UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
Commission file number 001-13641
PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Delaware | 95-3667491 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 1800
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(702) 784-7777
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Common Stock, $.10 par value
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES x NO ¨
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates (therefore excludes officers, directors and beneficial owners of 10% or more) of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrants most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $171,794,000 based on a closing price of $6.80 per share of common stock. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
The number of outstanding shares of the registrants common stock, as of the close of business on March 9, 2004: 35,506,810.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrants definitive 2004 proxy statement, anticipated to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of the Registrants fiscal year, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Item 1. Description of Business
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (the Company or Pinnacle) is a leading diversified, multi-jurisdictional owner and operator of gaming entertainment facilities that owns and operates five properties in the United States, located in southeastern Indiana; Reno, Nevada; Bossier City and New Orleans, Louisiana; and Biloxi, Mississippi. The Company is also building a major casino resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In addition, the representative authorities of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County chose the Companys proposals for the development of a major casino in downtown St. Louis and another major casino in south St. Louis County, respectively, subject to negotiation of development agreements and the final approval of the Missouri Gaming Commission. In addition, the Company operates casinos in Argentina and receives lease income from two card clubs in southern California. All of the properties primarily cater to customers who live within driving distance of the properties.
The Company is the successor to the Hollywood Park Turf Club, organized in 1938. The Company was incorporated in 1981 under the name Hollywood Park Realty Enterprises, Inc. In 1992, as part of a restructuring, the Company changed its name to Hollywood Park, Inc. In February 2000, the Company changed its name to Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
The Companys strategy is to grow profitability through the strategic development of new gaming properties in attractive gaming markets and a disciplined capital expenditure program at its existing locations, as well as through recently introduced cost reduction initiatives.
In early September 2003, the Company commenced construction of its $325,000,000 Lake Charles casino resort, which the Company believes will be larger, and offer more amenities, than any other resort in the southwest Louisiana/east Texas market. Lake Charles is the closest significant gaming jurisdiction to the Houston, Austin and San Antonio metropolitan areas. The Companys resort will be located on 227 acres and will feature approximately 700 guestrooms (including four villas, 41 suites and 59 junior suites), several restaurants and other amenities. Unlike most other riverboat casinos, the casino at the Companys Lake Charles resort will be entirely on one level and surrounded on three sides by the hotel facility, providing convenient access to approximately 1,500 slot machines and 60 table games. The Company is also building a $37,000,000, 300-guestroom hotel tower and other amenity expansion at Belterra Casino Resort, its southeastern Indiana property.
The representative authorities of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County recently chose the Companys proposals for the development of an approximately $208,000,000 casino and luxury hotel in downtown St. Louis, near the Edward Jones domed stadium and Americas Center convention center, and the development of an approximately $300,000,000 casino complex located in the County of St. Louis, approximately ten miles south of downtown St. Louis, respectively. These developments are subject to the negotiation of development agreements and approval of the Missouri Gaming Commission, which will make the final decision in its discretion on whether to allow the projects to proceed and to whom to issue one or more licenses.
