Indigenous Gaming Partners and Pure Casino Entertainment have closed on their purchase of Gamehost.

The completion marks a rare instance of a First Nations-led group taking a publicly traded company private in Canada. The deal closed under a definitive arrangement agreement announced March 30, under which a subsidiary of Pure acquired all outstanding Gamehost shares for $13.65 cash per share. In a related transaction, VICI Properties acquired certain Gamehost real estate assets and amended its triple-net master lease agreement with Pure to include those properties. Proceeds from the real estate transaction totalled $200.6 million.

The acquisition expands IGP’s Alberta portfolio to seven casinos and three hotels. Added assets include Great Northern Casino in Grande Prairie, Rivers Casino and Entertainment Centre in Fort McMurray, Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, Service Plus Inns & Suites, and Encore Suites by Service Plus hotel properties in Grande Prairie.

IGP is a partnership between five Nova Scotia First Nations — Glooscap First Nation, Millbrook First Nation, Annapolis Valley First Nation, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati and Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation — and Sonco Gaming. Through Pure Casino Entertainment, the group already owned and operated casinos in Edmonton, Yellowhead, Calgary and Lethbridge.

The company said the acquisition “represents a rare instance of a First Nations-led group taking a publicly traded company private in Canada.”

With the addition of the former Gamehost assets, Pure Casino Entertainment said it has further strengthened its position as Alberta’s largest casino operator.

Pictured: Deerfoot Inn and Casino in Calgary.

Photo: Pure Casino Entertainment