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Golden Entertainment Reports 2024 Third Quarter Results
Golden Entertainment Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. The Company reported third quarter revenue of $161.2 million, net income of $5.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $34.0 million. In addition, on November 5, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company’s recurring quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share of the Company’s outstanding common stock payable on January 7, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 20, 2024. The Company’s Board of Directors also increased the Company’s share repurchase authorization by $100 million, creating $131.4 million of current availability under the Company’s share repurchase program.
Blake Sartini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden, said: “In the third quarter, we have maintained our commitment to returning capital to shareholders through our regular dividend and share buyback program despite a challenging operating environment for our properties. We anticipate that business conditions will improve in the fourth quarter and, with our increased share buyback authorization currently at over $130 million, we expect to continue to use our liquidity to acquire our own shares throughout the year.”
The Company repurchased 815,116 shares of common stock in the third quarter, at an average price of $31.65 per share for a total of $25.8 million. In October, after the end of the quarter, an additional 134,613 shares were repurchased for a total of $4.2 million. Year to date, the Company has repurchased 1.94 million shares of the Company’s common stock at an average price of $30.70 per share for a total of $59.5 million.
Consolidated Results
The Company reported third quarter of 2024 revenues of $161.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $34.0 million, compared to revenues of $257.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $53.2 million for the third quarter of 2023. The declines in revenues and Adjusted EBITDA over the prior year period were primarily related to the exclusion of the results for the Company’s Rocky Gap Casino Resort and distributed gaming operations in Montana and Nevada that were sold on July 25, 2023, September 13, 2023 and January 10, 2024, respectively. The Company reported net income of $5.2 million, or $0.18 per fully diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, compared to net income of $241.2 million, or $7.83 per fully diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023. The third quarter of 2023 results included the impact of the $305.8 million gain on the sales of the Rocky Gap Casino Resort and the Montana distributed gaming business recognized during the quarter.
Debt and Liquidity
As of September 30, 2024, the Company’s total principal amount of debt outstanding was $399.0 million, consisting primarily of $395.0 million in outstanding term loan borrowings.
As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $68.6 million. There continues to be no outstanding borrowings under the Company’s $240 million revolving credit facility.
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Play’n GO announces landmark partnership with Resorts Digital Gaming
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced its latest US operator partnership, with Resorts Digital Gaming, in the state of New Jersey.
Resorts Digital Gaming was acquired by Boyd Interactive in September 2024, and this announcement sees the group’s players on the www.resortscasino.com and www.mohegansuncasino.com brands in New Jersey gain access to a multitude of classic Play’n GO game titles, such as the legendary Book of Dead, Rise of Merlin, and Rise of Olympus.
Play’n GO entered New Jersey in September 2022, shortly after first launching in the US via the state of West Virginia in July of that year. It has since seen its games live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and most recently, Connecticut.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented “New Jersey has been of crucial importance to our US operations for over two years now, so it is with great pleasure that we make this announcement in conjunction with Resorts Digital Gaming.
“The company joins together two instantly recognizable operator brands, and the addition of Play’n GO’s games will be of enormous mutual benefit. We confidently describe ourselves as the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, and partnerships like this one are of great importance to us in establishing that idea. We’re excited to see this partnership flourish.”
Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer at Boyd Interactive, added “The whole Resorts Digital Gaming team is excited to bring Play’n GO games to our players. Play’n GO is one of the world’s leading iGaming brands, and we’re confident that our players are as excited as we are to see those Play’n GO titles on both www.resortscasino.com and www.mohegansuncasino.com.”
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Aristocrat Announces the Sale of the Plarium Mobile Gaming Business to Modern Times Group for an Enterprise Value of up to $820M
Aristocrat Leisure Limited announced that its subsidiary, Pixel United Holdings Limited, has entered into a binding agreement for the sale of Plarium Global Limited (Plarium) for a fixed consideration of $620 million, with contingent consideration of up to $200 million to Modern Times Group (MTG) (Nasdaq Stockholm: MTG B), an international, mobile-first gaming group that offers a wide range of popular game franchises.
Following the strategic review announced in May 2024, the divestment of Plarium is an important milestone for Aristocrat as it focuses on growth across its regulated gaming strength in core land-based gaming, real money gaming and social casino opportunities.
