J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer said gaming stocks fell 7% in August, while the S&P 500 rose 3%. He cited several possible factors, including the Iran conflict, higher rates and sector uncertainty; Churchill Downs gained 3%, while Penn Entertainment fell 17%.
The figures and analyst commentary inform investors assessing gaming-sector performance and company-specific exposure.
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
Quarter ended 30 September 2026
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Gaming & Leisure Properties chief executive Peter Carlino said on the company’s 31 July second-quarter earnings call that regional gaming demand remained strong. GLPI executives said they had made no commitments to invest in infrastructure for Bally’s Las Vegas and were noncommittal about potential deals linked to other casino assets.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming said the state’s six casinos generated $156,848,176 from slots and table games in June 2026, down 2.4% from a year earlier. State contributions totalled $67,902,499 for the month, while revenue for fiscal 2026 reached $1,931,544,719, down 1.7% year on year.
MGM Resorts and People Inc. have amended their voting agreement, with People Inc. to vote its MGM shares in line with the MGM board’s recommendation in a potential change-of-control transaction. CreditSights said the change could give the board more flexibility, while MGM Resorts has said it is not discussing a transaction with Diller’s media consortium; no sale is currently under discussion.
A revised voting arrangement linking MGM Resorts International with Barry Diller’s People Inc. may ease a future sale for the casino operator. Under the revised terms, the media company would commit its shares in line with what the MGM board recommends. A research firm judged that the threat of a takeover has eased since the agreement was changed.
CreditSights said MGM China could face event risk if parent MGM Resorts International changes ownership, while describing takeover overhang as less acute. MGM Resorts owns 56% of MGM China, and the companies are not currently in transaction talks, according to the report.
CreditSights noted that MGM China may face "event risk" should control of its Las Vegas-based parent change hands. The firm described takeover overhang risk as "less acute," yet said the revised voting agreement with Diller suggests MGM Resorts might be open to a future sale.
MGM Resorts said on 29 October 2026 that takeover discussions with its largest shareholder, People Inc., had ended after People withdrew its offer of more than $18 billion in September. CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the parties had agreed on a price, but People could not assemble a syndicate that met its objectives; MGM said no transaction is currently under consideration.