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Boyd Gaming Reports Second-Quarter 2019 Results
Reading Time: 11 minutes
Boyd Gaming Corporation reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019.
Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “During the second quarter, our Company made continued progress executing against our strategic growth initiatives. Despite a few isolated challenges, we delivered revenue, Adjusted EBITDAR and operating margin growth in every segment of our business, as our operating teams identified and drove profitable revenue growth and enhanced efficiencies. We achieved strong growth at our newly acquired properties, significantly improving upon their solid standalone performances last year. And through ongoing marketing and operational initiatives, we are successfully growing visitation and expanding our customer base across the country. In all we are pleased with our progress, and remain confident we are well-positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities.”
Boyd Gaming reported second-quarter revenues of $846.1 million, up 37.2% from $616.8 million in the second quarter of 2018. The Company reported net income of $48.5 million, or $0.43 per share, for the second quarter of 2019, compared to $38.9 million, or $0.34 per share, for the year-ago period.
Total Adjusted EBITDAR(1) was $232.6 million in the second quarter of 2019, rising 42.3% from $163.4 million in the second quarter of 2018. Adjusted Earnings(1) for the second quarter of 2019 were $52.5 million, or $0.46 per share, compared to Adjusted Earnings of $44.0 million, or $0.38 per share, for the same period in 2018.
Results for the second quarter of 2019 include $228.5 million in revenues and $66.8 million in Adjusted EBITDAR from Ameristar Kansas City, Ameristar St. Charles, Belterra Resort and Belterra Park, acquired on October 15, 2018; Valley Forge Casino Resort, acquired by the Company on September 17, 2018; and Lattner Entertainment, acquired on June 1, 2018.
|
(1) |
See footnotes at the end of the release for additional information relative to non-GAAP financial measures. |
Operations Review
Las Vegas Locals
In the Las Vegas Locals segment, second-quarter 2019 revenues were $220.9 million, up from $220.0 million in the year-ago quarter. Second-quarter 2019 Adjusted EBITDAR was $71.4 million, up from $70.2 million in the second quarter of 2018.
The Las Vegas Locals segment recorded its highest second-quarter Adjusted EBITDAR in 14 years. Despite challenging year-over-year comparisons and lower hold at The Orleans, the segment achieved continued growth in revenues, Adjusted EBITDAR and operating margins. Adjusted EBITDAR grew at every major property in the segment during the quarter, excluding The Orleans.
Downtown Las Vegas
In the Downtown Las Vegas segment, revenues were $64.5 million in the second quarter of 2019, up from $61.2 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted EBITDAR was a second-quarter record of $15.9 million in the current year, an increase of 17.4% from $13.5 million in the second quarter of 2018.
All three Downtown Las Vegas properties set Adjusted EBITDAR records for the second quarter. Segment results reflect strong gains in Hawaiian visitation and unrated play, as well as continued growth throughout the market.
Midwest & South
In the Midwest & South segment, revenues were $560.7 million, up from $335.6 million in the second quarter of 2018. Adjusted EBITDAR was $165.1 million, growing from $98.5 million in the year-ago period. Results for the segment include contributions from the Company’s newly acquired properties.
On a same-store basis, the Midwest & South segment posted its fifth consecutive quarter of improved revenues, Adjusted EBITDAR and operating margins, with Adjusted EBITDAR gains at a majority of the Company’s same-store regional properties. On a combined basis, the Company’s newly acquired properties delivered revenue growth and strong Adjusted EBITDAR and margin increases over their standalone results in the prior year.
Balance Sheet Statistics
As of June 30, 2019, Boyd Gaming had cash on hand of $239.4 million, and total debt of $3.95 billion.
Full-Year 2019 Guidance
For the full year 2019, Boyd Gaming reaffirms its previously provided guidance of total Adjusted EBITDAR of $885 millionto $910 million.