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The following is an overview of the Companys gaming operations as of December 31, 2003:
| Number of | ||||||||||
| Property |
Type of Facility |
Principal Markets |
Slot Machines |
Table Games |
Hotel Rooms | |||||
| Operating Properties: |
||||||||||
| Boomtown New Orleans, LA |
Dockside | Local | 1,522 | 51 | | |||||
| Belterra Casino Resort, IN |
Dockside | Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky | 1,554 | 41 | 308 | |||||
| Boomtown Bossier City, LA |
Dockside | Dallas/Ft. Worth | 1,224 | 34 | 188 | |||||
| Casino Magic Biloxi, MS |
Dockside | Alabama, North Florida, Georgia | 1,255 | 30 | 378 | |||||
| Boomtown Reno, NV |
Land-based | Northern California and local | 1,249 | 30 | 318 | |||||
| Casino Magic Argentina(a): |
Land-based | Local and Regional tourist | 646 | 42 | | |||||
| Operating Property Total |
7,450 | 228 | 1,192 | |||||||
| Card Clubs Leased(b): |
||||||||||
| Hollywood Park & Crystal Park |
Land-based | Local | | 116 | 238 | |||||
| Properties Under Construction: |
||||||||||
| Lake Charles, LA |
Boat-in-moat (c) | Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Southwest Louisiana | 1,500 | 60 | 700 | |||||
| Belterra hotel tower expansion |
Dockside | Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky | n/a | n/a | 300 | |||||
| St. Louis Development Proposals (d): |
||||||||||
| City of St. Louis, MO |
Boat-in-moat (c) | Missouri and Illinois | 2,000 | 40 | 200 | |||||
| St. Louis County, MO |
Boat-in-moat (c) | Missouri and Illinois | 3,000 | 60 | 100 | |||||
| (a) | Data present the combined operations of the casinos the Company operates in Argentina. |
| (b) | Data present the combined operations of two card clubs in Southern California that the Company leases on a year-to-year basis to a third party operator. |
| (c) | A boat-in-moat is a floating, single-level dockside casino in a controlled body of water. |
| (d) | In January and February 2004, the representative authorities of the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, respectively, selected the Companys downtown St. Louis and St. Louis County development proposals, subject to the negotiation of development agreements. The Missouri Gaming Commission will make the final decision in its discretion on whether to allow either project to proceed and to whom to issue one or more gaming licenses based in part on the decisions of the representative authorities of the City and County. |
Business Strategy and Competitive Strengths
Pinnacles strategy is to grow profitability through the strategic development of new gaming properties in attractive gaming markets and a disciplined capital expenditure program at its existing locations, as well as through recently introduced cost reduction initiatives. Management believes that the following key competitive strengths will contribute to the successful implementation of its strategy:
| | High Quality Properties in Attractive Locations The Company owns high quality casino properties in attractive locations. The Company is committed to maintaining the quality of its properties by offering the latest slot machines, presenting fresh entertainment offerings and renovating and improving its facilities whenever necessary to enhance its customers gaming experience. Most of the principal properties have either opened or been extensively refurbished within the past five years in order to maintain and expand the customer base and to keep its existing properties competitive. The Company believes its properties are located in markets with favorable demographics. |
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| | Geographically Diversified Portfolio The Company owns and operates five U.S. properties, each in a distinct market. This regional diversification reduces dependence on any one market, while providing the Company with an opportunity to build a diversified base of gaming customers. This diversification will be further enhanced upon the opening of the Lake Charles casino resort. |
| | Significant Development Plans Underway The Company believes its new Lake Charles resort development and the Belterra hotel tower expansion will contribute substantial revenues, cash flow and earnings. Construction at its Lake Charles resort is currently underway and is expected to open in the Spring of 2005. Upon its completion, the Company believes that this resort and casino will be the premier property in the Lake Charles market. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the three existing casino properties in Lake Charles generated $447,900,000 in gaming revenue in the aggregate, which does not include the significant gaming revenues of Native American gaming facilities located approximately an hours drive east of the Lake Charles area. The Companys Lake Charles resort will be approximately a two-hours drive east from Houston, Texas, which it believes will be the principal feeder market for its resort. Additionally, upon its completion in April 2004, the Company believes its hotel tower expansion at Belterra will enable it to build on the recent improvement in operating performance at the property, extend the overall stay of its guests and more efficiently take advantage of the existing facilities built in 2000. |
| | Significant Opportunities for Further Development Several of the Companys properties occupy only a portion of their sites, allowing the Company ample opportunity to add casino capacity, guestrooms, and entertainment and other facilities, as its markets grow and demand warrants. |
The representative authorities of the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis County recently selected the Company to negotiate development agreements based on the proposals to develop an approximately $208,000,000 casino and luxury hotel in downtown St. Louis and an approximately $300,000,000 casino complex in south St. Louis County, respectively. Gaming licenses for each project will ultimately require the approval of the Missouri Gaming Commission, which will make the final licensing decision in its discretion.
