2008 Countrywide Commercial Casino online as well as Racino Game titles Earnings Analysis

A Time period of Adjustment

Oops! That big hissing sound is the gaming balloon that experienced been developing above the years, slowly shedding air. But, it has not been a tide that decreased all ships however, as some emerging and expanding gaming jurisdictions confirmed robust expansion in 2008.

Total, the industrial and racetrack on line casino sectors (excluding Indian gaming), seasoned a three.5 per cent decrease in gaming revenues for 2008, creating a total of $36.two billion, down some $800 million from 2007. It was the Racino sector that has tempered this drop, as they confirmed a obtain of virtually $one billion in 2008, thereby bringing the Industrial sector marketplace drop to $1.8 billion, or six.seven percent. Nevada was the most significant loser in 2008, dropping nearly $one.three billion, more than 50 % of which stemmed from the Las Vegas Strip segment.

Hunkering Down

For the most element, on line casino operators have been caught reasonably flat-footed by the extent of the 2008 profits downturn, as it was not till the third and fourth quarters when it actually nosedived. Riding the crest of yr over calendar year marketplace expansion across the region and the availability of sufficient credit rating and equity resources, new construction and growth proliferated in latest several years. Nowadays, confronted with the realities of declining, or at ideal stagnant demand from customers, a lot of of these initiatives are now deemed in excess of-leveraged and/or in excess of-sized. As a end result several gaming organizations are attempting to renegotiate their debt – created more hard by reduce valuations – even though also paring down operational charges. The latter has grow to be a quite problematic conundrum when working with the competitors, specifically in people jurisdictions that are now vying for market place shares with new rising on line casino initiatives in neighboring places. A subject matter we discuss more completely in the State by Point out investigation area of this publication.

As a outcome of these problems the gaming business landscape is now strewn with impending fatalities. Between the a lot more noteworthy troubled firms are Station Casinos, Empire Resorts, Harrah’s Enjoyment, Greektown Holdings, Legends Gaming, Tropicana Entertainment, Herbst Gaming and the record grows every single week.

“How lengthy will these financial conditions persist, and are we at the bottom however?” are questions no 1 seems to be answering yet. What is distinct even so is that most gaming jurisdictions will have to find out how to offer with a scaled-down pie.

Notice:
This evaluation contains only gaming revenues of accredited casinos and pari-mutuel stores that supply on line casino games, and not Indian gaming functions, card rooms, or small non-casino sort slot spots. The complete article, such as profits tables is available on our internet website page.

Enter/Output Product

A key facet that seems to have arisen from the ashes of this recent trend is that a lot of casino projects have been just way too huge to support them selves. The input, in conditions of investment pounds, was not proportional to the output, in conditions of web profit right after credit card debt support, in comparison to earlier attained outcomes. Much more and/or bigger is not often far better. Seeing the increase in non-gaming income at the Las Vegas Strip resorts, gave impetus to the advancement of much more complete facilities in numerous other jurisdictions. The flaw in this method nonetheless is that the charges related with widening marketplace penetration and occasioned-use, are significantly larger than people incurred to entice the base market place.

As daytripper markets turn out to be more aggressive, casino venues will have to depend far more and much more on their in-home resort patrons, and dimension their qualities (and anticipations) accordingly. Even though Steve Wynn started a key development in producing up-marketplace mega-places, there basically was not sufficient need on the Strip to warrant the several other similar assignments that followed that aimed at the identical market.

The trick is to strike a pleased medium in project configurations which of training course call for considerably less of a ‘seat-of-pants’ method, and 1 that is a lot more examined. A shameless plug for advancement consultants like ourselves.

Other Gaming Activities

Though there are no printed thorough information of American Indian gaming revenues, anecdotal evidence seems to advise that this section has been as difficult strike as the Business sector. The two Connecticut Indian gaming installations report slot revenue of $1.6 billion in 2008, representing a fall of about seven %, or almost $114 million, far more than doubling the three.5 % fall from the yr before. This industry is evidently even now reeling from the ripple-impact of a casino enlargement in Rhode Island, and the opening of slot functions in New York and Pennsylvania.

