1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.1

                             BOYD GAMING CORPORATION

                                  $250,000,000
                    9.50% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007

                             REGISTRATION AGREEMENT


                                                      New York, New York
                                                           July 17, 1997

To:   SALOMON BROTHERS INC
      UBS SECURITIES LLC
      CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.

In care of:

Salomon Brothers Inc
Seven World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048


Ladies and Gentlemen:

            Boyd Gaming Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (the "Purchasers"), upon the
terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated the date hereof (the "Purchase
Agreement"), $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9.50% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Notes") (the "Initial Placement"). As an
inducement to the Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and in
satisfaction of a condition to your obligations thereunder, the Company agrees
with you, (i) for your benefit and the benefit of the other Purchasers and (ii)
for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities (including
you and the other Purchasers) (each of the foregoing a "Holder" and together the
"Holders"), as follows:

            1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the
following meanings:

            "Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

            "Affiliate" of any specified person means any other person which,
directly or indirectly, is in control


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of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person.
For purposes of this definition, control of a person means the power, direct or
indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such person whether by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

            "Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

            "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

            "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

            "Exchange Offer Registration Period" means the 180-day period
following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any
period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

            "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Act with respect to
the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case
including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all
material incorporated by reference therein.

            "Exchanging Dealer" means any Holder (which may include the
Purchasers) which is a broker-dealer, electing to exchange Securities acquired
for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, for New Securities.

            "Final Memorandum" has the meaning set forth in
the Purchase Agreement.

            "Holder" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.

            "Holders' Counsel" has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.

            "Indenture" means the Indenture relating to the Securities and the
New Securities dated as of July 22, 1997, between the Company and State Street
Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time
in accordance with the terms thereof.


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            "Initial Placement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.

            "Majority Holders" means the Holders of a majority of the aggregate
principal amount of securities registered under a Registration Statement.

            "Managing Underwriters" means the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.

            "New Securities" means debt securities of the Company identical in
all material respects to the Securities (except that the cash interest and
interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions will be modified
or eliminated, as appropriate), to be issued under the Indenture.

            "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities, covered by such
Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements to the Prospectus,
including post-effective amendments.

            "Registered Exchange Offer" means the proposed offer to the Holders
to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Securities, a like
principal amount of the New Securities.

            "Registrable Securities" has the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a).

            "Registration Statement" means any Exchange Offer Registration
Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or
the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments,
in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto
and all material incorporated by reference therein.

            "Securities" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

            "Shelf Registration" means a registration effected pursuant to
Section 3 hereof.


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            "Shelf Registration Period" has the meaning set forth in Section
3(b) hereof.

            "Shelf Registration Statement" means a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which
covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an
appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Act, or any similar rule that may be
adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the
Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated
by reference therein.

            "Trustee" means the trustee with respect to the Securities and the
New Securities under the Indenture.

            "Underwriter" means any underwriter of Securities in connection with
an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

            2. Registered Exchange Offer; Resales of New Securities by
Exchanging Dealers; Private Exchange. (a) The Company shall prepare and, not
later than 60 days after the date of the original issuance of the Notes, shall
file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect
to the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company shall use its best efforts to
cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the
Act within 150 days after the date of the original issuance of the Notes.

            (b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it
being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder
electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is
not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Act, acquires the New
Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the New
Securities) to trade such New Securities from and after their receipt without
any limitations or restrictions under the Act and without material restrictions
under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of
the United States.


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            (c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company
shall:

            (i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
      Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter
      of transmittal and related documents;

            (ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30
      days and not more than 45 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to
      the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law);

            (iii) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered
      Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
      New York; and

            (iv) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.

            (d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered
Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

            (i) accept for exchange all Securities validly tendered and not
      validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

            (ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities so
      accepted for exchange; and

            (iii) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each
      Holder of Securities New Securities equal in principal amount to the
      Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

            (e) The Purchasers and the Company acknowledge that, pursuant to
current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Act, and
in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, each Exchanging Dealer is
required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with a sale of any New Securities
received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer in
exchange for Securities acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities. Accordingly, the Company
shall:

            (i) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover
      of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the
      forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section setting
      forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C hereto in the underwriting
      or plan of distribution


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      section of the Prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer
      Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal
      delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; and

            (ii) use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration
      Statement continuously effective under the Act during the Exchange Offer
      Registration Period for delivery by Exchanging Dealers in connection with
      sales of New Securities received pursuant to the Registered Exchange
      Offer, as contemplated by Section 4(h) below.

