Canada
Great Canadian Gaming Announces Second Quarter 2020 Results
Great Canadian Gaming Corporation announced its financial results for the three month period ended June 30, 2020 (the “second quarter”).
SECOND QUARTER 2020 UPDATES
The Company’s gaming facilities and ancillary amenities across the country have been temporarily closed since March 16, 2020 in an effort to contribute to the containment of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic (“the pandemic”).
Shareholders’ net loss from continuing operations of $31.4 million or $0.57 per common share in the second quarter, compared to shareholders’ net earnings from continuing operations of $48.0 million or $0.81 per common share in the same period in the prior year.
The Company has resumed certain Ontario capital projects after government mandated closures on non-critical construction projects were lifted by the Government of Ontario on May 19, 2020.
“We had a full quarter of business closure as a result of the temporary suspensions since March 16, 2020 in response to the pandemic. While we have taken actions to significantly reduce our operating expenses during the closure period, our second quarter results were negatively impacted materially by the closures. Since the closure of our 25 operations across the country almost five months ago, we worked closely with key stakeholders such as our Provincial Crown corporations and regulators to ensure our plans properly address provincial health authorities’ guidance and recommendations as provincial economies reopen,” stated Rod Baker, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Certain provinces have now approved casinos to reopen as part of their phased reopening plans, and we are working diligently on determining the reopening timelines and dates as we complete the necessary health and safety enhancements outlined in our plans.”
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The temporary closures of the Company’s operations resulted in a decrease in revenues, expenses, Adjusted EBITDA1, Free Cash Flow1, and cash flows when compared to the same period in the prior year.
During the second quarter, the Company took measures to significantly reduce its operating expenses to mitigate the decline in revenues from the gaming facility closures. Human resource expenses in the second quarter primarily consisted of costs related to remaining personnel required to support the business during the closure period. For the three months ended June 30, 2020, approximately half of the property, marketing and administration expenses were related to direct property operating costs, including property taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance, with the remaining half related to administration costs, including licenses, subscriptions and professional fees.
Revenues and Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter were $62.8 million and $31.8 million, respectively. Revenues for the second quarter primarily consisted of the Ontario bundles’ annual entitlement of service provider fees for permitted capital expenditures recognized in full in the second quarter and continued service provider base fixed fees under the respective casino operating agreements, which resulted in a positive Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA was also positively impacted by $20.9 million in lease payments which are no longer recognized as operating expenses in Adjusted EBITDA due to the implementation of IFRS 16, the new lease accounting standard adopted in the prior year.
The Company recognized negative cash flows in the second quarter due to the temporary suspension of operations. In the second quarter, the Company had negative of $123.4 million, which was consisted of Adjusted EBITDA of $31.8 million, as previously discussed, less changes in non-cash working capital of $22.2 million, capital expenditures of $98.6 million, substantially all of which was in Ontario, payment of lease liabilities of $20.9 million, and interest paid of $13.5 million. The Company funded the negative Free Cash Flow of $123.4 million by borrowing an additional $60.7 million on its credit facilities for capital expenditures in Ontario and the remainder from available cash balances.
The Company had cash outflow of $383.7 million for the second quarter. Prior to the end of the first quarter of 2020, the Company drew $325.0 million on the revolving portion of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities to ensure it had sufficient liquidity available, which was repaid in full during the second quarter of 2020. Other cash outflows for the second quarter included payments to satisfy working capital obligations, payment of lease liabilities and capital expenditures, as discussed above.
Shareholders’ net loss from continuing operations was $31.4 million in the second quarter due to the above mentioned facility closures, which had a negative impact on revenues.
SOURCE Great Canadian Gaming Corporation
Canada
AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor.
On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behavior, and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses, and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.
In the midst of this high-risk environment, casino management approved an unscheduled request by the performing artist to host an after-party on the active gaming floor. The artist and more than 400 guests were permitted onto the gaming floor where the artist was allowed to perform amidst operational table games and gaming machines – without any prior risk assessment or planning.