|
BOYD GAMING CORPORATION |
||||||||||||||||
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
||||||||||||||||
|
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
Six Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||
|
June 30, |
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
|
(In thousands, except per share data) |
2019 (a) |
2018 |
2019 (a) |
2018 |
||||||||||||
|
Revenues |
||||||||||||||||
|
Gaming |
$ |
633,659 |
$ |
447,788 |
$ |
1,253,912 |
$ |
888,251 |
||||||||
|
Food & beverage |
112,047 |
87,601 |
223,137 |
173,000 |
||||||||||||
|
Room |
61,097 |
49,434 |
118,341 |
97,346 |
||||||||||||
|
Other |
39,329 |
31,970 |
78,030 |
64,314 |
||||||||||||
|
Total revenues |
846,132 |
616,793 |
1,673,420 |
1,222,911 |
||||||||||||
|
Operating costs and expenses |
||||||||||||||||
|
Gaming |
282,593 |
193,991 |
559,209 |
383,026 |
||||||||||||
|
Food & beverage |
103,477 |
81,619 |
205,628 |
164,309 |
||||||||||||
|
Room |
27,799 |
21,654 |
54,681 |
42,587 |
||||||||||||
|
Other |
24,748 |
21,645 |
48,628 |
42,450 |
||||||||||||
|
Selling, general and administrative |
116,701 |
88,041 |
232,112 |
175,624 |
||||||||||||
|
Master lease rent expense (b) |
24,431 |
— |
48,393 |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Maintenance and utilities |
39,707 |
28,673 |
77,807 |
56,599 |
||||||||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
68,051 |
53,923 |
135,304 |
105,199 |
||||||||||||
|
Corporate expense |
26,913 |
24,063 |
58,090 |
49,920 |
||||||||||||
|
Project development, preopening and writedowns |
4,915 |
5,801 |
8,946 |
9,241 |
||||||||||||
|
Impairment of assets |
— |
993 |
— |
993 |
||||||||||||
|
Other operating items, net |
105 |
132 |
304 |
1,931 |
||||||||||||
|
Total operating costs and expenses |
719,440 |
520,535 |
1,429,102 |
1,031,879 |
||||||||||||
|
Operating income |
126,692 |
96,258 |
244,318 |
191,032 |
||||||||||||
|
Other expense (income) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Interest income |
(816) |
(522) |
(922) |
(979) |
||||||||||||
|
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized |
61,233 |
44,959 |
122,563 |
89,218 |
||||||||||||
|
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt |
508 |
— |
508 |
61 |
||||||||||||
|
Other, net |
(455) |
(24) |
(340) |
(404) |
||||||||||||
|
Total other expense, net |
60,470 |
44,413 |
121,809 |
87,896 |
||||||||||||
|
Income before income taxes |
66,222 |
51,845 |
122,509 |
103,136 |
||||||||||||
|
Income tax provision |
(17,738) |
(13,247) |
(28,574) |
(23,139) |
||||||||||||
|
Income from continuing operations, net of tax |
48,484 |
38,598 |
93,935 |
79,997 |
||||||||||||
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
— |
347 |
— |
347 |
||||||||||||
|
Net income |
$ |
48,484 |
$ |
38,945 |
$ |
93,935 |
$ |
80,344 |
||||||||
|
Basic net income per common share |
||||||||||||||||
|
Continuing Operations |
$ |
0.43 |
$ |
0.34 |
$ |
0.83 |
$ |
0.70 |
||||||||
|
Discontinued Operations |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Basic net income per common share |
$ |
0.43 |
$ |
0.34 |
$ |
0.83 |
$ |
0.70 |
||||||||
|
Weighted average basic shares outstanding |
113,318 |
114,543 |
113,329 |
114,459 |
||||||||||||
|
Diluted net income per common share |
||||||||||||||||
|
Continuing Operations |
$ |
0.43 |
$ |
0.34 |
$ |
0.83 |
$ |
0.70 |
||||||||
|
Discontinued Operations |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Diluted net income per common share |
$ |
0.43 |
$ |
0.34 |
$ |
0.83 |
$ |
0.70 |
||||||||
|
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding |
113,795 |
115,218 |
113,832 |
115,186 |
||||||||||||
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__________________________________________ |
|
|
(a) |
Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 include Lattner Entertainment, acquired on June 1, 2018, Valley Forge Casino Resort, acquired on September 17, 2018, and Ameristar Casino Kansas City, Ameristar Casino St. Charles, Belterra Resort and Belterra Park, acquired on October 15, 2018 (collectively, the “Acquired Businesses”). See Boyd Gaming’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2018, for further information regarding the Acquired Businesses. |
|
(b) |
Rent expense incurred by those properties subject to a master lease with a real estate investment trust. |
|
BOYD GAMING CORPORATION |
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SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION |
||||||||||||||||
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Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income |
||||||||||||||||
|
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
Six Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||
|
June 30, |
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
|
(In thousands) |
2019 (a) |
2018 |