| | Experienced Management Team The Companys executive and property-level management teams, led by Daniel R. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wade W. Hundley, Chief Operating Officer, Stephen H. Capp, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, John A. Godfrey, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and Clifford D. Kortman, Senior Vice PresidentConstruction and Development, have extensive industry experience and an established record of developing, acquiring, integrating and operating gaming facilities. |
Boomtown New Orleans is a locals-oriented dockside riverboat casino. The dockside riverboat features a casino containing approximately 1,522 slot machines and 51 table games and an approximately 88,000-square-foot adjoining building with two restaurants, a delicatessen, a 350-seat nightclub, 21,000 square feet of meeting space, an amusement center and 1,729 parking spaces. The property opened in 1994 and is located on 54 acres in Harvey, Louisiana, approximately 10 miles from downtown New Orleans and across the Mississippi River in the West Bank suburban area.
In early 2002, the Company completed a $10,000,000 renovation, which included adding 300 new slot machines, construction of a high-limit table games area and the renovation of various food and beverage outlets in the adjoining building. In December 2002, the property opened its poker area, adding 54 gaming positions, and added an additional 60 slot machines in 2003.
Boomtown New Orleans competes with two other dockside riverboat casinos and a large land-based casino and entertainment facility in downtown New Orleans. During 2003, according to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, gaming revenues grew 1.8% in 2003 to $564,900,000 in the New Orleans market, of which 49.9% was
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accounted for by the land-based casino and 19.8% by Boomtown New Orleans. Boomtown New Orleans is the only casino on the west bank of the Mississippi River and there are a limited number of bridges across the river, which the Company believes provides it with a competitive advantage amongst West Bank residents. Recently passed state legislation would permit, subject to a local referendum, the introduction of slot machines at a racetrack located on the east side of the river and approximately 20 miles from the Boomtown New Orleans property.
Belterra Casino Resort (Belterra) is a regional resort built around a dockside riverboat casino. It opened in October 2000 and is located on 315 acres of land along the Ohio River near Vevay, Indiana, approximately 50 miles southwest of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, and 65 miles northeast of Louisville, Kentucky. The total population within 300 miles of Belterra is approximately 39 million people. By comparison, some 26 million people live within 300 miles of Las Vegas.
The resort features a riverboat casino with 38,000 square feet of casino space, approximately 1,554 slot machines and 41 table games. It also features a 15-story, 308-guestroom hotel with 11 suites, six restaurants, a retail shopping pavilion, a 1,750-seat entertainment showroom, a spa and an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio. The resort provides 2,000 parking spaces, most of which are in a multi-level parking structure. In February 2003, the Company broke ground on a $37,000,000, 300-guestroom hotel expansion project (see Belterra Hotel Tower Expansion below), which is expected to be completed in April 2004.
Indiana law was revised to permit dockside gaming operations as of August 1, 2002, with a new graduated tax structure. Customers strongly prefer dockside operations due to the convenience of being able to enter and leave the casino at any time and the reduction of customer surges and the resultant lines at the facilitys restaurants, valet parking and other services that happen with cruising riverboat casinos.
Belterra competes with four other dockside riverboats. According to the Indiana Gaming Commission, 2003 gross gaming revenues from the five riverboats in this market grew 8.1% over the prior year, to $1,080,000,000. Belterra grew its gaming revenues by 12.2% during the same period. Current Indiana law does not permit any additional casinos to be built along the Ohio River, although there are no legal limitations as to the size of the riverboats operated by each licensee. State law was however, recently amended to permit a casino operation in the town of French Lick, Indiana, which is between Louisville and Indianapolis, approximately 95 miles from Belterra.
Boomtown Bossier City is a regional resort built around a dockside riverboat casino. The resort opened in October 1996 on a site directly off, and highly visible from, Interstate 20. The Bossier City/Shreveport region offers the closest casinos to the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, which is a three-hour drive to the west along Interstate 20. The resort offers approximately 1,224 slot machines and 34 table games. The resort also includes a 188-guestroom hotel, with four master suites and 88 junior suites, four restaurants and 1,867 parking spaces.
In November 2002, the Company completed a $24,000,000 renovation of the Boomtown Bossier City property. This renovation included re-branding the facility to the Boomtown name, adding new restaurants and re-designing the hotel lobby and porte-cochere.
