Churchill Downs to Sell Nine Regional Casinos
The company announced plans on July 29, 2026, to divest its regional casino portfolio, which it currently owns in its entirety.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Gambling
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Churchill Downs initiated a formal sales process for nine of its regional casino properties on July 29, 2026. The company intends to sell the venues either individually or in small groups as part of a portfolio divestiture.
Why it matters
The move represents a significant shift for the operator, as the company owns both the casino operations and the underlying real estate for all nine impacted locations.
Churchill Downs is looking to divest nine regional properties, including Calder Casino in Florida, Terre Haute Casino in Indiana, and del Lago in New York. The sale also encompasses Oxford Casino in Maine, Ocean Downs in Maryland, and Presque Isle in Pennsylvania.
The players
Churchill Downs
This is a gaming and horse racing company known for owning and operating various casino properties and the historic Kentucky Derby racetrack.
The details
The portfolio for sale also includes Hard Rock Casino in Iowa along with Harlow's Casino and Riverwalk Casino in Mississippi. Churchill Downs retains full ownership of the real estate at all of these locations, which will be included in the transaction.
Timeline
July 29, 2026: Churchill Downs announced the intention to sell nine regional casinos.
October 28, 2026: The company is scheduled to release its third-quarter update.
Late 2026: A potential transaction announcement is expected.
Culture Shift
This divestiture reflects a broader trend of operators evaluating their regional portfolios to streamline capital and focus on core assets. This strategy contrasts with firms like Monarch that maintain specific operational focuses in their own casino hotel holdings.
Customers visiting these regional casinos should not expect immediate operational changes as the sale process continues. While the ownership of the properties and operations may shift, the venues remain open for business as usual for the public.
The takeaway
Investors and patrons should monitor the company's third-quarter update for signs of progress regarding these potential sales. Management is currently balancing the sale of individual assets against the appeal of selling in small groups to attract different types of buyers.
What happens next
Churchill Downs is expected to provide an update on the progress of the sales process during its third-quarter financial report scheduled for October 28, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the gaming industry, visit Gambling.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Casino.
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