2019 (a) |
2018 |
||||||||||||
|
Total Revenues by Reportable Segment |
||||||||||||||||
|
Las Vegas Locals |
$ |
220,948 |
$ |
219,974 |
$ |
443,798 |
$ |
442,149 |
||||||||
|
Downtown Las Vegas |
64,466 |
61,202 |
127,492 |
121,670 |
||||||||||||
|
Midwest & South |
560,718 |
335,617 |
1,102,130 |
659,092 |
||||||||||||
|
Total revenues |
$ |
846,132 |
$ |
616,793 |
$ |
1,673,420 |
$ |
1,222,911 |
||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDAR by Reportable Segment |
||||||||||||||||
|
Las Vegas Locals |
$ |
71,449 |
$ |
70,248 |
$ |
145,683 |
$ |
141,278 |
||||||||
|
Downtown Las Vegas |
15,902 |
13,543 |
30,927 |
26,761 |
||||||||||||
|
Midwest & South |
165,064 |
98,510 |
321,535 |
192,756 |
||||||||||||
|
Property Adjusted EBITDAR |
252,415 |
182,301 |
498,145 |
360,795 |
||||||||||||
|
Corporate expense, net of share-based compensation expense (b) |
(19,819) |
(18,878) |
(42,524) |
(36,900) |
||||||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDAR |
232,596 |
163,423 |
455,621 |
323,895 |
||||||||||||
|
Master lease rent expense (c) |
(24,431) |
— |
(48,393) |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
208,165 |
163,423 |
407,228 |
323,895 |
||||||||||||
|
Other operating costs and expenses |
||||||||||||||||
|
Deferred rent |
244 |
294 |
489 |
550 |
||||||||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization |
68,051 |
53,923 |
135,304 |
105,199 |
||||||||||||
|
Share-based compensation expense |
8,158 |
6,022 |
17,867 |
14,949 |
||||||||||||
|
Project development, preopening and writedowns |
4,915 |
5,801 |
8,946 |
9,241 |
||||||||||||
|
Impairment of assets |
— |
993 |
— |
993 |
||||||||||||
|
Other operating items, net |
105 |
132 |
304 |
1,931 |
||||||||||||
|
Total other operating costs and expenses |
81,473 |
67,165 |
162,910 |
132,863 |
||||||||||||
|
Operating income |
126,692 |
96,258 |
244,318 |
191,032 |
||||||||||||
|
Other expense (income) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Interest income |
(816) |
(522) |
(922) |
(979) |
||||||||||||
|
Interest expense, net of amounts capitalized |
61,233 |
44,959 |
122,563 |
89,218 |
||||||||||||
|
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt |
508 |
— |
508 |
61 |
||||||||||||
|
Other, net |
(455) |
(24) |
(340) |
(404) |
||||||||||||
|
Total other expense, net |
60,470 |
44,413 |
121,809 |
87,896 |
||||||||||||
|
Income before income taxes |
66,222 |
51,845 |
122,509 |
103,136 |
||||||||||||
|
Income tax provision |
(17,738) |
(13,247) |
(28,574) |
(23,139) |
||||||||||||
|
Income from continuing operations, net of tax |
48,484 |
38,598 |
93,935 |
79,997 |
||||||||||||
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
— |
347 |
— |
347 |
||||||||||||
|
Net income |
$ |
48,484 |
$ |
38,945 |
$ |
93,935 |
$ |
80,344 |
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__________________________________________ |
|
|
(a) |
Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 include the Acquired Businesses, which are included in the Midwest & South segment. |
|
(b) |
Reconciliation of corporate expense: |
|
Three Months Ended |
Six Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||
|
June 30, |
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
|
(In thousands) |
2019 |
2018 |
2019 |
2018 |
||||||||||||
|
Corporate expense as reported on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations |
$ |
26,913 |
$ |
24,063 |
$ |
58,090 |
$ |
49,920 |
||||||||
|
Corporate share-based compensation expense |
(7,094) |
(5,185) |
(15,566) |
(13,020) |
||||||||||||
|
Corporate expense, net, as reported on the above table |
$ |
19,819 |
$ |
18,878 |
$ |
42,524 |
$ |
36,900 |
||||||||
|
(c) |
Rent expense incurred by those properties subject to a master lease with a real estate investment trust. |
|
BOYD GAMING CORPORATION |
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|
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION |
||||||||||||||||
|
Reconciliations of Net Income to Adjusted Earnings |
||||||||||||||||
|
and Net Income Per Share to Adjusted Earnings Per Share |
||||||||||||||||
|
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
Six Months Ended |
|||||||||||||||
|
June 30, |
June 30, |
|||||||||||||||
|
(In thousands, except per share data) |
2019 (a) |
2018 |
2019 (a) |
2018 |
||||||||||||
|
Net income |
$ |
48,484 |
$ |
38,945 |
$ |
93,935 |
$ |
80,344 |
||||||||
|
Less: income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
— |
(347) |
— |
(347) |
||||||||||||
|
Income from continuing operations, net of tax |
48,484 |
38,598 |
93,935 |
79,997 |
||||||||||||
|
Pretax adjustments: |
||||||||||||||||
|
Project development, preopening and writedowns |
4,915 |
5,801 |
8,946 |
9,241 |
||||||||||||
|
Impairment of assets |
— |
993 |
— |
993 |
||||||||||||
|
Other operating items, net |
105 |
132 |
304 |
1,931 |