            (f) In the event that any Purchaser determines that it is not
eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the
exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the
request of such Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to such Purchaser
or the party purchasing New Securities registered under a Shelf Registration
Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such Purchaser, in exchange
for such Securities, a like principal amount of New Securities. The Company
shall seek to cause the CUSIP service bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for
such New Securities as for New Securities issued pursuant to the Registered
Exchange Offer.

            3. Shelf Registration. If, (i) because of any change in law or
applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission's staff, the Company
determine upon advice of its outside counsel that they are not permitted to
effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof, or
(ii) if for any other reason the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not
declared effective within 150 days after the Closing Date or the Registered
Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days after the Closing Date, or
(iii) if any Purchaser so requests with respect to Securities held by it
following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, (iv) any Holder (other
than a Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange
Offer or (v) in the case of any Purchaser that participates in the Registered
Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such
Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable New Securities in exchange for
Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood
that, for purposes of this Section 3, (x) the requirement that a Purchaser
deliver a Prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 and/or 508
of Regulation S-K under the Act in connection with sales of New Securities
acquired in exchange for such Securities shall result in such New Securities
being not "freely tradeable" but (y) the requirement that an


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Exchanging Dealer deliver a Prospectus in connection with sales of New
Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities
shall not result in such New Securities being not "freely tradeable"), the
following provisions shall apply:

            (a) The Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event
not more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 3)
file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to
be declared effective under the Act a Shelf Registration Statement relating to
the offer and sale of the Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, by
the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution
elected by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement (such
Securities or New Securities, as applicable, to be sold by Holders under such
Shelf Registration Statement being referred to herein as "Registrable
Securities"); provided, that with respect to New Securities received by a
Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold
allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current interpretations by the
Commission's staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement containing the information required by Regulation S-K
Items 507 and/or 508, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under
this paragraph (a) with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and
governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

            (b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf
Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the Prospectus
forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years from the
date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission
(or until one year after such effective date if such Shelf Registration
Statement is filed at the request of a Purchaser) or such shorter period that
will terminate when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered
by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the "Shelf
Registration Period"). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its best
efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite
period if any of them voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders
of securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such securities
during that period, unless (i) such action is required by applicable law or (ii)
such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons


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(not including avoidance of the Company's obligations hereunder), including the
acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company promptly thereafter
complies with the requirements of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.

            4. Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf
Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer
Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply:

            (a) The Company shall furnish to you, prior to the filing thereof
      with the Commission, a copy of any Shelf Registration Statement and any
      Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each
      amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein and
      shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed
      with the Commission, such comments as you may reasonably and timely
      propose.

            (b) The Company shall ensure that (i) any Registration Statement and
      any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any
      amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the
      Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Registration
      Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective,
      contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
      fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
      therein not misleading and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any
      Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement to such
      Prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or
      omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements,
      in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
      misleading.

            (c) (1) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
      Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby, and, if
      requested by you or any such Holder, confirm such advice in writing:

                        (i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment
            thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration
            Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become
            effective; and

                        (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or
            supplements to the Registration


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            Statement or the Prospectus included therein or for additional
            information.

            (2) The Company shall advise you and, in the case of a Shelf
      Registration Statement, the Holders of securities covered thereby, and, in
      the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Exchanging
      Dealer which has provided in writing to the Company a telephone or
      facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or any
      such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, confirm such advice in writing:

                        (i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
            suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
            initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

                        (ii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification
            with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
            securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the
            initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

                        (iii) of the happening of any event that requires the
            making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the
            Prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not
            misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be
            stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
            case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under
            which they were made) not misleading (which advice shall be
            accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus
            until the requisite changes have been made).

            (d) The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal
      of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement at
      the earliest possible time.

            (e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of securities included
      within the coverage of any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge,
      at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any
      post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
      schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, any documents
      incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits (including those
      incorporated by reference therein).


