Keith Smith

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Boyd Gaming

Search every verified Keith Smith interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a September 2018 interview, Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith discussed the company's performance and its strategy for sports betting. Smith stated that the company reported its 13th consecutive quarter of profit or EBITDA growth in its locals market, which he attributed to the strength of the Las Vegas economy. He noted that the region had surpassed one million employed residents and had approximately $14 billion in construction projects underway. Smith explained that Boyd Gaming's properties are located off the Las Vegas Strip and primarily serve local residents. Smith described sports betting as a "very exciting growth opportunity" for the industry and said Boyd Gaming is "uniquely positioned" due to its 40 years of experience operating sportsbooks in Nevada. He stated that the company operated in seven states at the time and expected to operate in ten by the end of the year, with pending acquisitions. Smith highlighted a strategic partnership with FanDuel, which he said would leverage FanDuel's brand and technology, and noted that FanDuel had recently announced a transaction with Paddy Power Betfair. He characterized the combination of the three companies as an "unrivaled entity" for expanding sports betting in the U.S. When asked about potential market saturation, Smith expressed confidence, comparing the expansion of sports betting to the historical spread of commercial casinos to more than 40 states, and said introducing the product to more people would continue to grow the business.