A report in Business Week Online is saying Boyd Gaming may be in position to receive the next big buy-out offer. According to Lawrence Haverty of Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust, Boyd Gaming may be the target of Carl Icahn, owner of the Stratosphere and the two Arizona Charlie's casinos. Haverty belives the major appeal Boyd Gaming has for Icahn is the real estate holdings in Las Vegas.

Icahn already owns a major piece of the Boulder Strip with Arizona Charlie's so adding the Boyd acreage would make him the big dog of the Boulder Strip. The Boyd's Echelon Place acreage on the Las Vegas Strip could finally provide Icahn the presence to be a major Vegas player. Of course this is all based on Lawrence Haverty's thoughts about the short term future of Las Vegas. FYI, he's the guy that forecast the coming offers for Harrah's, Aztar, and Tribune months before they became public.