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            (f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver
      to each Holder of securities included within the coverage of any Shelf
      Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
      (including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf
      Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such
      Holder may reasonably request; and the Company consent to the use of the
      Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
      Holders of securities in connection with the offering and sale of the
      securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
      thereto.

            (g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so
      requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer
      Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
      financial statements and schedules, any documents incorporated by
      reference therein, and, if the Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing,
      any documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits
      (including those incorporated by reference therein).

            (h) The Company shall, during the Exchange Offer Registration
      Period, promptly deliver to each Exchanging Dealer, without charge, as
      many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration
      Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Exchanging
      Dealer may reasonably request for delivery by such Exchanging Dealer in
      connection with a sale of New Securities received by it pursuant to the
      Registered Exchange Offer; and the Company consent to the use of the
      Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any such Exchanging
      Dealer, as aforesaid.

            (i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of
      securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall
      register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of securities included
      therein and Holders' Counsel in connection with the registration or
      qualification of such securities for offer and sale under the securities
      or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such Holder reasonably
      requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or
      advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the
      securities covered by such Registration Statement; provided, however, that
      the Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business in
      any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action


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      which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any
      such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

            (j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to
      facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
      representing Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement
      free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered
      in such names as Holders may request prior to sales of Securities pursuant
      to such Registration Statement.

            (k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraph
      (c)(2)(iii) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective
      amendment to any Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to
      the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as
      thereafter delivered to purchasers of the securities included therein, the
      Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
      to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
      the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

            (l) Not later than the effective date of any such Registration
      Statement hereunder, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the
      Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such
      Registration Statement, and provide the applicable trustee with printed
      certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in a form, if
      requested by the applicable Holder or Holder's counsel, eligible for
      deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

            (m) The Company shall use its best efforts to comply with all
      applicable rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so
      long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf
      Registration and will make generally available to its security holders a
      consolidated earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a
      twelve-month period commencing after the effective date of the
      Registration Statement and ending not later than 15 months thereafter, as
      soon as practicable after the end of such period, which consolidated
      earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
      Securities Act.

            (n) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the
      Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner.


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            (o) The Company may require each Holder of Registrable Securities to
      be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the
      Company such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of
      such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require
      for inclusion in such Registration Statement.

            (p) The Company shall, if requested, promptly incorporate in a
      Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Shelf Registration
      Statement, such information as the Managing Underwriters and Majority
      Holders reasonably agree should be included therein and shall make all
      required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
      as soon as notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus
      supplement or post-effective amendment.

            (q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
      shall enter into such agreements (including underwriting agreements) and
      take all other appropriate actions in order to expedite or facilitate the
      registration or the disposition of the Securities, and in connection
      therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to
      contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than
      those set forth in Section 6 hereof (or such other provisions and
      procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing
      Underwriters, if any), with respect to all parties to be indemnified
      pursuant to Section 6 hereof from Holders of Securities to the Company.

            (r) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company
      shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of
      securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in
      any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney,
      accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter
      all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents
      and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries; (ii) cause the
      Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant
      information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter,
      attorney, accountant or other agent in connection with any such
      Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
      examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated
      in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of
      delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders


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      or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or other agent, unless such
      disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by
      law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or
      through a third party without an accompanying obligation of
      confidentiality; (iii) make such representations and warranties to the
      Holders of securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any,
      in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to
      underwriters in primary underwritten offerings; (iv) obtain opinions of
      counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and
      substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters,
      if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any,
      covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in
      underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
      requested by such Holders and underwriters; (v) obtain "cold comfort"
      letters (or, in the case of any person that does not satisfy the
      conditions for receipt of a "cold comfort" letter specified in Statement
      on Auditing Standards No. 72, an "agreed-upon procedures letter") and
      updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the
      Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
      accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired
      by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or
      are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to
      each selling Holder of securities registered thereunder and the
      underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type
      customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in connection with primary
      underwritten offerings; and (vi) deliver such documents and certificates
      as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing
      Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with Section
      4(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting
      agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The foregoing
      actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section
      4(r) shall be performed at (A) the effective date of such Registration
      Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto and (B) each closing
      under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required
      thereunder.

