Press Releases

RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eldorado Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERI) (“Eldorado,” “ERI,” or “the Company”) today reported record operating income and Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. As outlined in the tables below, the Company generated 2019 first quarter Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA of $166.7 million and Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA after $21.9 million of Master Lease payments of $144.8 million. The property results for Presque Isle Downs and Casino and Lady Luck Nemacolin are excluded in the results of operations for both the 2019 and 2018 first quarter periods in this press release following their respective sales on January 11, 2019 and March 8, 2019.

“Eldorado’s record first quarter results reflect our expanded, geographically diversified regional gaming platform and benefited from our unique operating initiatives which drove a 6.4% rise in Adjusted EBITDA to $166.7 million on a 4.4% net revenue decline. First quarter growth was achieved despite significant weather disruption across the bulk of the portfolio in the 2019 first quarter. Our Black Hawk properties were impacted by ongoing renovation-related disruptions to large portions of the hotel rooms and gaming floors which will be completed in the second quarter. Notwithstanding these issues, our growth was broad based across the property portfolio with Adjusted EBITDA rising at 17 of our 26 properties, including double-digit Adjusted EBITDA growth at nine properties. Overall, Adjusted EBITDA increased at four of our five reporting segments as our margin enhancement and operating efficiency initiatives led to a 270 basis point year-over-year rise in the consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin to a first quarter record of 26.6%,” said Tom Reeg, Chief Executive Officer of Eldorado.

“We continue to make significant progress on our synergy plan following our acquisition of Tropicana Entertainment and the Grand Victoria Casino in the second half of 2018. Our implementation of best practices across the property portfolio continues to benefit our legacy properties as well, resulting in expanded margins and elevated guest service and satisfaction across our operations. We expect to continue to grow property margins across the portfolio as we focus on extracting additional efficiencies from our expanded scale in areas such as marketing, advertising, purchasing, player promotion and food and beverage operations.

“Our successful execution on return-focused amenity upgrades remains another factor in our ability to drive improved operating performance. In Reno, we have completely transformed THE ROW properties over the last several years with the renovation of approximately 50% of the 4,071 hotel rooms, new food and beverage outlets, the addition of a world-class spa and other enhancements that have positioned THE ROW as a market leader. We also continue to make progress in conjunction with our partner, The Cordish Companies, on the master plan and design concept that is expected to transform Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park and the surrounding real estate to a must see mixed-use entertainment and hospitality destination. In Black Hawk we are renovating all of the hotel rooms at both properties and updating the casino floors in anticipation of new visitors to the market beginning later this year. Finally, at Tropicana Atlantic City we recently opened an expansive, new sportsbook that has created great excitement and positioned the property as a leader in the market for sports wagering enthusiasts which is translating into increased visitation and higher table game play, food and beverage revenue and hotel occupancy while also allowing us to realize marketing efficiencies.”

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Return of Capital

At March 31, 2019, Eldorado had $216.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, excluding restricted cash. Outstanding indebtedness at March 31, 2019 totaled $3.1 billion, including approximately $40.0 million outstanding on the Company’s revolving credit facility as Eldorado paid down approximately $205.0 million of outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility in the 2019 first quarter, which included approximately $150 million of proceeds from the sale of Presque Isle Downs that were applied to temporarily repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility. The terms of our indentures require us to make an offer to purchase a portion of our outstanding senior notes with the excess proceeds from the sale unless we permanently reduce debt or make specified acquisitions or capital expenditures within 365 days of the sale. Capital expenditures in the first quarter of 2019 totaled $38.4 million.

The Company did not repurchase any shares in the 2019 first quarter and continues to have approximately $140.9 million remaining on its current stock repurchase program.

Summary of 2019 First Quarter Region Results

The property results for Presque Isle Downs and Casino and Lady Luck Nemacolin have been excluded from the results of operations in this press release and property results for Grand Victoria and properties owned by TEI have been included in results of operations for the first quarter of 2018, which preceded the date of acquisition of such properties. Such presentation does not conform with GAAP or the Securities and Exchange Commission rules for pro forma presentation; however, we believe that the additional financial information will be helpful to investors in comparing current results with results of prior periods.

West Region(THE ROW, Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk, Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk, Tropicana Laughlin Hotel and Casino and MontBleu Casino Resort & Spa)

Net revenue for the West Region properties for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 declined approximately 8.4% to $118.1 million compared to $128.9 million in the prior-year period, and operating income decreased to $10.8 million from $14.8 million in the year-ago quarter. West Region first quarter Adjusted EBITDA declined 8.2% to $24.0 million. The region’s Adjusted EBITDA margin improved 10 basis points to 20.4% as the Company was successful in managing labor costs to match the lower volumes at THE ROW and Black Hawk properties, primarily related to weather and construction disruption, respectively.

Midwest Region(Isle Casino Waterloo, Isle Casino Bettendorf, Isle of Capri Casino Boonville, Isle Casino Cape Girardeau, Lady Luck Casino Caruthersville and Isle of Capri Casino Kansas City)

Net revenue for the Midwest Region properties for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 decreased approximately 4.0% to $96.8 million compared to $100.8 million in the prior-year period, while operating income rose to $27.8 million from $26.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Midwest Region first quarter Adjusted EBITDA rose approximately 5.2% to $36.3 million as the Adjusted EBITDA margin for the segment rose 330 basis points to 37.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was up at all six of the Midwest properties year over year for the second consecutive quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the Midwest Region in the prior-year period was $34.5 million reflecting an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.2%.

