First Gold Hotel & Gaming

What First Gold Hotel & Gaming does

First Gold Hotel & Gaming (commercially branded as First Gold Gaming Resort) is a privately held, integrated gaming resort and hotel operator headquartered at 270 Main Street in Deadwood, South Dakota. Founded in 1989 and operating for over 34 years, the company runs approximately nine to ten 24-hour casino rooms populated with slot machines, a hotel under its own brand, and an adjacent Travelodge by Wyndham franchise at 250 Main Street. On-site amenities include the Horseshoe Restaurant (full-service all-day dining featuring USDA Choice Prime Rib), a 24-hour gift shop, the Gold Club tiered loyalty program, event venues totaling roughly 4,800 sq ft, and the annually hosted Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally at the neighboring Deadwood Event Complex.

The business generates revenue through four primary streams: usage-based casino play, hotel room nights under both its own brand and the Travelodge franchise, transaction-based food and beverage sales, and packaged event offerings. Commercial pricing is largely transactional and quote-based for rooms, with disclosed price points for restaurant specials ($7.95-$12.95), concert getaway packages ($190-$285), slot tournament entry fees ($5-$10 for loyalty members), and the D3WR Stay-Ride-Play package at $129 per night. Distribution is direct (walk-in, phone reservations, website booking via Windsurfer CRS) supplemented by Wyndham's global booking and rewards platform for the Travelodge inventory and a bundled partnership with Deadwood Mountain Grand for concert packages.

Customer segments are broad and consumer-led, including gaming enthusiasts, leisure travelers visiting the Deadwood Historic District, group tour operators (a 34+ year channel), concert and event attendees, and trike/motorcycle enthusiasts drawn to the D3WR rally. Marketing operates through the company website, Constant Contact email newsletters, a Facebook page, local event sponsorships, and an 811-review Google presence. The company is privately owned with no disclosed parent, no funding rounds, and a lean 21-employee headcount, while undertaking a multi-phase renovation in 2025 covering the Horseshoe Restaurant, exterior, and a Phase 3 casino refresh scheduled for fall.

Name

First Gold Hotel & Gaming

Legal name

First Gold Gaming Resort

Website

https://firstgold.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Gold Hotel & Gaming is a privately held, integrated gaming resort and hotel in Deadwood, South Dakota, operating since 1989 with 24-hour casino rooms, hotel rooms (including a Travelodge by Wyndham franchise), the Horseshoe Restaurant, event venues, and an annual trike rally. It serves leisure travelers, gaming enthusiasts, group tour operators, and event attendees in the Black Hills region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casino & Resort Hospitality

NAICS

Casino Hotels (721120)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Casino Resorts (THAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Integrated Casino Resorts (Casino + Hotel/Entertainment) (MPAEAAAA)

Keywords

• Casino gaming
• Hotel accommodations
• Resort hospitality
• Slot machines
• Entertainment events

Headquarters

HQ city

Deadwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Gaming/Casino Operations: The resort operates multiple casino floors (described as nine to ten casino rooms) featuring slot machines including popular titles like Coyote Moon, Cats, Wolf Run, Planet Moolah, Kong, Huff and Triple Puff. Gaming is available 24 hours a day.
2. Hotel Accommodations: The resort offers hotel rooms under two brands: First Gold Gaming Hotel and Resort, and Travelodge by Wyndham. Room types include 1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds, 1 Queen Suite with Sofa Sleeper and Kitchen, with amenities including refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave. Free on-site covered parking and electric vehicle charging stations available.
3. Food & Beverage: The Horseshoe Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with all-day breakfast. Menu features USDA Choice Prime Rib and daily specials. Restaurant hours are Sunday-Thursday 7am-8pm, Friday-Saturday 7am-9:30pm. A gift shop sells South Dakota, Deadwood and First Gold apparel as well as drinks, snacks, and sundries.
4. Concert & Event Packages: Concert getaway packages include one night lodging, 2 tickets to concerts at Deadwood Mountain Grand, 2 breakfast entrees, $20 promo play per person, and round-trip transportation. Package prices range from $190-$285 depending on the event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Gold Hotel & Gaming operates a single integrated gaming resort in Deadwood, South Dakota, combining 24-hour slot machine casino play across 9–10 casino rooms with hotel accommodations (both directly operated rooms and an adjacent Travelodge by Wyndham), the on-site Horseshoe Restaurant, banquet/event venues, a tiered Gold Club player loyalty program, and packaged entertainment such as concert getaways and the annual Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally. Revenue is generated from on-premise gaming, room nights, food and beverage, and group/event bookings targeted at leisure travelers, gaming enthusiasts, tour operators and event planners.