            (s) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the
      Company shall (i) make reasonably available for inspection by each
      Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by


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      such Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent
      corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries;
      (ii) cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
      relevant information reasonably requested by such Purchaser or any such
      attorney, accountant or other agent in connection with any such
      Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence
      examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated
      in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of
      delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Purchaser
      or any such attorney, accountant or other agent, unless such disclosure is
      made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such
      information becomes available to the public generally or through a third
      party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; (iii) make
      such representations and warranties to such Purchaser, in form, substance
      and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary
      underwritten offerings; (iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company,
      which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be
      reasonably satisfactory to such Purchaser and its counsel, addressed to
      such Purchaser, covering such matters as are customarily covered in
      opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may
      be reasonably requested by such Purchaser or its counsel; (v) obtain "cold
      comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
      accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent
      certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any
      business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and
      financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration
      Statement), addressed to such Purchaser, in customary form and covering
      matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
      connection with primary underwritten offerings, or if requested by such
      Purchaser or its counsel in lieu of a "cold comfort" letter, an
      agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement on Auditing Standards No.
      35, covering matters requested by such Purchaser or its counsel; and (vi)
      deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by
      such Purchaser or its counsel, including those to evidence compliance with
      Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained in underwriting
      agreements. The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v),
      and (vi) of this Section 4(s) shall be performed at the close of the
      Registered Exchange Offer and the effective date of any


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      post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

            5. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2,
3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will
reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or
counsel (in addition to one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction)
designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in
connection therewith ("Holders' Counsel"), and, in the case of any Exchange
Offer Registration Statement, will reimburse the Purchasers for the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith.

            6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) In connection with any
Registration Statement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Holder of securities covered thereby (including each Purchaser and, with respect
to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each
Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such
Holder and each other person, if any, who controls any such Holder within the
meaning of Section 15 the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and
all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or
any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal
or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed
or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or
in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided,
however, that (i) the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder
specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) the Company shall not be liable to
any indemnified party under this indemnity agreement with respect to the


   16


                                                                              16

Registration Statement or Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability of such indemnified party results solely from an untrue
statement of a material fact contained in, or the omission of a material fact
from, the Registration Statement or Prospectus which untrue statement or
omission was corrected in an amended or supplemented Registration Statement or
Prospectus, if the person alleging such loss, claim, damage or liability was not
sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of
the amended or supplemented Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company
had previously furnished copies thereof to such indemnified party and if
delivery of a prospectus is required by the Act and was not so made. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.

            The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute to Losses of, as
provided in Section 6(d), any underwriters of Securities registered under a
Shelf Registration Statement, their officers and directors and each person who
controls such underwriters on substantially the same basis as that of the
indemnification of the Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in this
Section 6(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting
agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(q) hereof.

            (b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement
(including each Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as
contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company, (ii) each of its respective
directors, (iii) each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement and
(iv) each other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each such Holder, but only with
reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the
documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.

            (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to


   17


                                                                              17

notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under
paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn
of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying
party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event,
relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party
other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint as counsel one firm
of attorneys of the indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's
expense, which counsel, together with one local counsel in each jurisdiction,
shall act on behalf of all the indemnified parties in any action for which
indemnification is sought (in which case the indemni fying party shall not
thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the indem nified party or parties except as set forth below);
provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint
counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party
shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and
the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of
such separate counsel (and local counsel) if (i) the use of counsel chosen by
the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in,
or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or
(iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party
shall be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its
written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if
settled with its written consent or if there be a final judgment for the
plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment. An indemnifying party will not, without
the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened
claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or
contribution may be


   18


                                                                              18

sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

            (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall have a joint and several
obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending same) (collectively "Losses") to which such
indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and
such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the
Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in
no case shall any Purchaser or any subsequent Holder of any Security or New
Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the
purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a
New Security, applicable to the Security which was exchangeable into such New
Security, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, nor shall any
underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount
or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under
the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason,
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such
indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to
the sum of (x) the total net proceeds from the Initial Placement (before
deducting expenses) as set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum and
(y) the total amount of additional interest which the Company was not required
to pay as a result of registering the securities covered by the Registration
Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits received by the Purchasers
shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions as
set forth on the cover page of the Final Memorandum, and benefits received by
any other


   19


                                                                              19

Holders shall be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving Securities or New
Securities, as applicable, registered under the Act. Benefits received by any
underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of
the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall
be determined by reference to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission
relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or
by the indemnified party, on the other hand. The parties agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or
any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of
this Section 6, each person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of
such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each
person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration
Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and
conditions of this paragraph (d).

