Exhibit 99.1

GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS RECORD 2017 FOURTH QUARTER NET REVENUE OF $184.3 MILLION,

NET LOSS OF $13.4 MILLION AND ADJUSTED EBITDA OF $29.0 MILLION

LAS VEGAS – March 15, 2018 – Golden Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:GDEN) (“Golden Entertainment” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017, as summarized below. 

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Blake L. Sartini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Entertainment, commented, “Organic financial growth in 2017 in all of our operations, combined with our significantly expanded business across Southern Nevada following our acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties, has positioned Golden Entertainment for continued growth in 2018. The addition of Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower, Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, Arizona Charlie’s Boulder, and the Aquarius Casino Resort has significantly scaled our operations in the Las Vegas Valley and Southern Nevada with leading assets which are complementary to our unique platform of casinos, taverns and route operations. Notably, since acquiring the American properties in October, we are seeing encouraging cross-play trends, with our tavern customers visiting the Stratosphere, Aquarius and Arizona Charlies’ locations in increasing numbers.

“Our strategic priorities for 2018 include the ongoing integration and synergy realization from the American acquisition, the introduction of a single loyalty card program across all of our operations, and the commencement of focused capital investments at Stratosphere that we expect will further establish the property as a unique destination for visitors to the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. Since completing the acquisition, our conviction has only grown stronger that targeted, return-focused investment in the Stratosphere will enhance our guests’ experiences and allow us to drive financial performance at the property. Importantly, our phased approach to this project, including further investment in the room product and the development of existing unused space within the property’s footprint, will minimize potential disruption to our current operations and allow us to maximize this iconic property’s potential.”

Stratosphere Redevelopment and 2018 Capital Plan

The Company’s master plan for the Stratosphere includes upgrading the existing room product, adding exciting new food and beverage outlets, creating attractive meeting space, upgrading the casino floor and refreshing the building’s exterior. Golden Entertainment expects to begin work on the redevelopment project in the second quarter of 2018 and, to minimize disruption to the Stratosphere’s current operations, intends to phase the construction over a three-year period ending in the summer of 2021.

Highlights of the Stratosphere three year redevelopment plan include:

Golden Entertainment anticipates that the total investment for the Stratosphere redevelopment plan will approximate $140 million, with approximately $32 million budgeted for 2018.

In addition, the Company is planning approximately $48 million of additional capital spending across the balance of its platform in 2018, inclusive of $20 million in maintenance capex. Other key capital projects for 2018 include:

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The Company expects that total capital expenditures for 2018 and in future periods will be funded by operating cash flow.

Mr. Sartini added, “Going forward, we remain confident that the health and economic vitality of the Las Vegas Valley and the surrounding Southern Nevada communities provide a tangible foundation for the long-term growth of our business. Billions of dollars of expected new investment in the greater Las Vegas area in large-scale gaming projects on the Strip as well as in non-gaming venues continue to support growth of the Las Vegas economy. In addition, the local community’s support for professional sports, reflected by continued sell-outs by the Golden Knights and a building anticipation for arrival of the Raiders, has brought new excitement and visitors to the market. These factors and others have us excited for the future as we deliver on our goal of further enhancing shareholder value.”

Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2017

Consolidated net revenues for the 2017 fourth quarter were $184.3 million, compared to $105.4 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase in net revenues was driven primarily by the inclusion of 73 days of operations of American in the fourth quarter as well as continued revenue growth across the Company’s existing casinos and distributed gaming operations. Net revenues for the Casino operations in the 2017 fourth quarter were $101.2 million compared to $24.1 million in the prior-year period, reflecting the contributions from the acquired American properties in the fourth quarter. Combined Net Revenues for the Casino operations for the fourth quarter were up 2.4% year-over-year on a same property basis. Net revenues for Golden’s Distributed Gaming business rose 2.1% over the prior-year period to $82.9 million.

For the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a net loss of $13.4 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to net income of $10.0 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. The year over year decline in net income was driven primarily by the inclusion in the 2017 fourth quarter of corporate and other costs associated with the Company’s acquisition of the American operations on October 20, 2017. Distributed Gaming net income for the 2017 fourth quarter increased 7.1% year-over-year and net income for the Casino operations in the 2017 fourth quarter grew 278% year-over-year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the 2017 fourth quarter was $29.0 million compared to $12.2 million for the prior-year period. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven primarily by contributions from the American casino assets for part of the quarter as well as continued growth at Rocky Gap and growth in the Nevada distributed gaming business. Adjusted EBITDA for the Distributed Gaming business for the 2017 fourth quarter declined 3.1% year-over-year while Adjusted EBITDA for our Casino operations for the 2017 fourth quarter grew 428.4% year-over-year. Combined Adjusted EBITDA for the Casino operations for the fourth quarter was up 9.9% year-over-year on a same property basis.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $91 million and total outstanding debt of approximately $1 billion. In January 2018, the Company raised approximately $25 million as part of a marketed equity offering. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Company’s $100 million revolving credit facility.