The Arizona Office of Gaming studies that contributions primarily based on a gaming earnings formulation from the state’s 23 Indian gaming casinos, have been declining each quarter in 2008 in contrast to the previous yr decreasing .8 % in the 1st quarter, 7.5 per cent in the 2nd quarter, 9.5 p.c in the third quarter, and sixteen.one p.c in the fourth quarter.

Some SEC reporting Indian gaming homes report related decreases. Seneca Gaming, which operates three Course III casinos in upstate New York, reports that although calendar yr 2008 showed an nearly two per cent expansion fee in gaming revenues, there was an eight.seven percent decline in the third quarter and an nearly 10 % decline in the fourth quarter of 2008, in contrast with 2007. Gaming income tendencies at nearby Niagara Falls, Ontario were down 1.5% in 2008 in contrast with 2007.

It’s been a combined-bag for condition lotteries across the nation. The North American Affiliation of Point out & Provincial Lotteries reports that U.S. lotteries generated a total of $60.six billion in sales in fiscal 2008, up about 3 percent from the prior calendar year however some jurisdictions noted decreases, most notably California, which showed an 8 % fall. Inasmuch as some of these states are on various fiscal yr ends, it would seem that the info does not mirror the influence of third and/or fourth quarter results.

In accordance to information provided by Equibase, horse racing pari-mutuel revenues proceed their downward spiral, slipping seven per cent to $thirteen.seven billion in 2008, versus $14.7 billion in 2007.

Planned & Proposed New Expansions

As beforehand mentioned, it has been new gaming jurisdictions that have spawned a lot of the development in once-a-year on line casino/racino revenues above the a long time, and their affect is apt to carry on into the near potential.

Florida
Miami Dade voters accredited a ballot concern that allows every of three pari-mutuels to have a casino facility of up to 2,000 slot equipment. The Flagler Pet Observe and Miami Jai-Alai are reportedly preparing opening in late 2009 or early 2010, while the Calder installation in Miami Gardens has however to introduced its programs. There are numerous other proposals getting regarded as that would additional expand on line casino advancement during the condition.

Illinois
The condition finally acquired close to to reissuing its tenth license, late in December, 2008 awarding it to Midwest Gaming & Amusement, LLC for a 1,200+ match casino found in Des Plaines just east of O’Hare. The new facility is not most likely to open till 2010. There has also been some discussion about permitting an boost in for every area gaming positions and slots at racetracks, despite the fact that neither initiative seems to have any traction at this time.

Kansas
The state’s expanded lottery software that allows for the improvement of 4 casino gaming zones and slots at existing horse and pet tracks appears mired, as only 1 facility is presently below design, although three other proposals had been rescinded. The only bidder on the Cherokee County agreement, claimed it could not contend with the new Quapaw tribal casino in Oklahoma, which is found so close to the condition line that its parking lot is in Kansas. The Boot Hill Casino Resort in Dodge Metropolis is planing a December 2009 opening with 575 slots and ten table online games, along with a next phase because of to open up in 2011 with 875 slots and twenty desk online games. The point out has extended the software procedure for the other three zones until April, 2009.

Kentucky
There is nonetheless a good deal of ‘jockeying’ heading on, but the prospect of as a lot of as 8 slot parlors and racinos seems to be back on the front-burner, but very likely not fixed for the duration of the recent legislative session.

Las Vegas
There are about fourteen,000 rooms scheduled to occur on line in 2009, with the most modern becoming the 390 place M Vacation resort in Henderson. There are expansions underway at each Caesars Palace and Hard Rock and new lodges incorporate two parts of the City Middle undertaking, and the Fountainebleau.

Louisiana
Pinnacle Entertainment’s new casino improvement projects in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, whilst delayed, are reported to still be on-keep track of for opening this calendar year and/or early 2010.

Maine
There is a invoice beneath thought that could a lot more than double Penn National’s slot machines to three,000, as nicely as a proposal that would get rid of the restriction that slots be found within five miles of the observe. Scarborough Downs, which has been unsuccessful in convincing neighborhood inhabitants to enable slots, may possibly be taking into consideration shifting to a more hospitable town.

Maryland
A referendum was approved in November, 2008 that enables for the growth of 5 casinos with a overall of 15,000 slots, and now the bidding war is afoot although it is not as powerful as the condition experienced expected.

Mississippi
Grand Soleil Casino Vacation resort in Natchez experienced been slated to open in 2008, but has operate into a variety of financing issues and even though the hotel part is open up, the riverboat is described to open up in the Spring of ’09. Harrah’s Margaritaville On line casino in Biloxi, while scaled back fairly, is still on keep track of to open this yr.

New England
Massachusetts, a sleeping-large in phrases of market likely, is nonetheless maneuvering to open up casinos/racinos, and/or a Class III Indian gaming facility, but can not look to muster the political assistance. A modern review concluded by Dartmouth College estimates that Massachusetts resident put in much more than $920 million previous 12 months at Connecticut casinos and slot device parlors in Rhode Island and Maine. The New Hampshire legislature not too long ago declined an option to build casinos, nonetheless the subject matter is probably to be revisited, specifically if Massachusetts decides to go forward. There are also attempts in Maine to reconsider its possibilities.

New Jersey
Atlantic City’s casinos have imposed their political will on staving off the addition of slot machines at racetracks by lately agreeing to proceed augmenting purses with an added tax. The governor nevertheless, has appointed a new panel to review the state’s sagging racing plan which ironically, can only be preserved by permitting the tracks to have slot equipment especially at the Meadowlands. (See The Nor’easter Squeeze section)

New York
Just when it seemed as if Aqueduct’s four,five hundred VLT facility would finally be created, the successful bidder indicated an inability to make the required $370 million payment, citing the present lending local climate, and throwing the task back into the lap of the governor. Though the marketplace demand from customers in the region could be regarded as quite strong, the prospect of further competition from close by Belmont could have an influence on Aqueduct’s underlining economic feasibility, specifically considering that slightly less than 30% of the internet earn is retained by the operator.

Ideas to relocate Monticello Raceway into a vacation resort complex are currently being reconsidered possibly owing to both the probable opening of at minimum one or perhaps two racino functions in the NY metro area, and the resurfacing of initiatives to advancement a Class III Indian gaming facility in the Catskills.

Ohio
Nevertheless one more gaming proposal is currently being set forth in Ohio, soon after last year’s model was turned down by the voters. This plan phone calls for one particular on line casino each and every in the state’s largest cities: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo. There would be a bare minimum expense necessary of $250 million, as effectively as an preliminary licensing price of $fifty million, and a 33 per cent tax on gaming profits.

Pennsylvania
The Sands in Bethlehem is thanks to open in the Spring of ’09, and the new Rivers task in Pittsburgh is expected to be operational in August, ’09 whilst Philadelphia’s two slot amenities nevertheless wallow in a political mire, but are anticipated to commence design this calendar year.

South Dakota
The Lodge at Deadwood is slated to open in the Drop of 2009, and consist of 300 game titles, one hundred forty rooms and a wide selection of amenities.

Texas
Legislators are proposing a voter referendum that would amend the condition structure to enable on line casino gambling in specified regions, as effectively as enable gambling on American Indian lands in Texas and at present racetracks.

West Virginia
The Greenbriar, the state’s venerable vacation resort facility has filed for bankruptcy, but has a new suitor in Marriott Resorts, who have reportedly tendered an offer you. Condition federal government has proffered the idea of enabling the vacation resort to supply on line casino video games, but this hard work is in also early a stage to have any traction a single way or an additional.

www.aw8.casino Gaming
A latest Supreme Courtroom ruling that restricts the getting of lands into have faith in on behalf of federally regarded American Indian tribes has more stymied some new Class III gaming initiatives throughout the place. Moreover, there were eleven Indian on line casino projects rejected by the DOI very last 12 months since of its new rule that casinos should be near ample to a reservation that tribal members can function at them. It has been advised that the new Obama administration may possibly be a lot more sympathetic to the development of Indian gaming initiatives, but this issue has nevertheless to be dealt with.

