PT’s Taverns introduced its first Giant Keno Progressive jackpot yesterday across locations in southern Nevada. Golden Entertainment operates the tavern chain after buying the brand back in 2002 under its previous Golden Gaming name. The company’s COO Blake Sartini II called the launch “our biggest step yet” for the tavern experience.
The promotion starts with a $100,000 jackpot that automatically pays out when it hits $200,000. That makes it the largest keno progressive ever offered in Nevada’s tavern setting. Two nine-spot jackpots already paid out $17,000 and $44,000 to early winners.
Why This Progressive Matters for Tavern Gaming
The jackpot brings Strip-level gaming action to neighborhood bars. PT’s typically offers smaller-scale gaming compared to major casinos, but this promotion changes that equation. Players can now chase six-figure payouts without leaving their local tavern.
Golden Entertainment links over 820 video poker and keno machines across the network. That’s more connected games than any previous restricted gaming setup in Nevada. The scale creates faster jackpot growth and better odds of hitting major payouts.
Fifty locations already have the promotion live. All 65 PT’s Taverns properties will participate by November 1. Players must bet at least $1 on any 10-spot game at marked bartop machines to qualify for the progressive.
What Changed in PT’s Gaming Strategy
The company historically focused on standard tavern offerings without major progressives. This promotion represents a shift toward bigger-stakes entertainment. PT’s competes with both traditional casinos and other tavern operators for local players.
Golden Entertainment faces some revenue pressure. The operator reported $163.6 million in Q2 2025 revenue, down 2.2% from the previous year. But net income jumped 643.5% to $4.6 million during the same period. Nevada Casino Resorts generated $98.2 million of that total, though that segment dropped 2.9% year over year.
The company reports Q3 2025 results on November 6. Investors will watch whether the new keno promotion impacts tavern performance.
How Progressive Gaming Reshapes Tavern Competition
Other tavern operators now face pressure to match PT’s jackpot offerings. A $200,000 payout draws players away from competitors with standard games. Bars without progressive options lose appeal when customers can chase life-changing money down the street.
The linked network creates marketing advantages too. PT’s can promote one big jackpot instead of individual machine payouts. That unified message reaches more potential players across southern Nevada’s competitive tavern market.
Casino resorts might also notice the impact. Some local players who’d drive to the Strip for big progressives can now stay closer to home. PT’s essentially brought resort-style keno to neighborhood locations, changing where regular players spend their gaming budgets.