            (e) The provisions of this Section 6 will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder, the
Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in
Section 6 hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of securities covered by
a Registration Statement.

            7.  Miscellaneous.

            (a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date
      hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter
      into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
      with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with
      the provisions hereof.

            (b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
      including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified,
      modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
      provisions hereof may not be given, unless the


   20


                                                                              20

      Company has obtained the written consent of the Holders of at least a
      majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Securities
      (or, after the consummation of any Exchange Offer in accordance with
      Section 2 hereof, of New Securities); provided that, with respect to any
      matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Purchaser
      hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such
      Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver
      or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the
      foregoing proviso), a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions
      hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of
      Holders whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration
      Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of
      other Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the
      basis of securities being sold rather than registered under such
      Registration Statement.

            (c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or
      permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class
      mail, fax or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

                        (1) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by
            such holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
            Section 7(c), which address initially is, with respect to each
            Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the registrar under
            the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to Salomon Brothers Inc;

                        (2) if to you, initially at the address set forth in the
            Purchase Agreement; and

                        (3) if to the Company, initially at its address set
            forth in the Purchase Agreement.

            All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been
duly given when received.

            The Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

            (d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
      benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
      parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any
      consent by the Company thereto, subsequent


   21


                                                                              21

      Holders of Securities and/or New Securities. The Company each hereby
      agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of
      Securities and/or New Securities and any such Holder may specifically
      enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto.

            (e) Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in any number of
      counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
      which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
      taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

            (f) Headings. The headings in this agreement are for convenience of
      reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

            (g) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
      IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT
      REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF).

            (h) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
      provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any
      circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
      for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
      provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof
      shall not be in any way impaired or affected thereby, it being intended
      that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable
      to the fullest extent permitted by law.

            (i) Securities Held by the Company, etc. Whenever the consent or
      approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of
      Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New
      Securities, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates (other
      than subsequent Holders of Securities or New Securities if such subsequent
      Holders are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of
      such Securities or New Securities) shall not be counted in determining
      whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
      percentage.


   22


                                                                              22

            Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Company and you.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        BOYD GAMING CORPORATION,

                                        by
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                          Title:


The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.

SALOMON BROTHERS INC
UBS SECURITIES LLC
CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.

  by SALOMON BROTHERS INC,

    by
      -------------------------------
      Name:
      Title:


   23


                                                                              23

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.

SALOMON BROTHERS INC
UBS SECURITIES LLC
CIBC WOOD GUNDY SECURITIES CORP.

  by SALOMON BROTHERS INC,

    by /s/DAVID M.
      -------------------------------
      Name: David M.
      Title: Vice President



   24

                                                                         ANNEX A

            Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such
New Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on
the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business on
the 180th day following the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
"Plan of Distribution."


   25


                                                                         ANNEX B

            Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."


   26


                                                                         ANNEX C

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION


            Each broker-dealer that receives New Securities for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Prospectus,
as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a
broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in exchange
for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on
the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business on the 180th day
following the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such
resale. In addition, until _____________, 199 , all dealers effecting
transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.
*/

            The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New
Securities by broker-dealers. New Securities received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells New Securities that were received by
it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer
that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be
an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit of any
such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities
Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that


- ----------------
     */ In addition, the legend required by Item 502(e) of Regulation S-K will
appear on the back cover page of the Exchange Offer prospectus.


   27


                                                                               2

it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

            For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the
holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Securities (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.

[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or
508.]


   28


                                                                         ANNEX D

                                     Rider A

                  CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH
                  TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE
                  PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
                  SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

                  Name:
                       -----------------------------------------------------
                  Address:
                          --------------------------------------------------

                          --------------------------------------------------


                                     Rider B

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New
Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New
Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities that were acquired as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.


   29