Casino landlord Vici Properties owns big resort sites up and down the Strip, from Mandalay Bay to The Venetian.

Now the real estate investment firm is expanding its holdings in Southern Nevada with another $1 billion-plus deal.

Vici announced Thursday that it is buying The Strat and six other casino properties from Golden Entertainment for $1.16 billion and leasing them back to Golden founder Blake Sartini, who, at the same time, is acquiring the company he leads and taking it private .

John Payne, Vici’s president and chief operating officer, said in a news release that the company has sought a foothold in the Las Vegas locals casino market since the firm was launched, and that the properties from Golden have “sticky, durable customer bases.”

As part of the sale-leaseback, Vici is als

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