Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of the operations of four properties from Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.: Ameristar St. Charles (Missouri); Ameristar Kansas City (Missouri); Belterra Casino Resort in Florence, Indiana; and Belterra Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.

As part of the transaction, Boyd Gaming has entered into a master lease agreement with Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ: GLPI), which owns the real estate of Ameristar St. Charles, Ameristar Kansas City and Belterra Casino Resort. Boyd Gaming acquired both the operations and real estate of Belterra Park, utilizing financing from GLPI for the purchase of the Belterra Park real estate assets.

The acquisition follows the Company’s recent purchase of Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, on September 17.  Boyd Gaming now operates 29 casino properties in 10 states – Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

“By adding these four high-quality properties, we have significantly expanded our portfolio and enhanced our free cash flow profile at a compelling multiple,” said Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming.  “We have gained a strong presence in three of the Midwest’s largest gaming markets, with access to millions of potential new customers.  We are pleased to welcome the Ameristar and Belterra team members to Boyd Gaming, and look forward to great success together.”

About Boyd Gaming:
Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) is a leading geographically diversified operator of 29 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states.  The Company currently operates 1.76 million square feet of casino space, approximately 38,000 gaming machines, 900 table games, more than 11,000 hotel rooms, and 320 food and beverage outlets.  With one of the most experienced leadership teams in the casino industry, Boyd Gaming prides itself on offering its guests an outstanding entertainment experience, delivered with unwavering attention to customer service.

Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements contain words such as “may,” “will,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” “continue,” “pursue,” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and include (without limitation) statements regarding Boyd Gaming’s significant expansion of its portfolio and its enhanced free cash flow profile at a compelling multiple. These forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and involve certain risks and uncertainties, including (without limitation) risks associated with changes to the financial conditions or the economic conditions in the areas in which Boyd Gaming operates; the fact that Boyd Gaming’s expansion projects are subject to many risks inherent in expansion, development or construction of a new or existing project; competition; litigation; financial community and rating agency perceptions of Boyd Gaming and its subsidiaries; changes in laws and regulations, including increased taxes; the availability and price of energy, weather, regulation, economic, credit and capital market conditions; and the effects of war, terrorist or similar activity. Additional factors are discussed in “Risk Factors” in Boyd Gaming’s annual, periodic and current reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to Boyd Gaming as of the date hereof, and Boyd Gaming assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Source: Boyd Gaming Corporation

R. Franco Digital, the leading provider of global gaming solutions for online and retail operations, has heralded the first edition of ICE Africa (Sandton Convention Centre on 24-25 October 2018) as a “huge opportunity” for the company as it prepares to expand its online betting platform, IRIS, across the continent.  The Spanish-based company’s decision to exhibit its omnichannel platform, land-based terminals and extensive library of video-poker, reel, AWP, video-bingo, roulette, casino and mini-games at the upcoming ICE Africa brings the number of exhibitors to 91, strengthening the event’s growing reputation with all those interested in developing the African gaming industry in a strategic and sustainable manner.

Discussing their decision to back the inaugural edition of ICE Africa, Mario Benito, Head of Sales at R. Franco Digital, said: “Africa is a huge opportunity for us, providers of technological solutions with extensive experience in emerging markets helping operators who wish to turn their land-based operations into online or mixed operations.  We can contribute to the successful development of these operations, just as we have already done in countries like Spain and Colombia, tailoring technological developments to the requirements of each jurisdiction.”

He continued: “ICE Africa is an opportunity to better understand the African market and to be able to show our products and services to potential partners interested in implementing solutions hand-in-hand with an experienced company such as ours.  We believe in direct relationships and we want acquire on-the-spot knowledge of all the relevant players in the African continent.”

ICE Africa will see R. Franco Digital showcasing its IRIS platform, which the company believes will be an essential component of any online betting or gaming operation in the region.  Benito explained: “We believe that IRIS can be the perfect match to promote the development of different types of businesses in Africa, either via online gaming web pages, casinos, sports betting, arcades or betting terminals.  It combines in one sole platform all an operator needs, because it is designed to consolidate monetary activities and to allow the business to run and grow.  As it is modular and scalable, it can be tailored to small, medium-sized or large operations and may be used to manage online, land-based or mixed operations.”

R. Franco Digital will also be exhibiting its catalogue of games, alongside the IRIS Power Vault service and the RF OnMix touch-screen multi-game terminal, to the entire African market as part of both the country and the company’s ongoing expansion.  “In general, the whole African market will expand online operations, although we are attending this show focusing particularly on South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia,” Benito continued.  “ICE Africa will help us roll our products out and establish relationships with relevant actors interested in meeting a sound partner with more than 50 years’ experience in gaming.  We put all our resources, human and financial, at the service of our future partners to jointly enjoy the success we already have in the gaming and leisure market.”

He concluded: “We are sure that Africa is one of the world regions where the gaming industry will grow the most in the next few years.  It seems a wise decision that Clarion bet on Africa and we look forward to ongoing business ventures at ICE Africa and then again in London in February.”

To register for the first ICE Africa and the learning, training and networking opportunities it offers, visit: www.iceafrica.za.com