Gambling in the USA

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2019 Operating Results

Published

5 years ago

May 9, 2019

Mohegan Gaming Gets Licence for Greece’s First Integrated Resort

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Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment , a master developer and operator of premier global integrated entertainment resorts, including Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut and Inspire Korea in Incheon, South Korea, announced today operating results for its second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019.

“Volume trends across our portfolio remain inline to better than expected as overall gaming volumes at our flagship property, Mohegan Sun, remain robust despite completing our second full quarter of increased competitive pressure in the Northeast,” said Mario Kontomerkos, President & Chief Executive Officer. “Adjusting for unusually low table hold, overall MGE EBITDA would have been largely in line with our expectations, flat with last year’s comparable period, and well ahead of recent fiscal year 1Q19 performance. At the same time, non-gaming results continue to be healthy and remain a driving factor for our growth at Mohegan Sun. These revenue enhancements have been driven, in part, by the recent adoption of our $100 million revenue and cost improvement program – a plan we remain committed to delivering over the next several years. Outside of the Northeast, cash flows from our managed portfolio grew strongly, up 86% year over year. Looking ahead, in June we expect to assume operational control of two major Niagara Falls, Canada assets which will mark the first international operations for MGE and will provide increased earnings and cash flow diversity for our stakeholders. Similarly, we have begun to mobilize construction at our development site in Incheon, South Korea, having completed our negotiations with our general contractor and following the receipt of all necessary construction permits and approvals.”

Selected consolidated operating results for the second quarter ended March 31, 2019, and prior year period (unaudited):

Net revenues of $307.7 million vs. $332.0 million in the prior year period, a 7.3% decrease; and
Income from operations of $22.2 million vs. $56.1 million in the prior year period, a 60.4% decrease primary driven by one time accelerated depreciation due to the closure of Casino of Wind; and
Adjusted EBITDA of $67.2 million vs. $79.9 million in the prior year period, a 15.9% decrease.

Consolidated net revenues and Adjusted EBITDA declined during the quarter, driven by lower gaming revenues at Mohegan Sun and Mohegan Sun Pocono largely driven by unfavorable hold in the quarter at both properties. These declines were partially offset by improved non-gaming revenue growth, including entertainment and hotel revenues, at Mohegan Sun, as well as stronger Corporate Adjusted EBITDA, driven by tighter expense management and improved financial performance at ilani Casino Resort.

On October 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), on a modified retrospective basis. As such, results for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2019 in this release are presented under this new guidance, while results for the three months and six months ended March 31, 2018 remain presented under prior guidance. For comparative results for all periods as reported under the new guidance, please see our supplemental earnings deck, available on our website (https://mohegangaming.com/financial-information/).

Mohegan Sun
*Operating results (in thousands, unaudited):*

	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,	March 31,		Percentage
	2019	2018	Variance	Variance
Net revenues	$ 238,391	$ 260,354	$ (21,963)	(8.4%)
Income from operations (1)	$ 19,913	$ 57,779	$ (37,866)	(65.5%)
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 59,341	$ 77,746	$ (18,405)	(23.7%)

(1) Includes $21.6 million in accelerated depreciation related to Casino of the Wind.

Net revenues and Adjusted EBITDA declined during the quarter, driven by lower overall gaming revenues and unfavorable table hold during the period, which was partially offset by stronger non-gaming results. Slot and table volumes declined 8.7% and 3.2%, respectively, in line with internal expectations. Had table hold percentage fallen into the historically normal range, net Revenues and Adjusted EBITDA would have declined less than 3.1% and 7.4%, respectively, on a 606 to 606 basis. Non-gaming revenues increased during the quarter, driven by improvement in nearly all segments of the business. The higher than normal decline in income from operations relates to the one-time accelerated depreciation expense of $21.6 million, caused by the closure of the Casino of the Wind in March, as that space will be designed and repurposed for higher and better use.

Mohegan Sun Pocono
*Operating results (in thousands, unaudited):*

	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,	March 31,		Percentage
	2019	2018	Variance	Variance
Net revenues	$ 61,241	$ 67,130	$ (5,889)	(8.8%)
Income from operations	$ 8,214	$ 8,872	$ (658)	(7.4%)
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 11,592	$ 12,230	$ (638)	(5.2%)

Net revenues declined during the quarter driven by lower gaming revenues, largely reflecting the adverse impact from lower table hold. However, the year-over-year decline in Adjusted EBITDA was more muted due to a strong focus expense management, including lower payroll costs and certain casino marketing and promotional expenses. Notably, local marketing activity has started to return to more normalized levels following aggressive promotional activity from a regional competitor over the last several quarters.