Product overview

First Gold Hotel & Gaming operates as a unified gaming resort destination in Deadwood, South Dakota. The core offering centers on the First Gold Gaming Resort, which combines casino gaming with hotel accommodations and dining. The resort features an around-the-clock casino with slot machines and tournaments, hotel rooms and suites (including both First Gold's own rooms and a Travelodge by Wyndham partnership), the Horseshoe Restaurant for all-day dining, and event venues for meetings and banquets. Supporting offerings include the Gold Club Rewards loyalty program with tiered membership, a gift shop, live entertainment coordination, concert getaway packages, and the annual Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally event. The property has operated for over 34 years and is named for its proximity to the original gold discovery site in Deadwood Gulch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gold Club: Rewards program with membership tiers including Gold Club Card, 24 Karat Club Black Card, and Royal Club Red Card, offering cash back, discounts, and promotional play benefits.
• Horseshoe Restaurant
• Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally (D3WR)

Products and services

• First Gold Gaming Resort Full-service gaming resort featuring a 24-hour casino with slot machines, hotel accommodations, and on-site dining, located in Deadwood, South Dakota near the historic gold discovery site.
• Casino Gaming 24-hour casino gaming across 9–10 casino rooms featuring slot machines (titles including Coyote Moon, Cats, Wolf Run, Planet Moolah, Kong, Huff and Triple Puff), slot tournaments with $2,000 cash prize packages, and promotional giveaways such as hot seat drawings.
• Hotel Rooms & Suites Hotel accommodations including deluxe rooms and suites at First Gold Gaming Resort (King, Queen, Queen Suite with Sofa Sleeper and Kitchen), and Travelodge by Wyndham at 250 Main Street, with free Wi-Fi, covered parking, EV charging and Wyndham Rewards eligibility.
• Horseshoe Restaurant On-site full-service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with all-day breakfast and USDA Choice Prime Rib, plus daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials. Open Sunday-Thursday 7am-8pm and Friday-Saturday 7am-9:30pm.
• Meetings & Events Event and banquet venues for weddings, corporate events and celebrations, including a 1,440 sq ft First Gold Banquet area for intimate events and a 3,366 sq ft Terrace Ballroom for formal banquets.
• Entertainment Coordination Live entertainment programming coordination including concerts, local events and seasonal festivals in Deadwood, with links to nearby venues such as Deadwood Mountain Grand.
• Concert Getaway Packages All-inclusive concert packages priced $190–$285 that bundle one night lodging, 2 tickets to a Deadwood Mountain Grand show, 2 breakfast entrees at the Horseshoe Restaurant, $20 promo play per person and round-trip transportation.
• Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally (D3WR) Annual multi-day three-wheeled vehicle rally hosted at the Deadwood Event Complex since 2015, with guided rides, vendors, social events, $50 per-person registration (swag bag, banquet dinner, event booklet) and a Stay-Ride-Play hotel package at $129 per night.
• Gift Shop On-site souvenir shop selling South Dakota, Deadwood and First Gold apparel, drinks, snacks and sundries, open 24 hours.
• Gold Club Rewards Program Player rewards program with three membership tiers — Gold Card, 24 Karat Club Black Card and Royal Club Red Card — offering cash back, discounts, promotional play and tiered slot tournament entry ($10 / $5 / Free).
• Tour Operator Group Services Dedicated group tour booking and coordination service for tour operators, with the resort having served group tours for over 34 years via sales line 800-274-1876 Ext. 1106 and [email protected].

