2004 and in approximately 40 additional Las Vegas properties to privately held Tamares.
- 2004
Barrick Gaming acquires and begins operating four Las Vegas properties[1]
M&A
Barrick Gaming purchased and began operating the Gold Spike, Plaza, Las Vegas Club, and Western from Jackie Gaughan in a transaction valued at $82 million.
- 2004
Barrick Gaming announces proposed Golden Nugget Laughlin acquisition[1]
M&A
The company announced a planned purchase of Golden Nugget Laughlin for $31 million plus working capital, with a temporary license to use the Golden Nugget name.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/barrick-gaming-corporation · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled