Golden Entertainment (GDEN) CEO receives major RSU grants and withholds shares for taxes

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Golden Entertainment, Inc. Chairman and CEO Blake L. Sartini reported several equity compensation transactions. On February 27, 2026, he received two grants of restricted stock units totaling 130,424 units, including time-based RSUs and shares earned under prior performance stock units. Multiple RSU awards vested and were converted into common stock, increasing his directly held common shares to 271,413, while 35,720 common shares were withheld at $28.90 per share to cover tax obligations. An additional 5,644,788 common shares are held indirectly through the Blake L. and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust.

Insights

Equity compensation analyst

CEO receives large RSU grants and nets new shares after vesting, with part withheld for taxes.

Blake Sartini recorded two new restricted stock unit awards of 68,367 and 62,057 units on February 27, 2026. Footnotes state these include time-based RSUs and shares earned under performance stock units granted on March 14, 2025, all convertible one-for-one into common stock.

Several existing RSU awards vested and were exercised into common stock via code M transactions, while a code F transaction disposed of 35,720 shares at $28.90 solely to satisfy tax withholding. After these moves, he directly owns 271,413 common shares and the family trust holds 5,644,788 shares. These are routine compensation and vesting events, so the information is broadly neutral for investors.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

SARTINI BLAKE L

(Last) (First) (Middle)

6595 S. JONES BLVD.

(Street)

LAS VEGAS NV 89118

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT, INC. [ GDEN ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chairman and CEO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/27/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/27/2026		M		15,229	A	(1)	231,645	D
Common Stock	02/27/2026		M		31,655	A	(1)	263,300	D
Common Stock	02/27/2026		M		19,696	A	(1)	282,996	D
Common Stock	02/27/2026		M		24,137	A	(1)	307,133	D
Common Stock	02/27/2026		F		35,720(2)	D	$28.9	271,413	D
Common Stock(3)								5,644,788	I	By Trust

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units	(4)	02/27/2026		A		68,367		(5)	(5)	Common Stock	68,367	$0	68,367	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)	02/27/2026		A		62,057		(6)	(6)	Common Stock	62,057	$0	62,057(7)	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)	02/27/2026		M			15,229	(8)	(8)	Common Stock	15,229	$0	0	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)	02/27/2026		M			31,655	(8)	(8)	Common Stock	31,655	$0	0	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)	02/27/2026		M			19,696	(8)	(8)	Common Stock	19,696	$0	19,696	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)	02/27/2026		M			24,137	(8)	(8)	Common Stock	24,137	$0	48,275(7)	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Restricted stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.

2. In accordance with the recipient's restricted stock unit award agreements, these shares were withheld by Golden Entertainment, Inc. to satisfy minimum statutory income tax withholding obligations upon vesting of restricted stock units.

3. Shares are owned directly by The Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust, of which Blake Sartini and Delise Sartini are co-trustees.

4. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock.

5. Represents time-based RSUs. RSUs that have not been forfeited shall vest as to one-third on March 14, 2027, one-third on March 14, 2028 and one-third on March 14, 2029.

6. Represents shares "earned " under PSUs granted on March 14, 2025. PSUs that have not been forfeited shall vest on March 14, 2028.

7. Includes additional shares acquired since the date of the reporting person's last report through the issuance of a dividend equivalent on the time-based RSUs and PSUs granted on March 14, 2025. Additional shares acquired through the dividend equivalent will follow the vesting schedule and conditions of the original grants.

8. Represents time-based restricted stock units that vested.

Remarks:

	/s/Charles H. Protell, attorney-in-fact	02/27/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
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FAQ

What insider transactions did Golden Entertainment (GDEN) report for Blake Sartini?

Blake Sartini reported new equity awards and vesting activity. He received two RSU grants totaling 130,424 units, several prior RSU awards vested into common stock, and 35,720 common shares were withheld at $28.90 per share to cover tax obligations.

How many Golden Entertainment (GDEN) RSUs were granted to Blake Sartini?

Sartini was granted 68,367 time-based RSUs and 62,057 RSUs earned under performance stock units, for a total of 130,424 units. Each unit represents a contingent right to receive one Golden Entertainment common share according to the applicable vesting schedules.

What happened to Blake Sartini’s vested RSUs in this Golden Entertainment (GDEN) Form 4?

Previously granted restricted stock units vested and were exercised into Golden Entertainment common stock using code M transactions. These conversions increased his direct common share holdings while reducing related RSU balances as they were settled one-for-one into shares.

Why were 35,720 Golden Entertainment (GDEN) shares disposed of in this filing?

The 35,720 Golden Entertainment common shares were withheld at $28.90 per share to satisfy minimum statutory income tax withholding obligations upon RSU vesting. This code F disposition reflects tax settlement, not an open-market sale transaction by the CEO.

How many Golden Entertainment (GDEN) shares does Blake Sartini own after these transactions?

Following the reported transactions, Sartini directly owns 271,413 Golden Entertainment common shares. In addition, 5,644,788 common shares are owned indirectly through The Blake L. Sartini and Delise F. Sartini Family Trust, where he and Delise Sartini serve as co-trustees.

What are the vesting schedules for Blake Sartini’s new Golden Entertainment (GDEN) RSUs?

The time-based RSUs vest one-third on March 14, 2027, one-third on March 14, 2028, and one-third on March 14, 2029. Performance stock units earned from the March 14, 2025 grant will vest on March 14, 2028 if they are not forfeited under their terms.