Gambling in the USA
AGS Reports Second Quarter 2020 Results
AGS reported operating results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2020 .
“Although casinos started to reopen in the later part of the quarter, we remained disciplined in how we reintroduced cost back into the business, ramping departments that are essential to run our business, such as field service, R&D and manufacturing,” said AGS President and Chief Executive Officer David Lopez . “Initial game performance on EGM units that are in-service has been strong and better-than-expected, which allows us to lean on our strong recurring revenue footprint in this challenging environment. Prior to and even during COVID-19, we were seeing strong initial performance from our new products, such as the Starwall and Orion Rise , as well as continued momentum from our new titles on Orion Portrait and our suite of table game progressives. Given the breadth and depth of our current content portfolio, we believe that the long-term opportunities for AGS remain intact, and that we have ample liquidity and the best-in-class team to navigate through near-term uncertainties.”
Kimo Akiona , AGS’ Chief Financial Officer, added, “Our careful management of expenses and capital expenditures during the casino shutdowns in the quarter in addition to drawing $30 million under the existing revolving credit facility and entering into incremental term loans of $95 million have resulted in a strengthened liquidity position. Although it is hard to predict exactly how the pandemic will continue to impact the macro operating environment, given all of the measures we’ve taken, we believe we are positioned with sufficient liquidity and flexibility to emerge from this a more competitive and more nimble organization.”
Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results
During March and April and continuing through mid- to late-May of the current year, nearly all of our customers closed their operations due to business disruption caused by the global spread of COVID-19 and the actions by governments and businesses to contain the virus. The markets that we serve have been severely impacted, which is the primary reason for the decreases in the metrics noted above, specifically revenues, (loss) income from operations, net loss, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin.
A limited number of customers reopened in mid- to late-May and through June; by June 30 , approximately 500 of our 650 customers properties in the United States and Canada were partially open. In Mexico , 25 of our 320 customers properties were partially open as of June 30 .
Total revenue decreased to $16.8 million , primarily due to decreased gaming operations revenue and unit sales in our EGM segment.
Gaming operations revenue, or recurring revenue, decreased to $10.2 million compared to $53.6 million in the prior year period, primarily related to our leased EGMs and Table Products that were impacted by closed casinos. This decrease was slightly offset by increased revenue in our Interactive segment.
Net loss of $42.6 million increased year-over-year from net loss of $7.6 million in the prior year, primarily due to the decrease in EGM and Table Products revenue, partially offset by decreases in expenses that were a result of management’s actions taken to decrease spending amid COVID-19, including employee furloughs, a reduction in force, and salary reductions. Additional savings resulted from the Company’s focus to reduce expenses, primarily in sales and marketing activities, professional fees, and delayed development expenses.
Total Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)(1) decreased to a loss of $1 .2 million compared to $35.7 million in the prior year period, driven by decreases in our EGM and Table Products segments and slightly offset by growth in our Interactive segment.
Compliance Updates
Arizona Department of Gaming Releases October Sports Betting Figures
Bettors in Arizona wagered approximately $791 million on sports in October of 2024, according to a new report by the Arizona Department of Gaming. This represents an approximate 22% increase when compared to October of 2023.
The state collected approximately $2.35 million in privilege fees in the month.
Gambling in the USA
Neosurf & Betting Hero to reveal results of their in-depth study into US online gambling and payment habits in exclusive two-part webinar series
Neosurf, the globally trusted provider of swift and secure cash-to-digital payment solutions, has announced it will be sharing the findings of a recent study into the online betting habits, preferences and frustrations of US players in an exclusive two-part webinar series beginning on January 14th.
Neosurf commissioned the research via Betting Hero – a leading US-based iGaming portal with expertise in casino, sports betting and DFS. The webinars will see Neosurf CEO Americas, Sue Page, Betting Hero’s Co-Founder and President, Jai Maw, and Senior Director of Product and Research, Ernie Ropas, dive into the report’s key findings and discuss what some of the more surprising results could mean for operators.
The survey, which featured respondents from New Jersey, Colorado and North Carolina, aimed to help operators and regulators within the gambling industry better understand the typical US bettor – how and why they bet, what tools they use to manage their budget and what Responsible Gaming means to them. The findings will be revealed in the webinars and used to identify areas where Neosurf’s products can help operators provide a better user experience.
The research highlighted several aspects of payments and responsible gaming that bettors felt could be improved. Problems with payments remain an issue – 52% of respondents said that they’d experienced payment issues in the past year, and with over 50% depositing and withdrawing multiple times each month, there is a significant cost impact to the operators.
Additionally, respondents indicated they’d be in favour of using a service that could share pre-verified ID information with operators, with ease of use for new payment methods and seamless integration across multiple platforms identified as important factors in their choosing and remaining loyal to a single sports betting platform.
Sue Page, Neosurf CEO Americas, said: “It was important to us to gain a more detailed insight into the US sports bettor. We wanted to talk to the players and ask questions that no one else is asking, and through our collaboration with Betting Hero I’m delighted that we now have a comprehensive piece of research.
“Offering valuable insights into player habits – how and why they bet, the ongoing pain points they’re experiencing with payments and their thoughts on Responsible Gaming—we’ll be taking a deep dive into the results of the survey in our two-part webinar series starting at 10:00 ET on January 14th, and we encourage all US-focused operators and regulators to join us.”
Gambling in the USA
Saracen Casino Resort Chooses QCI Chatalytics to Enhance Casino Operations with Integrated AI Solutions
Saracen Casino Resort has selected Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) Chatalytics, an integrated AI-driven suite, to revolutionize its casino operations and elevate guest experiences. The QCI Chatalytics solution, which includes Slot Copilot, Player Copilot, Dashboard, and the Robot Button, leverages OpenAI integration to provide real-time insights and streamlined decision-making across the casino floor.
QCI Chatalytics offers a powerful blend of AI-powered tools designed to optimize both player and slot management. With Slot Copilot, operators gain enhanced capabilities for real-time slot performance monitoring, predictive analytics, and dynamic task assignment. Player Copilot delivers personalized player engagement by analyzing customer data to inform service decisions and reward recommendations. The Dashboard component offers an intuitive, real-time display of key metrics, enabling data-driven insights at a glance. Additionally, the innovative Robot Button automates routine processes, allowing staff to focus on higher-value tasks and improve overall efficiency.
Clayton Mason, Senior Director of Marketing of Saracen Casino Resort, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “Integrating QCI Chatalytics into our operations marks a significant step in our strategy to harness the power of AI. With advanced tools like the Robot button, Slot Copilot and Player Copilot, we can deliver a more tailored and efficient experience for our guests while gaining deeper insights into our gaming operations.”
Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, shared his vision for the collaboration: “We’re excited to bring the capabilities of QCI Chatalytics to Saracen Casino Resort. By integrating OpenAI technology, our solution provides unprecedented levels of automation and insight. We believe Chatalytics will play a crucial role in optimizing floor operations and enhancing guest satisfaction through real-time, data-driven decision-making.”
The QCI Chatalytics platform is part of Quick Custom Intelligence’s commitment to driving innovation in the gaming industry, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions to streamline operations and enhance the player experience.
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