The total consideration for the sale comprises:
• fixed consideration of US$620 million, comprising US$600 million payable upon closing of the transaction and a deferred payment of US$20 million payable in April 2026; and
• contingent consideration of up to US$200 million, subject to the achievement of certain financial targets over calendar years 2025 to 2028.
Proceeds from the transaction will be deployed to fund Aristocrat’s longer term growth strategy in line with its capital allocation framework. The transaction is expected to enhance Aristocrat’s revenue growth rate and margins going forward.
Acquired in October 2017, Plarium generated an internal rate of return (IRR) in the mid-teens during the period of Aristocrat’s ownership. It provided capability and digital expertise across Aristocrat, diversification of its portfolio through the COVID-19 period and continues Aristocrat’s successful acquisition track record.
Aristocrat’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Trevor Croker, said: “The sale of Plarium follows a strategic review into our casual and mid-core gaming assets that we announced in May 2024. With the expanded Aristocrat Interactive business now sitting alongside Aristocrat Gaming and our market leading mobile social casino business, we are increasingly focused on opportunities to lean into Aristocrat’s strengths in regulated gaming content and social slots.
“Aristocrat has incorporated a range of Plarium’s strategic capabilities and mobile content know-how into its core gaming operations over the past seven years, benefitting from digital marketing and UA management capability, enhanced live operations, and scaling and growing our combined social casino business. We are pleased also to have achieved an IRR from the acquisition of Plarium in excess of our target rates. Our ownership of Plarium has helped to drive Aristocrat’s digital transformation, extending our track record of successfully acquiring businesses to accelerate our strategy.”
In the unaudited financial results for the year to 30 September 2024, Plarium contributed approximately $615 million, $166 million and $110 million to Pixel United’s Revenue, Segment Profit and EBITA post-D&D expenditure, respectively. Aristocrat expects the sale of Plarium to be mid to high single-digit percentage points dilutive to NPATA in FY25 on an annualised basis.
The total consideration from the sale, comprising of $620 million fixed consideration and up to $200 million contingent consideration, compares to a Plarium book value of approximately $450 million as at 30 September 2024 and is expected to result in a gain on sale in FY25, with the final amount to be determined based on the closing date and other customary closing adjustments.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2025 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals.
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Caesars Virginia Opens Dec. 12, 2024
Caesars Virginia announced that its highly anticipated opening date will be Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. The resort will welcome its first guests beginning at noon. Additional details on the opening festivities will be announced at a later date.
Caesars Virginia is a 587,000 square foot casino resort with more than 90,000 square feet of gaming space, including nearly 1500 of the newest, most exciting slots, 79 live-action table games, 48 electronic table games, a WSOP poker room, and Caesars Sportsbook. Additionally, Caesars Virginia is also home to a 320-room hotel tower, 50,000 square feet of meeting and convention space that also serves as a 2500-seat live entertainment venue, full-service spa, pool and a wide variety of dining, including the recently announced Ramsay’s Kitchen by multi-Michelin-starred chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay and the 500 Block Food Hall by local developer Rick Barker and local restaurateur Steve Parry, as well as multiple bars and lounges.
Caesars Virginia is also part of the expansive Caesars Rewards network. Caesars Rewards members earn and redeem Reward Credits at any of Caesars Entertainment’s 50+ properties, including destinations in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Lake Tahoe.
“We have worked diligently on creating a world-class resort that will offer all the luxurious and modern amenities expected from Caesars that will also serve as an economic driver for Danville and the surrounding region through employment and tourism. We’re so proud of Caesars Virginia and look forward to welcoming guests on Dec. 12,” said Barron Fuller, Regional President for Caesars Entertainment.
“Our property started out with just over 400 Team Members when the temporary facility opened last year, and we are on track to hire more than 1200 by the time we open our doors in December. Through numerous hiring events in the region, training at facilities in Danville and overall support from local and state leaders as well as the business community, we are prepared to continue delivering the Family Style Service that Caesars is known for to our guests in the new, beautiful, destination resort,” said Chris Albrecht, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Caesars Virginia.
“Our partnership with Caesars Virginia marks a significant milestone in the region’s growth, creating jobs and economic opportunities that will benefit both Danville and surrounding communities. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is proud to be a part of this exciting new chapter, as this resort represents an impressive investment in hospitality and entertainment. We look forward to building stronger ties within the region and seeing the positive impact Caesars Virginia will have, providing opportunities and experiences that honor the unique spirit and diversity of this area,” said Principal Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
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