"We remain as enthusiastic as ever about the fundamental story for Las Vegas Sands (LVS)," says Mike Cintolo.

The editor of Cabot Market Letter explains, "Investors know the general story, but we feel many are underestimating the potential growth.

"For instance, a few months ago, Sands' Singapore resort (dubbed the Marina Bay Sands) wasn't even open for business, and most analysts were thinking it would have little effect on business for a year or two.

"The smart move in today's market is to stick with companies that are growing right through the recession, such as WMS Industries (NYSE: WMS)," says Mark Skousen.

In his trading oriented service, The Hedge Fund Trader Alert, he explains, "Based in Waukegan, Ill., WMS designs, manufactures, leases and sells gaming machines and video lottery terminals to its customers, the casino operators.

"Earnings at WMS have climbed by at least 24% the past 11 quarters. And they're still accelerating. Most recent quarterly results were up 36% on rising revenue. What's going on here? WMS is a great innovator. And it knows its business.

MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) showed its hand in the earnings confessional Monday night after the close. The gaming firm banked 38 cents per share, or $105.2 million, compared with year-ago results of 40 cents ($118.3 million). Net revenue was down 20% to $1.5 billion.

Excluding gains related to the sale of Treasure Island resort, the company lost six cents per share, falling short of analysts' estimates. MGM CEO and Chairman Jim Murren told investors in a conference call that while room rates are "firming" and overall demand seems improved, "[MGM] is not out of the woods yet by any stretch in this market ... at least [visitors] have got their wallets in their pockets [now] and they're spending a little more."

This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.

"Situated well within a niche that appears to be an oasis in the desert is gaming machine maker WMS Industries (NYSE: WMS)," says growth stock specialist Ian Wyatt.

The editor of Top Stock Insights explains, "Gaming technology has not struggled as much as casino operators as there is still a need for new equipment to drive traffic to casinos."

The advisor continues, "WMS is engaged in the design, manufacture, and distribution of gaming machines and video lottery terminals (VLTs) for customers in gaming jurisdictions worldwide. Its offering consists of video gaming machines, mechanical reel gaming machines, and video poker gaming machines.

"While gaming certainly has taken a hit in the wake of the economic downturn, slot machine makers operate in a unique space that may be one of the few that has the ability to weather economic volatility, as states look to slots as a way to boost tax receipts.

"Since 2002, Macau has become a gambling mecca like no other, even Las Vegas" says Jim Trippon, who looks at Melco Crown Entertainment (NASDAQ: MPEL).

In his specialty newsletter, The China Stock Digest, he explains "Simply put, the Chinese love to gamble, and the combination of their new freedoms and new wealth have uncorked a gusher of revenue."

He explains, "Melco has delivered industry-beating earnings growth in the booming Macau gaming, entertainment, and hospitality industries. The company's recent reorganization has lifted it from a loss to profitability. Net revenue for the first quarter of 2008 was $482.9 million, up from $179.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. That's a 267% jump!

"Net income for the first quarter of 2008 was $43.2 million, compared with a net loss of $36.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. In a few short months the company's key asset, Crown Macau, has become the busiest casino in the world in gaming volume.

"Macau's government announced in April that it would rein in the booming gaming industry by halting the issue of new licenses and by freezing land allocations for the construction of more casinos.

"MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) is arguably the world's top publicly traded casino gaming company; from budget-minded families at the Excalibur to high-rollers at the Bellagio, no segment of the market should slip through the cracks," says value investor Nathan Slaughter.

In Half-Priced Stocks, he explains, "But this is just the beginning: the firm has ambitious plans to leverage its brands and take its gaming/hospitality experience to other growing markets around the world."

"Thanks in part to a landmark merger with cross-town rival Mandalay Group several years ago, MGM is now the dominant player on the booming Las Vegas Strip. The merger also brought together two complementary property portfolios, adding Mandalay's low/mid-tier casinos to MGM's mid/high-end resorts.

"The company also has upscale resorts in other high-profile markets, including Atlantic City's Borgata, Detroit's MGM Grand, and the Beau Rivage on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. Combined, the firm operates around 20 properties featuring more than 42,000 hotel rooms.

"And looking ahead, a busy development pipeline and global expansion plans should keep both of those totals moving briskly forward. The company recently celebrated the introduction of MGM Grand Detroit last October, and that property has already hit the ground running and emerged as a market leader.