As a result, security personnel were unable to effectively control the casino floor, including witness reports that an attendee was seen climbing onto slot machines. Failure to maintain appropriate control compromises the security, safety, and integrity of the casino floor. Following the conclusion of the event, the operator failed to promptly report these incidents to the AGCO as required.
Based on the findings of its review, the AGCO’s Registrar has issued an Order of Monetary Penalty (OMP) totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. These penalties address critical failures in their operations, incident reporting, employee training, and the management of disturbances.
A gaming operator served with an OMP has 15 days to appeal the Registrar’s decision to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), an adjudicative tribunal that is part of Tribunals Ontario and independent of the AGCO.
“Casino operators have a fundamental duty to control their gaming environment. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto’s lapses in this incident compromised the safety of patrons and the security and integrity of the gaming floor,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO, said.
International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Canada Solutions ULC (hereinafter “IGT”), signed an eight-year agreement with Atlantic Lottery to supply its IntelligenEVO video lottery central system technology across Atlantic Canada. The agreement includes the option for multiple extensions and positions the Atlantic Lottery to become the first World Lottery Association (WLA)-affiliated lottery operator to deploy IGT’s next-generation central management system in a game-to-system (G2S) distributed market.
“By leveraging IGT’s IntelligenEVO technology, Atlantic Lottery will power its video lottery network with the industry’s best-in-class central system and position itself to maximize future contributions to good causes. As an organization that prioritizes system security and exceptional player experiences, Atlantic Lottery believes that IGT’s IntelliegnEVO solution will help generate high player satisfaction and optimal network performance,” said Michael MacKinnon, Atlantic Lottery VP, Product.
“As a long-time supplier to Atlantic Lottery, IGT looks forward to helping the Lottery achieve its growth and player engagement goals with our leading-edge IntelligenEVO video lottery central system. IGT’s IntelligenEVO is a scalable technology for the WLA market that is backed by decades of experience and operator feedback, and maximizes the benefits of real-time data, cloud-based technologies and in-depth analytics,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP Canada, EMEA and LATAM, Gaming Sales.
With peak system security, network availability and responsible gaming functionalities, IntelligenEVO is a reliable, scalable solution that can meet the needs of today and in the future. The solution will accelerate time-to-market and enables the Atlantic Lottery to benefit from the system’s suite of player-focused functionality. The technology’s G2S and open API design optimizes data collection and delivery and will enable Atlantic Lottery to customize their program for evolving player needs.
NetGaming, a fast-growing online casino content supplier, is proud to announce its launch in Ontario with Rush Street Interactive, Inc., a leading online casino and sports betting company in the United States, Canada and Latin America. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for NetGaming as it continues to expand its footprint across regulated North American markets.
As part of the launch, Ontario players on BetRivers can now enjoy a diverse portfolio of NetGaming titles, known for their high-quality graphics, immersive gameplay, and unique themes. Standout games such as Zeus’s Thunderbolt, Bison Gold, and Fireball Inferno are among the first to go live, with additional titles set to follow soon.
This partnership is just the beginning. NetGaming plans to extend its collaboration with Rush Street Interactive into Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Mexico over the coming months.
Pallavi Deshmukh, CEO of NetGaming, commented: “We are thrilled to go live with Rush Street Interactive, a powerhouse operator with a strong presence and loyal player base. This launch marks a significant milestone in our
North American expansion strategy and underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences tailored to local player preferences across the region.”
Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive, commented: “We are pleased to partner with NetGaming to bring innovative, premium games to our players in Ontario. This collaboration aligns with our strategy to offer world-class
entertainment through engaging, action-packed online casino games. We look forward to expanding this partnership into additional regulated markets in the months ahead.”
This strategic partnership highlights both companies’ dedication to providing high- quality, innovative, and responsible entertainment to players in regulated markets.
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