-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LaOHnHJ1CKhWaDGmSTlhjtHLf8OiojKO2WLeq2qGvHuMrMjgbRcpIIl6IVN4FfML
 Y2khmXvdFOxGxySSs/ajuw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001186747-09-000001.txt : 20090106
<SEC-HEADER>0001186747-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090106150332
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001186747-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH KEITH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186757

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12882
		FILM NUMBER:		09509647

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOYD GAMING CORP
		STREET 2:		2950 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7027927200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOYD GAMING CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906553
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS AMUSEMENT & RECREATION [7990]
		IRS NUMBER:				880242733
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3883 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		NINTH FLOOR
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89169
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7027927200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3883 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		NINTH FLOOR
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89169

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BOYD GROUP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941130
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906553</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOYD GAMING CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BYD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186757</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH KEITH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3883 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NINTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAS VEGAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>89169</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Career Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Career Restricted Stock Units were granted to the Reporting Person for no consideration pursuant to the Issuer's Career Shares Program under its 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.  Each Career Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Issuer common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Career Restricted Stock Units will be paid out in shares of Issuer common stock at the time of retirement based upon the Reporting Person's/grantee's attained age and years of continuous service at the time of retirement.  To receive any payout under the Career Shares Program, grantees must be at least 60 years old and must have been continually employed by the Issuer for a minimum of 15 years.  Retirement after 15 years of service will entitle a grantee to 50 percent of his or her Career Restricted Stock Units.  This increases to 75 percent after 20 years and 100 percent following 25 years of employment.  In the event of grantee's death or permanent disability, or following a change in control of Issuer, the grantee will be deemed to have attained age 60 and the Career Restricted Stock Units will immediately vest and convert into shares of Issuer common stock based on the grantee's years of continuous service through the date of death, termination resulting from permanent disab
ility or the change in control, as applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Brian A. Larson, Attorney-in-Fact for Keith Smith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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