Under the new paradigm of turning down economic conditions across an easy selection of consumer spending, casinos face a unique challenge in addressing how they both maintain earnings while also remaining competitive. These factors are further complicated within the commercial gaming sector with increasing tax rates, and within the Indian gaming sector by self included contributions to tribal general funds, and/or per capita distributions, in addition to a growing trend in state included fees.
Determining how much to “render onto Caesar, inches while making your reservation for the essential funds to maintain market share, grow market penetration and improve earnings, is a daunting task that must be well planned and executed.
It is through this context and the author’s perspective that includes time and grade hands-on experience in the development and management of these types of investments, that this article correlates ways in which to plan and prioritize a casino reinvestment strategy.
Grilled Goose
Although it would appear axiomatic not to cook the goose that lays the golden eggs, it is amazing how little thought is oft times provided to its on-going proper care and feeding. With the advent of a new casino, developers/tribal councils, investors & financiers are rightfully anxious to obtain the rewards and there is a tendency not to spend a sufficient amount of mega888 download the profits towards asset maintenance & enhancement. Thereby begging the question of just how much of the profits should be allocated to reinvestment, and towards what goals.
Inasmuch as each project has a unique particular set of circumstances, there are no hard and fast rules. For the most part, many of the major commercial casino operators do not distribute net profits as benefits to their stockholders, but alternatively reinvest them in improvements to their existing venues while also seeking new locations. Some of these programs are also funded through additional debt instruments and/or money stock offerings. The lowered tax rates on corporate benefits will likely shift the emphasis of these financing methods, while still maintaining the core business wisdom of on-going reinvestment.
Profit Part
As a group, and prior to the current economic conditions, the publicly held companies had a net profit proportion (earnings before income taxes & depreciation) that averages 25% of income after deduction of the gross revenue taxes and interest payments. Over, almost two thirds of the remaining profits are utilized for reinvestment and asset replacement.
Casino operations in low gross gaming tax rate jurisdictions are more readily able to reinvest in their properties, thereby further enhancing revenues that will eventually benefit the tax base. Nj-new jersey is a good example, as it mandates certain reinvestment allocations, as a revenue stimulant. Other states, such as Il and Indiana with higher effective rates, run the risk of reducing reinvestment that may eventually erode the ability of the casinos to grow market demand penetrations, especially as border states become more competitive. Moreover, effective management can generate higher available profit for reinvestment, coming from both efficient operations and favorable borrowing & money offerings.
How a casino enterprise decides to spend its casino profits is a critical take into account determining its long-term viability, and should be an important part of the initial development strategy. While short term loan amortization/debt prepayment programs may at first seem desirable so as to quickly come out from under the obligation, they can also sharply reduce the ability to reinvest/expand on a timely basis. This is also true for any profit distribution, whether to investors or in the case of Indian gaming projects, distributions to a tribe’s general fund for infrastructure/per capita payments.
Moreover, many lenders make the mistake of requiring excessive debt service stores and place rules on reinvestment or further leverage which can seriously limit certain project’s capacity maintain its competitiveness and/or meet available opportunities.
Whereas we are not advocating that all profits be plowed-back into the operation, we are encouraging the consideration of an part program that takes into account the “real” costs of maintaining the asset and increasing its impact.
Establishing Priorities
There are three essential areas of capital part that ought to be considered, as shown below and in order of priority.