COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., July 25, 2023 /CNW/ — Century Casinos announced that it completed the acquisition of the operations of Rocky Gap Casino Resort from Golden Entertainment Inc. for approximately $56.1 million on July 25, 2023.
Simultaneous with the closing of the transaction, an affiliate of VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI) (“VICI”) acquired a related interest in the land and building associated with Rocky Gap for approximately $203.9 million and the Company amended its triple net master lease agreement with VICI to add the Rocky Gap property. The amendment to the master lease agreement includes an increase in initial annualized rent of approximately $15.5 million.
The Company financed the Acquisition with $30.0 million borrowed from the revolving facility of its existing credit agreement with Goldman Sachs USA and cash from the balance sheet.
“We are very excited to be expanding into Maryland,” Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Century Casinos, remarked. “Rocky Gap is a great addition to our portfolio. We look forward to working with the staff and community to continue the current success at this property into the future,” Haitzmann and Hoetzinger concluded.
Rocky Gap is located in Flintstone, Maryland in Rocky Gap State Park, which attracts over half a million visitors annually. The full-service resort sits on approximately 270 acres and includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, a 5,000 square-foot events center, several meeting spaces, a spa, and several outdoor activities. The property consists of over 25,000 square feet of gaming floor, 630 slot machines, 16 table games, 198 hotel rooms and five food and beverage venues.
The property has recently invested approximately $10.0 million in improvements to its hotel, slot machines, restaurants, and sports lounge. There is potential to further expand the casino and hotel and capture more customers from adjacent markets.
With this transaction, the Company’s portfolio* increased to 19 casinos world-wide that include 7,565 gaming machines, 268 table games and over 4,100 full-time equivalent employees. On a pro forma basis giving effect to the Acquisition as if it occurred on January 1, 2022, the Company’s net operating revenue and Adjusted EBITDA** for the year ended December 31, 2022 with Rocky Gap would have been $508.5 million and $128.7 million, respectively. See a reconciliation of the 2022 pro forma results in Supplemental Information below.
Stifel acted as exclusive financial advisor and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP acted as legal advisor to the Company in connection with the Acquisition.
About Century Casinos, Inc.:
Century Casinos, Inc. is a casino entertainment company. The Company owns and operates Century Casino & Hotels in Cripple Creek and Central City, Colorado, and in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; the Century Casino in Cape Girardeau and Caruthersville, Missouri, and in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada; Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, West Virginia; Rocky Gap in Flintstone, Maryland; and the Century Mile Racetrack and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Through its Austrian subsidiary, Century Resorts Management GmbH, the Company holds a 66.6% ownership interest in Casinos Poland Ltd., the owner and operator of eight casinos throughout Poland; and a 75% ownership interest in Century Downs Racetrack and Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Through its United States subsidiary, Century Nevada Acquisition, Inc., the Company owns the Nugget and a 50% membership interest in Smooth Bourbon, which owns the land and building of the Nugget. The Company continues to pursue other projects in various stages of development.