In the meantime, there are other Course III initiatives in the various phases of growth. The Seneca on line casino task in Buffalo, NY, while running a tiny temporary facility, has delayed an already beneath development long lasting facility till the industry rebounds. They have also expressed an curiosity in establishing a on line casino in the Catskills. The state gaming compact with Seminoles in Florida is getting challenged, and could affect their ideas for more substantial initiatives. There are new Indian gaming tasks set to open in Michigan and Oklahoma this yr, and other people are in the organizing phase. Texas could enable the reopening of Indian gaming services and let other location and there are programs afoot by the Navajos in Arizona to build additional casinos. California is poised to open up two to three new Course III casinos in 2009/10.

The Nor’easter Squeeze

Total gaming revenue in Atlantic Town has declined seven.6 percent, from $4.9 billion in 2007 to $4.5 billion in 2008 with decreases continuing into 2009, as the metropolis is locating by itself in an extreme comp-war with the Pennsylvania venues. At 1 time the only casinos in the Northeast ended up positioned in Atlantic Town, in which it appeared as if it may in fact even eclipse the Las Vegas Strip’s annual gaming revenues.

Little by little nonetheless its industry share was getting encroached on, 1st by the growth of a big Course III gaming operation in Connecticut, and then one more slots operations in Rhode Island, and then online video lottery terminals at New York racetracks, racinos in West Virginia and Delaware, and most recently Pennsylvania.

Now, with the prepared opening of slot operations in Maryland, the impending opening of a new casino in Bethlehem, PA, and at some point two functions in Philadelphia, the noose is tightening close to Atlantic City’s future prospects. It truly is reliance on working day-trippers lulled it into a fake perception of protection, and it now finds by itself having to redefine its mission statement to “destination resort.”

The only issue with this technique nevertheless is that it is ill-outfitted to pull it off. For all intents and needs, Atlantic Town is below-roomed and/or more than-gamed. There is just not enough day-tripper industry to go around, and their successful investing area is tightening, as the peripheral populations northward now/will have far more completely ready obtain to a widened source in New York (Yonkers, and before long at Aqueduct and perhaps Belmont), westward in Pennsylvania and southward in Delaware, West Virginia and Maryland.

Other than the ocean obtain, the city’s only actual aggressive rewards are its lodge capacity and the availability of table game titles, although the latter is very likely to eventuate in Pennsylvania, and perhaps Delaware. In order to sufficiently compete as a location resort the town requirements to develop further guest rooms and not automatically gaming capacity. By comparison, the Las Vegas Strip houses – real gaming places, in that they do not have significantly of a working day-trip market place, except for the ‘locals’ – have an common of .87 gaming positions for every guest room while Atlantic City’s regular is 2.seventy four positions per visitor space.

It is not a coincidence that Atlantic City’s two premier lodges, the Borgata and Harrah’s Marina, each of which extra new rooms in 2008, were the least impacted by the most recent downturn. The Borgata experienced a gaming revenue drop of 1.6 per cent, whilst Harrah’s Marina described a 4.nine percent improve in comparison to 2007. Furthermore, the toughest hit venues, specifically the AC Hilton, Resorts and the Trump Marina, also have the smallest quantity of rooms. In the meantime some of the venues are teetering on viability, including the the Trump homes and Resorts with the hoped for sale of the Tropicana has been additional delayed, and getting rid of valuation.

With a continual increase in gaming revenues by way of 2006, the town appeared primary for further improvement, which precipitated planning for 4 new resort initiatives, each and every of which have now been indefinitely delayed. Revel Enjoyment Group’s $two.5 billion undertaking stays an iron skeleton, Pinnacle Enjoyment has introduced it might look for to market its razed Sands internet site, MGM Mirage has shelved its on line casino programs, and Penn Countrywide appears to have stopped its pursuit of the Bader Field airport site.