Caesars Entertainment and billionaire Tilman Fertitta have entered a phase of exclusive negotiations regarding an $18 billion acquisition proposal. The extended talks will focus on structuring the deal, which involves significant equity investment, new borrowing against Caesars' assets, and the assumption of existing debt. This development highlights the ongoing consolidation in the gaming industry and the financial strategies involved in large-scale acquisitions.
Caesars and Tilman Fertitta extend $18B acquisition talks By Alla Basentsyan April 22, 2026 Caesars Entertainment and billionaire Tilman Fertitta have moved to a period of exclusive talks over the $18 billion proposal to acquire Caesars. The company has extended the negotiation window, with the deal expected to include $2-3 billion in equity, $4-5 billion in new borrowing against Caesars’ assets, and the operators’ assumed $11 billion debt. Initially, it was expected that Tilman Fertitta would buy Caesars for $7 billion . Recently, Bloomberg revealed that the negotiations had slowed down after Fertitta’s father, Vic Fertitta, passed away on April 8, 2026. Vic Fertitta managed the Golden Greek and Pier 23, 2 Galveston restaurants, and had investments in Gulf Coast real estate. As the negotiations now continue to an exclusive phase, Fertitta is expected to buy Caesars for $32 per share, as the company would be merged with Fertitta Entertainment’s current businesses and create a bigger casino entity. The operator’s shares had been declining by more than 40% since 2025, but after the news of Fertitta’s interest in Caesars started spreading, the shares in the company increased by 2.1% to $27.80 as of April 21, 2026. Fertitta’s acquisition would beat Icahn Enterprises’ proposal, despite the company having accumulated a 9.78% stake in Caesars during 2019 and later pushing the operator to fully sell. Caesars Entertainment Alla Basentsyan Content Writer As a content writer at AffPapa, Alla focuses on daily coverage of iGaming news, writes in-depth articles on the most relevant topics of the sector, and presents insights from industry professionals through dedicated interviews. She combines her background in research with an engaging and informative approach to help readers stay up-to-date with everything that’s happening in global iGaming markets. Read Next Resorts World to open NYC’s first table games
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: affpapa.com
Caesars Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta
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Caesars Entertainment: Caesars Entertainment is a major gaming and entertainment company currently engaged in exclusive talks for an $18 billion acquisition deal.
Tilman Fertitta: Tilman Fertitta is a billionaire businessman currently in exclusive negotiations to acquire Caesars Entertainment.
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