||||||||||||
|
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt |
508 |
— |
508 |
61 |
||||||||||||
|
Other, net |
(455) |
(24) |
(340) |
(404) |
||||||||||||
|
Total adjustments |
5,073 |
6,902 |
9,418 |
11,822 |
||||||||||||
|
Income tax effect for above adjustments |
(1,057) |
(1,467) |
(1,990) |
(2,574) |
||||||||||||
|
Adjusted earnings |
$ |
52,500 |
$ |
44,033 |
$ |
101,363 |
$ |
89,245 |
||||||||
|
Net income per share, diluted |
$ |
0.43 |
$ |
0.34 |
$ |
0.83 |
$ |
0.70 |
||||||||
|
Less: income from discontinued operations per share |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Income from continuing operations per share |
0.43 |
0.34 |
0.83 |
0.70 |
||||||||||||
|
Pretax adjustments: |
||||||||||||||||
|
Project development, preopening and writedowns |
0.04 |
0.05 |
0.08 |
0.08 |
||||||||||||
|
Impairment of assets |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Other operating items, net |
— |
— |
— |
0.01 |
||||||||||||
|
Loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Other, net |
— |
— |
— |
— |
||||||||||||
|
Total adjustments |
0.04 |
0.05 |
0.08 |
0.09 |
||||||||||||
|
Income tax effect for above adjustments |
(0.01) |
(0.01) |
(0.02) |
(0.02) |
||||||||||||
|
Adjusted earnings per share, diluted |
$ |
0.46 |
$ |
0.38 |
$ |
0.89 |
$ |
0.77 |
||||||||
|
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding |
113,795 |
115,218 |
113,832 |
115,186 |
||||||||||||
|
__________________________________________ |
|
|
(a) |
Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 include the Acquired Businesses. |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Regulation G, “Conditions for Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” prescribes the conditions for use of non-GAAP financial information in public disclosures. We believe that our presentations of the following non-GAAP financial measures are important supplemental measures of operating performance to investors: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR (EBITDA further adjusted for rent expense associated with a master lease), Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Per Share (Adjusted EPS). The following discussion defines these terms and why we believe they are useful measures of our performance. We do not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding forward-looking GAAP measure due to our inability to project special charges and certain expenses.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR and Adjusted EBITDAR
EBITDA and EBITDAR are commonly used measures of performance in our industry that we believe, when considered with measures calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), provide our investors a more complete understanding of our operating results before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes and facilitates comparisons between us and our competitors. Management has historically adjusted EBITDA and EBITDAR 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. We refer to this measure as Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDAR. We have chosen to provide this information to investors to enable them to perform comparisons of past, present and future operating results and as a means to evaluate the results of core on-going operations. We have historically reported these measures to our investors and believe that the continued inclusion of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR provides consistency in our financial reporting. We use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR in this press release because we believe this information is useful to investors in allowing greater transparency related to significant measures used by our management in their financial and operational decision-making. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR are among the more significant factors in management’s internal evaluation of total company and individual property performance and in the evaluation of incentive compensation related to property management. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR as measures in the evaluation of potential acquisitions and dispositions. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDAR are also used by management in the annual budget process. Externally, we believe these measures continue to be used by investors in their assessment of our operating performance and the valuation of our company. Adjusted EBITDA reflects EBITDA adjusted for deferred rent, share-based compensation expense, project development, preopening and writedown expenses, impairments of assets, loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt and other operating items, net. Adjusted EBITDAR reflects Adjusted EBITDA further adjusted for rent expense associated with a master lease with a real estate investment trust.
Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EPS
Adjusted Earnings is net income before project development, preopening and writedown expenses, impairments of assets, other items, net, gain or loss on early extinguishments and modifications of debt, other non-recurring adjustments, net, and income from discontinued operations, net of tax. Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EPS are presented solely as supplemental disclosures because management believes that they are widely used measures of performance in the gaming industry.
Limitations on the Use of Non-GAAP Measures
The use of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures has certain limitations. Our presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS or certain other non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the presentation used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense, income taxes and other items have been and will be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR and Adjusted EBITDAR. Each of these items should also be considered in the overall evaluation of our results. Additionally, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR and Adjusted EBITDAR do not consider capital expenditures and other investing activities and should not be considered as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of our depreciation and amortization, interest and income taxes, capital expenditures and other items both in our reconciliations to the historical GAAP financial measures and in our consolidated financial statements, all of which should be considered when evaluating our performance.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, or any other operating performance measure prescribed by GAAP, nor should these measures be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDAR, Adjusted EBITDAR, Adjusted Earnings, Adjusted EPS and certain other non-GAAP financial measures reflect additional ways of viewing our operations that we believe, when viewed with our GAAP results and the reconciliations to the corresponding historical GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than could be obtained absent this disclosure. Management strongly encourages investors to review our financial information in its entirety and not to rely on a single financial measure.
Forward-looking Statements and Company Information
This press release contains 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. Such statements contain words such as “may,” “will,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” “continue,” “pursue,” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and may include (without limitation) information regarding the Company’s expectations, goals or intentions regarding future performance. In addition, forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: the Company’s continued progress executing against its strategic growth initiatives, that the Company is successfully growing visitation and expanding its customer base across the country, that the Company is well-positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities, and all of the statements under the heading “Full-Year 2019 Guidance.” Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the Company’s operating results; the results of operations of its properties in various markets; the political climate and its effects on consumer spending and its impact on the travel industry; the state of the economy and its effect on consumer spending and the Company’s results of operations; the impact and effects of the local economies in the markets where the Company has operations; the receipt of legislative, and other state, federal and local approvals for the Company’s development projects; whether online gaming will become legalized in various states, the Company’s ability to operate online gaming profitably, or otherwise; consumer reaction to fluctuations in the stock market and economic factors; the fact that the Company’s expansion, development and renovation projects (including enhancements to improve property performance) are subject to many risks inherent in expansion, development or construction of a new or existing project; the effects of events adversely impacting the economy or the regions from which the Company draws a significant percentage of its customers; competition; litigation; financial community and rating agency perceptions of the Company and its subsidiaries; changes in laws and regulations, including increased taxes; the availability and price of energy, weather, regulation, economic, credit and capital market conditions; and the effects of war, terrorist or similar activity. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in the Company’s other current and periodic reports filed from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
About Boyd Gaming:
Founded in 1975, Boyd Gaming Corporation is a leading geographically diversified operator of 29 gaming entertainment properties in 10 states. The Company currently operates 1.77 million square feet of casino space, more than 38,000 gaming machines, 815 table games, more than 11,000 hotel rooms, and 320 food and beverage outlets. With one of the most experienced leadership teams in the casino industry, Boyd Gaming prides itself on offering its guests an outstanding entertainment experience, delivered with unwavering attention to customer service.
Source: Boyd Gaming Corporation
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Boyd Gaming Reports Second-Quarter 2019 Results
Latest News
From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.
The Full Story
Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.
The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.
Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.
Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.
The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.
The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.
Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:
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Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
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Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
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Player’s Pick Award.
Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:
“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”
The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Latest News
‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.
The Full Story
Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.
The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”
The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:
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Plinko
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Mines
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Tower
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Limbo
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Crash
Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.
Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.
Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:
“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”
Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.
The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Latest News
Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series
Editor’s Take
Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.
The Full Story
Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.
Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.
The Commercial Deal
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SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
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The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.
A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.
Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:
“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”
Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:
“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”
The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year:
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9th Jan: Wolverhampton
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6th Feb: Newcastle
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20th Feb: Southwell
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20th March: Wolverhampton
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27th March: Newcastle
The post Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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