Gambling in the USA
VICI Properties Inc. to Acquire JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino in Sale Leaseback Transaction With JACK Entertainment
VICI Properties Inc., an experiential real estate investment trust, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with an affiliate of JACK Entertainment LLC to acquire 100% of the membership interests of its affiliates that own casino-entitled land and real estate and related assets associated with JACK Cleveland Casino, located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and JACK Thistledown Racino, located approximately 10 miles southeast of downtown Cleveland in the city of North Randall, Ohio, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $843.3 million in cash.
Simultaneous with the closing of the transaction, the Company will enter into a master triple-net lease agreement with JACK Entertainment related to the assets. The master lease will have an initial total annual rent of $65.9 million, for an implied capitalization rate of 7.8%, and an initial term of 15 years with four 5-year tenant renewal options. The rent coverage ratio at closing is expected to be approximately 1.72x and the tenantās obligations under the lease will be guaranteed by Rock Ohio Ventures LLC. Additionally, the Company will provide a $50 million loan secured by certain non-gaming real estate assets of Rock Ohio Ventures LLC, which will bear interest at 9.0% for a period of five years with two 1-year extension options.
John Payne, President and Chief Operating Officer of VICI Properties said, āWe are excited to partner with the team at JACK Entertainment as they focus on investing and operating in the Cleveland market. Ohio continues to be one of the healthiest and fastest growing regional gaming markets and we are thrilled to add high-quality, urban real estate to our portfolio at an attractive capitalization rate. This transaction represents another great example of VICIās ability to creatively source and execute accretive deals that bring value to our shareholders, while furthering our strategic goal to diversify our roster of best-in-class gaming operators.ā
āJACK Entertainment looks forward to continuing to operate JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino,ā said Mark Dunkeson, Chief Executive Officer of JACK Entertainment. āThe combined efforts of our gaming properties together with the other Cleveland assets operated by our sister companies including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Avenue Shops at Tower City and the May Company Building, have created a strong connection to the city and allows us to remain heavily committed to the Cleveland area. We have invested more than $700 million into JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino since the properties opened in 2012 and we will continue to invest significant capital into these properties which will have a lasting positive impact on the city and Cuyahoga County.ā
David Kieske, EVP, Chief Financial Officer of VICI Properties, also commented, āThe acquisition of JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino will add an additional $65.9 million of rent to our portfolio upon closing. Importantly, we will not issue additional equity to finance the transaction as we prudently secured our equity funding requirements through our successful June 2019 equity offering. Accordingly, we anticipate closing our remaining pending transactions, including our previously announced transactions with Century Casinos, Inc. and Eldorado Resorts, Inc., on a leverage-neutral basis.ā
JACK Cleveland Casino opened in May 2012 in the historic Higbee Building in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The property features approximately 96,000 square feet of gaming space, 1,300 gaming machines, over 120 table games and eight food and beverage outlets. The property is connected to the 205-key Ritz-Carlton and 440-key Renaissance hotels in downtown Cleveland. JACK Thistledown Racino opened in April 2013 in North Randall, Ohio and is the leading thoroughbred racino in the Cleveland MSA. The property is situated on 129 acres and features approximately 57,000 square feet of gaming space, 1,459 gaming machines and six food and beverage outlets.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in early 2020. The acquisition is expected to be accretive immediately upon closing.
In addition to this release, the Company has furnished a Transaction Overview presentation, which is available on our website in the āInvestorsā section, under the menu heading āEvents & Presentations.ā
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP is acting as legal advisor to VICI Properties for the transaction described herein.
About VICI Properties
VICI Properties is an experiential real estate investment trust that owns one of the largest portfolios of market-leading gaming, hospitality and entertainment destinations, including the world-renowned Caesars Palace. VICI Propertiesā national, geographically diverse portfolio consists of 24 gaming facilities comprising over 40 million square feet and features approximately 15,200 hotel rooms and more than 150 restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Its properties are leased to industry leading gaming and hospitality operators, including Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Penn National Gaming and Hard Rock International. VICI Properties also owns four championship golf courses and 34 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip. VICI Propertiesā strategy is to create the nationās highest quality and most productive experiential real estate portfolio. For additional information, please visit www.viciproperties.com.
Gambling in the USA
IGT Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin Electronic Table Game Makes Global Debut in Las Vegas
IGT announced that its much-anticipated Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin electronic table game (ETG) recently made its world debut at Downtown Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. The vibrant standalone ETG game includes many of the attributes that have propelled the success of the Wheel of Fortune slots franchise for nearly three decades including word puzzles, wheel spins and exciting jackpot rewards. The game is accompanied by an attention-grabbing, 9-plus-feet upright video wheel that stands independent of the ETG terminals and entertains casino guests with the famous āWHEEL-OF-FORTUNE!ā chant.
āDowntown Grand was delighted to have the world premiere of IGTās Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin ETG solution on our gaming floor. Our guests instantly connected with the Wheel of Fortune brand and are eager to try their favorite slots brand in a new format. The stature and appeal of gameās accompanying āBig Wheelā is inspiring a wide range of players to give the new game a try,ā said Paul Phillips, Director of Casino Operations at Downtown Grand Las Vegas.