According to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, gaming revenues in the Bossier City/Shreveport region were $816,900,000 for 2003, down slightly (0.8%) compared to the prior year. Boomtown Bossier City, however, was up slightly (1.5%) for the same period. The market currently consists of five dockside riverboat casino hotels, including Boomtown, and a racetrack slot operation located approximately eight miles east of Boomtown Bossier City. The racetrack opened with approximately 900 slot machines in mid-2003. The racetrack is currently building a larger, free-standing slot-only casino, with approximately 1,500 slot machines, currently scheduled to open in May 2004. Current state regulations do not permit table games at the racetrack. In mid-2003, a Native American casino opened in Oklahoma, approximately one hour north of Dallas, providing competition for the Bossier City/Shreveport casinos.
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Casino Magic Biloxi is a regional resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast that features a dockside riverboat casino and hotel tower. The property, which began operations in 1993, is situated in the center of a cluster of three casinos known as Casino Row. In 1998, the Company opened a 378-guestroom hotel, including 86 suites, at the resort. The resort features a 48,920-square-foot dockside riverboat casino containing approximately 1,255 slot machines and 30 table games. The facility also features four restaurants, 6,600 square feet of convention space, a health club and 1,315 parking spaces.
The property is smaller than some of the other area casinos, but offers superior quality guestrooms and facilities. Since the end of 2001, the property has enjoyed a four-diamond rating from AAA, the first hotel/casino in Mississippi to receive such a designation. In June 2003, Casino Magic Biloxi completed renovating its high-roller area and casino entrance, at a cost of approximately $1,200,000.
The principal markets for the Mississippi Gulf Coast region are the nearby cities of Mobile, Alabama; Pensacola and Tallahassee, Florida; the interior areas of the South, whose residents visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast to escape the summer heat; and the numerous other cities of central and northern Florida, for whom the Mississippi Gulf Coast also offers the closest casinos. According to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Gulf Coast market generated gaming revenues of $1,170,000,000 during 2003, a 1.4% increase over the prior year. Casino Magics gaming revenue fell by approximately 3.8% in the same period. A competing casino located near the Casino Magic Biloxi property has announced an expansion project, including guestrooms, a restaurant and other amenities. Completion is expected in late 2004 or early 2005. In addition, another competitor recently commenced construction of a new facility.
The nearby city of New Orleans is also a significant market for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, even though New Orleans has its own casinos. The State of Mississippi opted to legalize casinos in a fashion similar to Nevada and New Jersey, where tax rates are lower, but there is no limit as to the number of casinos. Such states therefore have a greater number of casinos, with most of such casinos offering more extensive accommodations and food, beverage, entertainment and other amenities than many of the casinos in jurisdictions where tax rates are high and the number of casinos is limited. Many New Orleans residents prefer to drive the short distance to Mississippi to enjoy the greater amenities offered along the Mississippi Gulf Coast as an alternative to the casinos available in New Orleans itself.
Boomtown Reno is a land-based casino hotel that has been operating for more than 35 years and is located on a portion of the Companys 569 acres 11 miles west of downtown Reno, Nevada, directly off Interstate 80, the primary east-west interstate highway serving northern California.
The property features 318 guestrooms and a 45,000-square-foot casino containing approximately 1,140 slot machines and 30 table games. The property features four restaurants, an 80-seat lounge, a 30,000-square-foot amusement center and an indoor pool. In addition to the main casino/hotel, the property also includes a full-service truck stop with a satellite casino containing approximately 109 slot machines, a gas station/mini-mart, a 203-space recreational vehicle park and 1,548 parking spaces.
Renos gaming market is primarily a drive-in market that attracts visitors from northern California. In March 2000, California voters passed Proposition 1A, a ballot initiative that allows Native American groups to conduct various gaming activities, including slot machines, card games and lotteries. Each Native American group in California may operate slot machines, and up to two gaming facilities may be operated on any one reservation. The number of machines each group is allowed to operate is subject to change pursuant to negotiations which have been initiated between the tribes and the State of California.