South Region(Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, Eldorado Shreveport, Isle of Capri Casino Lula, Lady Luck Casino Vicksburg, Isle of Capri Lake Charles, Trop Casino Greenville and Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel)

Net revenue for the South Region properties for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 declined approximately 6.6% to $132.7 million compared to $142.2 million in the prior-year period, while operating income increased to $27.5 million from $14.7 million in the year-ago quarter. South Region first quarter Adjusted EBITDA increased approximately 8.5% to $38.7 million as Adjusted EBITDA increased at five of the seven South region properties, including double-digit increases at three properties. The Adjusted EBITDA margin for the segment rose 410 basis points to 29.1%.

East Region(Eldorado Scioto Downs Racino, Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort and Tropicana Casino and Resort, Atlantic City)

Net revenue for the East Region properties for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 declined approximately 0.9% to $158.2 million compared to $159.7 million in the prior-year period, while operating income grew to $27.3 million from $24.5 million in the year-ago quarter. East Region first quarter Adjusted EBITDA rose 4.5% to $39.5 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $37.8 million in the prior-year period as the East Region’s Adjusted EBITDA margin improved 130 basis points to 25.0%.

Central Region(Grand Victoria Casino, Tropicana Evansville and Lumière Place)

Net revenue for the Central Region for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 decreased approximately 3.5% to $120.5 million compared to $124.9 million in the prior-year period, while operating income increased to $27.1 million from $27.0 million in the year-ago quarter. Central Region Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter rose 9.1% to $38.3 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $35.1 million in the prior-year period as the Central Region’s Adjusted EBITDA margin improved 370 basis points to 31.8%. Adjusted EBITDA improved by double digits at two of the three properties.

Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA (defined below), a non-GAAP financial measure, has been presented as a supplemental disclosure because it is a widely used measure of performance and basis for valuation of companies in our industry and we believe that this non-GAAP supplemental information will be helpful in understanding the Company’s ongoing operating results. Management has historically used Adjusted EBITDA when evaluating operating performance because we believe that the inclusion or exclusion of certain recurring and non-recurring items is necessary to provide a full understanding of our core operating results and as a means to evaluate period-to-period results. Adjusted EBITDA represents operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, transaction expenses, severance expense, selling costs associated with the disposition of properties, proceeds from terminated sales, preopening expenses, business interruption insurance proceeds, real estate tax settlements, other than temporary impairments on investments, impairment charges, equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates, (gain) loss on the sale or disposal of property and equipment, (gain) loss associated with the sales of Presque Isle Downs and Nemacolin and other non-cash regulatory gaming assessments. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the expense associated with our Master Lease with GLPI as the transaction was accounted for as a financing obligation. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”), is unaudited and should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) as an indicator of our operating performance. Uses of cash flows that are not reflected in Adjusted EBITDA include capital expenditures, interest payments, income taxes, debt principal repayments, payments under our Master Lease and certain regulatory gaming assessments, which can be significant. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of our liquidity. Other companies that provide EBITDA information may calculate EBITDA differently than we do. The definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as the definitions used in any of our debt agreements.

First Quarter Conference Call

Eldorado will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today. Senior management will discuss the financial results and host a question and answer session. The dial in number for the audio conference call is 323/794-2597, conference ID 1983281 (domestic and international callers). Participants can also access a live webcast of the call through the “Events & Presentations” section of Eldorado’s website at http://www.eldoradoresorts.com/ and a replay of the webcast will be archived on the site for 90 days following the live event.

About Eldorado Resorts, Inc.

Eldorado Resorts is a leading casino entertainment company that owns and operates twenty-six properties in twelve states, including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia. In aggregate, Eldorado’s properties feature approximately 28,000 slot machines and VLTs and approximately 750 table games, and over 12,500 hotel rooms. For more information, please visit www.eldoradoresorts.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our strategies, objectives and plans for future development or acquisitions of properties or operations, as well as expectations, future operating results and other information that is not historical information.When used in this press release, the terms or phrases such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “expects,” “might,” “may,” “estimates,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “will likely continue,” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.Although our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and with what we believe is a reasonable basis, there can be no assurance that these expectations, beliefs and projections will be realized.There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements which are included elsewhere in this press release.Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, but are not limited to:Eldorado’s ability to promptly and effectively integrate acquired properties and realize synergies resulting from the combined operations; the possibility that sports book, online and mobile betting and gaming are not approved in various jurisdictions, or, to the extent that such gaming activities are approved, the market for such gaming does not develop as anticipated; our substantial indebtedness and obligations under our Master Lease and the impact of such obligations on our operations and liquidity; our ability to identify and execute acquisition and development opportunities; risks relating to construction, development and expansion opportunities, including the ability of our joint venture to plan, finance and receive required approvals to develop our Pompano real estate on terms that we find acceptable, or at all; competition; sensitivity of our operations to reductions in discretionary consumer spending and changes in general economic and market conditions; governmental regulations, including risk relating to obtaining and maintaining required licenses, approvals and permits necessary for the operation of online and mobile betting and gaming, and increases in gaming taxes and fees in jurisdictions in which we operate; and other risks and uncertainties described in our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.

In light of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur.These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available on our website or otherwise, and we do not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which the statement is made, except as may be required by law.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190502005836/en/

Thomas Reeg
Chief Executive Officer
Eldorado Resorts, Inc.
775/328-0112
investorrelations@eldoradoresorts.com

Joseph N. Jaffoni, Richard Land
JCIR
212/835-8500
eri@jcir.com

Source: Eldorado Resorts, Inc.