āBuilding on the continued success of IGTās GameAce Roulette and Mesa4K terminals across North America, we are thrilled to introduce Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin to ETG players. The successful launch of Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin at Downtown Grand Casino speaks to the excitement that we can bring to a gaming floor, the universal appeal of the Wheel of Fortune brand, and IGTās commitment to delivering game-changing innovation,ā said Nick Khin, CEO of Gaming at IGT.
IGTās Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin game is enjoyed on the Companyās GameAce ETG offering and features an intuitive gameplay design. To make a wager, players select a color-coded bet amount that corresponds with the colored wedges on the gameās digital Wheel of Fortune wheel. Players win when their wager matches the digital spin outcome, filling in letters in the gameās iconic puzzle board. The gameās Fortune Spin Bonus and Jackpot Bonus activate the solutionās large physical wheel, delivering a highly visible and recognizable win celebration on the gaming floor.
Gambling in the USA
MGCB Wins Platinum dotCOMM Award for āMini Meā Responsible Gaming Commercial
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has earned a 2025 Platinum dotCOMM Awardāthe competitionās highest honorāfor its āMini Meā commercial, part of the agencyās Donāt Regret the Bet responsible gaming campaign. The spot won top recognition in the Social Media Marketing ā Use of Video category, honoring creativity and excellence in digital communication.
Developed to reach young adults ages 18-24āa demographic research shows is at heightened risk of gambling-related harmāāMini Meā combines hand-drawn animation with live-action footage to deliver a lighthearted yet impactful reminder about making smart choices when it comes to gambling. The approachable tone was designed to engage without stigma or judgment, helping the message resonate with its intended audience.
In just six months, the video generated strong engagement across Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Gas Station TV (GSTV), and other digital platforms, including:
ā¢ 255,781 impressions
ā¢ 149,345 individuals reached
ā¢ 13,059 clicksāmore than any other ad in the MGCBās campaign
ā¢ On GSTV, 2.2 million+ impressions and a 100% completion rate, surpassing industry benchmarks by 10%
āWinning a Platinum dotCOMM Award underscores the effectiveness of our responsible gaming messaging. The āMini Meā spot was intentionally designed to speak to young adults in a way that is approachable, relatable, and memorable. This recognition affirms that our message is not only being heard, but also making an impact,ā said MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams.
The MGCB previously earned a Platinum dotCOMM Award in 2023 alongside King Media for the launch of the Donāt Regret the Bet integrated marketing campaign, which continues to expand its reach across Michigan.
Launched in March 2023, Donāt Regret the Bet aims to prevent gambling problems before they start and reduce the number of people in Michigan who develop a serious gambling addiction. The MGCB and King Media have collaborated on a wide range of responsible gaming messages reaching Michiganders across multiple platforms ā including broadcast TV and radio, point-of-sale video ads at gas stations, digital billboards, social media, streaming services, and podcasts.
āWeāre proud to see the āMini Meā spot recognized on an international stage. From the very beginning of our partnership with the MGCB, our focus has been on creating work that not only stands out creatively, but also makes a measurable difference in peopleās lives. This award validates the power of that missionāand it inspires us to keep pushing forward in our shared commitment to prevent problem gambling before it starts,ā said Coleen King, president and founder of King Media.
Gambling in the USA
Aristocrat Interactiveā¢ to Showcase Innovative iLottery Solutions at NASPL 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show
Aristocrat Interactiveā¢, the Real Money Gaming (RMG) division of Aristocrat, today announced its participation as a Level II Sponsor at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show.
NASPL, the leading trade association representing 53 lottery organizations across North America, serves as a platform for collaboration, research, standards, and best practices that drive the future of the industry. Taking place September 8ā11, 2025 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Ontario, Canada, the event, themed āHere to Playā, will gather lottery leaders from across North America to explore the evolving future of the industry.
Aristocrat Interactive will be showcasing its latest innovations for the iLottery sector through an interactive booth setup, one-on-one directorās dialogue sessions, a product and services showcase, and more. Attendees will get a first look at new eInstant titles, featuring fresh game mechanics and the businessās first cross-over game with its iGaming & Sports division. Aristocrat Interactive will also highlight its successful omnichannel solutions, which connect retail and online play to enhance player engagement and experience.
Building on this momentum, Aristocrat Interactive recently launched the New Hampshire Lotteryās new digital platform, signed long-term contracts with the Michigan Lottery and the Massachusetts Lottery, and secured a two-year extension with its NeoPollard Joint Venture in North Carolinaāwhere Aristocrat Interactive provides the iLottery platform. These partnerships underscore Aristocrat Interactiveās commitment to helping lotteries deliver engaging digital experiences and sustainable growth.
āNASPL always sets the table for engaging discussions that can advance our customer-driven strategies to drive real digital growth for lotteries,ā said Chris Shaban, Managing Director, iLottery at Aristocrat Interactive. āWeāre looking forward to another opportunity to showcase Aristocrat Interactive as a solidified, future-ready unit with global gaming expertise.ā
Attendees can connect with Aristocrat Interactive at Booth #209 and meet the team for one-on-one discussions in Room #205. Aristocrat Interactive will also hold a showcase on Wednesday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m. at its booth.
For more information about Aristocrat Interactive and its iLottery solutions, please visitĀ aristocratinteractive.com.
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