In mid-2003, new Native American casino developments opened in California that compete with the Reno gaming properties. These casino developments are significantly closer to several primary feeder markets than is the Boomtown Reno property. From the time certain new Native American casinos opened in mid-2003 through December 2003, revenues at Boomtown Reno have declined approximately 12.9% compared to the
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corresponding 2002 period. Numerous Native American groups are at various stages of planning new or significantly expanded facilities in the northern California area and an initiative has been proposed in California that, under certain circumstances, would legalize slot machines at certain California racetracks and card clubs, including the two card clubs owned by the Company. This adverse impact on the Reno gaming properties from expanded gaming in California is expected to continue. Boomtown Reno contributed approximately 15.7% of Pinnacles net revenues in the year ended December 31, 2003.
Casino Magic Argentina: The Company operates three land-based casinos in the Patagonia region of Argentina. The largest of the three casinos is located in the city of Neuquen and contains approximately 500 slot machines, 29 table games and a 384-seat bingo facility. The second largest facility, located in San Martin de los Andes, has 107 slot machines and 13 table games. The Company began operating the smallest of the three facilities in November 2003, which is located in Junin de los Andes and has 39 slot machines. The Company does not own any real property at these sites, but does own approximately 20 acres of vacant land in the city of Neuquen, where it plans to build a new facility.
The first two casinos opened in 1995 and the Company began operating the third casino in November 2003. All three casinos are operated under a 12-year concession agreement with the Province of Neuquen that expires in December 2006. In July 2003, the Company modified its concession agreement with the Province, so that the concession agreement was extended through December 2016, provided that, among other things, the Argentine subsidiary builds as much of a planned new facility and related amenities as possible utilizing the subsidiarys cash and retained earnings through 2006. Also, the Company received an additional five-year extension to 2021 if the Argentine subsidiary invests five million pesos (or US$1,672,000 based on December 31, 2003 dollar-to-peso exchange rates) in a three-star hotel facility with a minimum of 10 guestrooms.
The Companys current concession agreement with the Province of Neuquen provides for its exclusive operation of casinos within approximately 33 miles of its facilities. In the Province of Rio Negro, immediately adjacent to the Province of Neuquen, there is a casino approximately 10 miles from the Companys Neuquen operations.
California Card Club Leases: The Company receives lease income from two card clubs in Los Angeles County: the Hollywood Park-Casino and the Crystal Park Casino. The Company leases the Hollywood Park-Casino under a long-term lease agreement that, including a 10-year renewal option, expires in 2019. It then subleases it to an unaffiliated third party operator under a year-to-year lease. The Company owns the furniture, fixtures, equipment and leasehold improvements within the Hollywood Park-Casino. The Company owns the Crystal Park Casino and leases it to the same card club operator that leases and operates the Hollywood Park-Casino. The third party operator is not believed to have substantial assets other than the two card clubs. The lease payments under the year-to-year leases are believed to be a substantial portion of the card clubs income.
The Hollywood Park-Casino opened in 1994. The facility contains approximately 30,000 square feet of card club gaming space with 102 gaming tables and 21,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
The Crystal Park Casino opened in October 1996. The Crystal Park Casino contains approximately 40,000 square feet of gaming and banquet space with 14 gaming tables. The adjoining hotel contains 238 rooms, including 36 suites.
The Hollywood Park-Casino and the Crystal Park Casino face significant competition from other card club casinos in neighboring cities, as well as competition from other forms of gaming around southern California, including horse racing and Native American gaming. Although the Company does not operate these card club casinos, the operator, who is its lessee, is affected by local market conditions.
A voter initiative intended for the 2004 California November ballot has been approved by the California Secretary of State which, under certain circumstances, would permit slot machines to be installed at certain
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California card clubs and racetracks, including the Companys Los Angeles-area card clubs. There can be no assurance this initiative will receive enough qualified signatures to be placed on the ballot or that its passage will be successful.