Corporate
*Operating results (in thousands, unaudited):*

	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,	March 31,		Percentage
	2019	2018	Variance	Variance
Net revenues	$ 8,125	$ 4,593	$ 3,532	76.9%
Loss from operations	$ (5,901)	$ (10,579)	$ 4,678	44.2%
Adjusted EBITDA	$ (3,716)	$ (10,122)	$ 6,406	63.3%

The increase in net revenues and Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to higher management fees from ilani Casino Resort driven by continued improvement in performance at the property.

MGE Property Information

	Net Revenues		Income (Loss) from Operations		Adjusted EBITDA
(in thousands, unaudited)	For the Three Months Ended		For the Three Months Ended		For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,	March 31,	March 31,	March 31,	March 31,	March 31,
	2019	2018	2019	2018	2019	2018
Mohegan Sun	$ 238,391	$ 260,354	$ 19,913	$ 57,779	$ 59,341	$ 77,746
Mohegan Sun Pocono	61,241	67,130	8,214	8,872	11,592	12,230
Corporate	8,125	4,593	(5,901)	(10,579)	(3,716)	(10,122)
Inter-segment revenues	(60)	(60)	–	–	–	–
Total	$ 307,697	$ 332,017	$ 22,226	$ 56,072	$ 67,217	$ 79,854

Other Information

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2019, MGE held cash and cash equivalents of $91.4 million, compared to $103.9 million as of September 30, 2018. As of March 31, 2019, $55.0 million was drawn on MGE’s $250.0 million revolving credit facility, while no amounts were drawn on MGE’s $25.0 million line of credit. As of March 31, 2019, letters of credit issued under the revolving credit facility totaled $2.3 million, of which no amounts were drawn. Inclusive of letters of credit, which reduce borrowing availability under the revolving credit facility, MGE had approximately $192.7 million of borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility and line of credit as of March 31, 2019.

About Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment:

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is a master developer and operator of premier global integrated entertainment resorts, including Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, and Inspire in Incheon, South Korea. The Company is owner, developer, and/or manager of integrated entertainment resorts throughout the United States, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Northern Asia, and, beginning in mid-2019, Niagara Falls, Canada. MGE owns and operates Connecticut Sun, a professional basketball team in the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the New England Black Wolves, a professional lacrosse team in the National Lacrosse League. For more information on MGE and our properties, visit www.mohegangaming.com.

SOURCE Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment

Gambling in the USA

Nebraska’s First Permanent Casino to Open in May in Columbus

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Nebraska’s first full-fledged, newly built and state-sanctioned gambling casino is slated to open in Columbus next month, marking a milestone in the state’s rollout of casino gambling.

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission last Friday approved a target opening date of May 13 for Harrah’s Columbus.

“This is a big deal,” commission Chairman Dennis Lee said.

The state’s three other casinos are open, but in temporary facilities. According to construction schedules, all should be open by early next year.

“We’re definitely excited to open the first permanent casino in the state,” said Don Ostert, Harrah’s Columbus general manager.

The 17,000-square-foot casino floor will feature 400 slot machines and 11 live table games, including roulette and craps, Ostert said. It will feature a Brew Brothers restaurant and will offer Caesar’s sportsbook and racebook, Ostert said.

For racing fans, the complex will feature the state’s only 1-mile horse track, though racing isn’t scheduled to begin until August 16. By June, officials hope to have some horses out on the track to test the new surface.

Ostert said officials hope to draw customers from Norfolk and Grand Island, but also from Omaha and Lincoln.

Columbus Mayor James Bulkley said that, from the city’s standpoint, “we are very excited to see it get started and become part of the community.”

The developers incorporated some Columbus history into the casino, he said.

“The location where it is used to be called Wishbones, and it was a venue for years for entertainment, and so people recognize that name, and they have kept that name for the sports bar,” he said.

He expects the casino will draw from Omaha. Although driving to Columbus from downtown Omaha might take close to an hour and a half, the drive from west Omaha is more like an hour, he said.

“I can hit Elkhorn in a short hour today, which is now western Omaha,” he said.

In a few months, Omahans won’t have to leave town to visit a brand-new casino.

At Horsemen’s Park in Omaha, Warhorse Gaming officials are aiming to open their new casino in early August. It will open with 900 gaming positions, including table games and a Sweetwater Cafe.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 15-21

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Caesars Entertainment announced that the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app is accepting mobile sports bets at Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. Sports fans 21 and older who are interested in wagering on sports via mobile devices can download the Caesars Sportsbook Mississippi app to register and deposit statewide but must be physically present on-property at Harrah’s Gulf Coast to wager.

The Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has announced that FanDuel’s sports betting app and website has officially launched. This development will introduce FanDuel’s sports wagering platform to District residents and visitors, completely replacing the current GambetDC sports betting app and website.

eCOGRA has been officially authorised by the Secretaria De Prêmios e Apostas (SPA) to operate as a certifying entity for betting systems, live gaming studios and online games in Brazil. This announcement marks a significant milestone as eCOGRA continues to extend its international offering of iGaming testing, inspection and certification (TIC) services in regulated markets across the globe.