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Charles H. Protell, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Since completing the American Casinos & Entertainment Properties acquisition in the fourth quarter, we have realized approximately $14 million of our targeted $18 million in cost synergies with the balance expected to be achieved by the end of 2018. Our strong cash flow and healthy financial position will allow us to fund approximately $80 million in planned capital expenditures for 2018, and we also expect to reduce our net leverage ratio to between 4.5x-4.75x by year end. In addition, we remain active in evaluating strategic opportunities across both our casino and distributed gaming businesses that could further our goal of expanding the scale of our entertainment and gaming platform.”

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a webcast and conference call today, March 15, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the fourth quarter 2017 results. The conference call may be accessed live by dialing (844) 465-3054 or (480) 685-5227 for international callers and entering the passcode 6186739. A replay will be available beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on March 15, 2018 and may be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 for international callers; the passcode is 6186739. The replay will be available until March 18, 2018. The call will also be webcast live through the “Investors” section of the Company’s website, www.goldenent.com. A replay of the audio webcast will also be archived on the Company’s website, www.goldenent.com.

If you have questions about Golden Entertainment or are interested in conducting a conference call with Golden Entertainment management, please contact JCIR at (212) 835-8500 or gden@jcir.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “seek,” “should,” “think,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions, or they may use future dates. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding: the benefits of and realization of cost synergies from the American transaction; estimated future financial and operating results and future net leverage ratio; proposed future capital expenditures, investments and property improvements, including the Stratosphere redevelopment plan, and their associated timing, source of funding and cost; and the Company’s plans, strategic priorities, objectives, expectations, intentions, including with respect to its growth prospects and growth opportunities. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company’s business, the economy and other future conditions. These forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may change at any time, and readers are therefore cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the Company’s ability to realize the anticipated cost savings, synergies and other benefits of the American transaction and its other acquisitions, and integration risks relating to such transactions; changes in national, regional and local economic, political and market conditions; legislative and regulatory matters (including the cost of compliance or failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations); increases in gaming taxes and fees in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; litigation; increased competition; the Company’s ability to renew its distributed gaming contracts; reliance on key personnel (including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy and Financial Officer); the level of the Company’s indebtedness and the Company’s ability to comply with covenants in its debt instruments; terrorist incidents; natural disasters; severe weather conditions; the effects of environmental and structural building conditions; the effects of disruptions to the Company’s information technology and other systems and infrastructure; factors affecting the gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries generally; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including

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the “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA, Combined Net Revenues and Combined Adjusted EBITDA, which measures the Company believes are appropriate to provide meaningful comparison with, and to enhance an overall understanding of, the Company’s past financial performance and prospects for the future. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA and Combined Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding specific expenses and gains that the Company believes are not indicative of core operating results. Further, Adjusted EBITDA is a measure of operating performance used by management, as well as industry analysts, to evaluate operations and operating performance and is widely used in the gaming industry. Other companies in the gaming industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than the Company does.

Combined Net Revenues and Combined Adjusted EBITDA represent historical net revenues and Adjusted EBITDA of American (for periods prior to the American acquisition) and Golden on a combined basis, as if the American acquisition had occurred on the first day of the period presented. Such presentation does not conform to GAAP or the Securities and Exchange Commission rules for pro forma presentations; however, the Company has included these combined results because it believes they provide a meaningful comparison for the periods presented. All combined financial information is unaudited and does not include any pro forma adjustments to reflect the American acquisition and related transactions. The combined financial information has been prepared by the Company’s management for illustrative purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of what its results of operations, financial condition or other financial information would have been if the American acquisition and related transactions had occurred at the beginning of the period presented. In addition, the combined financial information does not reflect non-recurring charges incurred in connection with the American acquisition, nor any cost savings and synergies expected to result from the American acquisition (and associated costs to achieve such savings or synergies), nor any costs associated with severance, restructuring or integration activities resulting from the American acquisition.

The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and Combined Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) are provided in the financial information tables below. Additionally, a reconciliation of Combined Net Revenues to net revenues is provided in the financial information tables below.

The Company defines “Adjusted EBITDA” as earnings before interest and other non-operating income (expense), income taxes, depreciation and amortization, preopening expenses, acquisition and merger expenses, share-based compensation expenses, executive severance and sign-on bonuses, gain on revaluation of contingent consideration, class action litigation expenses, gain/loss on disposal of property and equipment or investments, and impairments and other gains and losses. Adjusted EBITDA for a particular segment or operation is Adjusted EBITDA before corporate overhead, which is not allocated to each segment or operation.

About Golden Entertainment, Inc.

Golden Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates gaming properties across two divisions – resort casino operations and distributed gaming. The Company operates approximately 16,000 slots, 114 table games, 5,160 hotel rooms,

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and provides jobs for more than 6,900 team members. Golden Entertainment owns eight resort casinos – seven in Southern Nevada and one in Maryland. Through its distributed gaming business in Nevada and Montana, Golden Entertainment operates slots at over 1,000 locations and owns nearly 60 branded taverns in Nevada. The Company is licensed in Illinois to operate video gaming terminals. Golden Entertainment is focused on maximizing the value of its portfolio by leveraging its scale, leadership position and proven management capabilities across its two divisions. For more information, visit www.goldenent.com.

Contacts

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Golden Entertainment, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

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Golden Entertainment, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

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Golden Entertainment, Inc.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss)

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Golden Entertainment, Inc.

Supplemental Combined Financial Information

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