Quantifiable outcome

• 811 Google reviews demonstrate established customer base and brand recognition in Deadwood gaming resort market
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deadwood Event Complex (Days of '76 Arena)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally (D3WR) has been hosted at the Deadwood Event Complex since 2015, located at 15 76 Drive across from First Gold Gaming Resort. The venue serves as rally headquarters with vendor spaces, trike parking, and registration.
• Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (Travelodge)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravelodge by Wyndham operates at 250 Main Street, adjacent to First Gold Gaming Resort. This is a franchise relationship where Wyndham provides the brand, booking systems (WyndhamHotels.com), and rewards program (Wyndham Rewards) while First Gold operates the property. The location is listed separately in reservation systems.
• Deadwood Mountain GrandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcert getaway packages include 2 tickets to shows at Deadwood Mountain Grand, with round-trip shuttle transportation provided from First Gold properties. Packages include lodging, breakfast, and promo play.
• Deadwood History, Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Gold collaborates with Deadwood History, Inc. (Adams Museum Collection) to feature historic photos and prospectors of the month, celebrating the Homestake Mining Company and Deadwood gold rush heritage.
• Deadwood Historical SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for historic photo features showcasing local heritage including Homestake Mining Company, locomotive history, and Deadwood gold rush stories.
• Black Hills Area Convention & Visitors BureauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDeadwood Chamber website (deadwood.com) referenced for event listings and tourism information, with mutual promotion of events and attractions.
• Deadwood TrolleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDeadwood Trolley stop located in front of First Gold Gaming Resort. Trolley provides transportation to downtown Deadwood for $2 per person or one Trolley Token. Special schedules during events like D3WR.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hampton Inn Deadwood at Four Aces Casino: Hampton Inn branded hotel with attached Four Aces Casino in Deadwood — comparable hotel + gaming integrated model with national-brand distribution.
• Cadillac Jack's Gaming Resort: Casino hotel directly located in Deadwood, SD, offering slot gaming, hotel rooms, dining, and event packages — operates in the same micro-market with comparable integrated resort model.
• Silverado Franklin Historic Hotel & Gaming Complex: Historic Deadwood property combining hotel, casino gaming, and dining — competes for the same heritage-tourist and gaming customer segments.
• Deadwood Mountain Grand: Deadwood entertainment/casino complex and First Gold's concert package partner — same market, overlapping casino/entertainment offerings and shared customer base.
• Tin Lizzie Gaming Resort: Deadwood-based casino hotel with slots, lodging, and F&B, competing head-to-head for the same gaming/tourism customer base in the Deadwood market.
• Gold Dust Casino & Hotel: Boutique casino hotel on Main Street Deadwood featuring slots, hotel rooms, and bar/dining — directly comparable integrated offering.
• Mineral Palace Hotel & Gaming: Historic Deadwood casino hotel offering gaming, lodging, and dining to leisure travelers in the same micro-market.
• The Lodge at Deadwood Gaming Resort: Casino hotel located in Deadwood offering gaming, hotel rooms, and event space — directly comparable in scale, product mix, and customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Full House Resorts: Public regional gaming operator running small/mid-market casino-resort properties across multiple U.S. states — broader incumbent in regional integrated resort space.
• Affinity Gaming: Multi-property regional gaming operator with casino-resort portfolio — broader incumbent relevant for benchmarking operating model, scale, and capex patterns in small-market gaming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstGoldHotelGaming
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-gold-hotel-&-gaming

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Gold Hotel & Gaming