Jennifer Shatley, a recognised expert in the field and a highly sought speaker and advisor, has joined the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) as Executive Director. Shatley has had 25+ years worth of experience, working closely with the treatment community, academics, researchers, government bodies, state councils and gaming industry representatives to promote responsible gaming.

Odditt, a leading provider of innovative sports betting data, tools and analytics, has appointed Elaine Milardo as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With over 25 years of experience in the data industry and key roles at DraftKings and Vistaprint, Elaine brings a wealth of expertise to Odditt’s growing team.

Partnerships

Trustly, the global leader in Open Banking Payments, and Light & Wonder, the leading cross-platform global games company, are bringing cashless, in-person deposits to casino floors with Light & Wonder’s cashless solution, RAPIDPLAY. Building on Trustly’s success with guaranteed payments in online sports betting and iGaming, Trustly will deliver the same seamless, quick and secure online payment experience to the physical casino floor.

Fintech company Sightline has entered into an exclusive partnership with compliance and anti-fraud technology solutions leader GeoComply to bolster the security and efficiency of digital transactions within the regulated gaming industry. Sightline will integrate GeoComply’s cutting-edge IDComply identity verification solution as well as GeoComply’s compliance-grade geolocation tools across its comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions for land-based casinos and online gaming operators.

BetMGM has announced a partnership with GameCode, a distinguished iGaming company focused on the North American market. The partnership includes the launch of Boom Boom Boom, HammerCash, Gold Gold Gold and Super3 series which are now live at BetMGM in Michigan and New Jersey through direct integration. BetMGM plans to offer GameCode’s full portfolio of games in all jurisdictions where the operator’s iGaming platform is live pending regulatory approvals.

SCCG Management has announced a joint venture investment with Numb3rs, an innovative all-in-one payment solution provider built for gaming operators. The partnership aims to transform the gaming sector by integrating Numb3rs’ proprietary tech stack, ECRYPT, into the marketplace, thereby offering a comprehensive suite of payment processing solutions.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 8-14

Published

2 weeks ago

April 15, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America and an Official Partner of Churchill Downs Inc., announced five time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan and Grammy award-winning R&B singer Ne-Yo as the headlining performers at FanDuel’s inaugural Kentucky Derby Party. The exclusive, invite-only event will take place on Friday, May 3 at Paristown Arts and Entertainment District in Louisville, Kentucky from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

TPI, a leading provider of innovative player communication solutions for the casino industry, has appointed Joe Tingson as its new Vice President of Customer Success. With his unparalleled dedication to his customers, Joe will play a pivotal role as a leader for our digital Customer Success and Product teams.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, has announced plans for its new 33,000 square foot Atlanta Headquarters, which will be located in the Star Metals Building in Midtown Atlanta. The company plans to grow its workforce by 1000 new jobs over the next seven years, the economic impact of which will be $25M to the state of Georgia.

Century Casinos Inc. has announced that it opened its hotel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, The Riverview. The Riverview is a 69 room, six-story building with 68,000 square feet that is adjacent to and connected with Century Casino Cape Girardeau. The project cost $30.5 million and was financed with cash on hand.

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has announced the opening of Terre Haute Casino Resort in Terre Haute, Indiana. The $290 million investment includes a casino floor with 1000 slot machines, 36 table games, and a state-of-the-art sportsbook. The 400,000-square-foot entertainment venue also features regionally inspired bars and restaurants including: Four Cornered Steakhouse, Rockwood Bar & Grill, The Soda Shoppe, Crossroads Center Bar and High Limit Bar.

Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, announced that Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ronen Kannor, has notified Bragg’s board of directors (Board) that he will resign from his position to pursue other career opportunities, effective June 3, 2024. The Company confirms that the search for a replacement CFO has commenced.

Partnerships

EQL Games has partnered with global aggregation leader and NeoGames company, Pariplay, to provide the Virginia Lottery, through an agreement with NeoPollard Interactive, with a series of eInstant iLottery games for their industry-leading digital platform.

JACK Entertainment LLC announced the selection of Konami Gaming Inc.’s SYNKROS to power industry-leading systems technology across its 1.5 million square feet of casino entertainment space. The Ohio-based gaming operator’s portfolio includes a combined 2600+ gaming machines and 85 table games at JACK Cleveland Casino in downtown Cleveland, and at JACK Thistledown Racino, located approximately 10 miles to the southeast.

PrizePicks, the largest daily fantasy sports operator in North America, announced that the company has reunited with the Atlanta Braves as the club’s Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner for the 2024 season. The partnership extends a longstanding relationship that dates back to 2020, with the two Atlanta-based companies continuing to work together on unique opportunities for their dedicated fans.