New Developments and Expansion Plans
Lake Charles: In early September 2003, the Company commenced construction of its $325,000,000 Lake Charles casino resort, which the Company believes will be larger, and offer more amenities, than any other resort in the southwest Louisiana/east Texas market. Lake Charles is the closest significant gaming jurisdiction to the Houston, Austin and San Antonio metropolitan areas. The Companys resort will feature approximately 700 guestrooms (including four villas, 41 suites and 59 junior suites), several restaurants, approximately 28,000 square feet of meeting space, a championship golf course designed by Tom Fazio, an expansive outdoor pool area, retail shops and a full-service spa. Unlike most other riverboat casinos, the Companys Lake Charles casino will be entirely on one level and surrounded on three sides by the hotel facility, providing convenient access to approximately 1,500 slot machines and 60 table games. Issuance of the gaming license from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board is subject to continued compliance with gaming regulations and other conditions.
The principal market for the Lake Charles area is the City of Houston, with a population of 4.5 million located approximately two hours to the west of Lake Charles. The local market in Lake Charles is comprised of the Lake Charles/Sulphur area with a population base of 72,000 people, and the Port Arthur and Beaumont areas with a combined population of 385,000 people. Houston is comparable in population to Dallas/Ft. Worth, but is located significantly closer to Lake Charles than Dallas/Ft. Worth is to Bossier/Shreveport (a two-hour vs. three-hour drive). The Company believes that the potential customer draw to the Lake Charles market is significantly larger than that of Bossier/Shreveport, even though the current gaming revenues of the Bossier/Shreveport market are believed to exceed those of Lake Charles. In addition, Lake Charles is the closest gaming alternative for the Austin and San Antonio markets, each less than five hours away. These two cities have a combined population of approximately two million people and are comparable in distance from Lake Charles as the highly populated areas of southern California are from Las Vegas.
The Lake Charles gaming market currently consists of four properties, including two dockside riverboat casinos (each operating two boats at each of their respective locations); a large land-based Native American casino; and a nearby racetrack that offers slot machines. According to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, gaming revenue for the Lake Charles market was $447,900,000 in 2003, an increase of 1.4% over the prior year. Such published results do not include the gaming revenues of the Native American casino, which results are generally not available. The Company believes this Native American property to be the largest casino operation in the market even though it is approximately one hour further from Houston than the other Lake Charles facilities.
The Company has entered into contracts for construction of a substantial portion of the Lake Charles resort. One contract requires the Company to pay a total of $145,000,000 over the construction period (subject to various contingent adjustments, exclusions and allowances) for the principal structures. The Company has also entered into a vessel construction contract with a shipbuilder for construction services for the single level casino vessel portion of the Lake Charles resort, for a total of $40,240,000 (subject to certain exceptions).
Belterra Hotel Tower Expansion: In February 2003, the Company commenced construction on its $37,000,000 hotel tower expansion project that will add 300 guestrooms (for a total of 608), approximately 33,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, a year-round swimming pool and other amenities. The Company believes the new hotel tower expansion will enhance Belterras status as a regional resort and will leverage the propertys existing infrastructure, including the casino and other facilities. The Company expects to complete construction in April 2004.
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St. Louis Development Proposals: In October 2003, the Company purchased approximately 4.0 acres of vacant land in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, adjacent to a 3.3 acre parcel of vacant land the Company already owned. The property is within 1,000 feet of the Mississippi River.
On January 15, 2004, at the conclusion of a competitive process, the City of St. Louis Port Authority, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority and the St. Louis Development Corporation (the City of St. Louis Authorities) selected the Company to negotiate a development agreement based on its proposal for an approximately $208,000,000 casino and luxury hotel development in downtown St. Louis at Lacledes Landing. The project would be located on the Companys approximately 7.3 acres near the Edward Jones domed stadium and Americas Center convention center, the Mississippi River, the Gateway Arch and the main downtown business and tourism area.
On February 10, 2004, at the conclusion of a competitive process, the St. Louis County gaming selection committee (the St. Louis County Authority) selected the Company to negotiate a development agreement based on its proposal for a second casino complex to be located in the County in the community of Lemay. As proposed, this $300,000,000 project would feature a range of non-gaming amenities alongside the casino, including a park, a multiplex movie theater, a bowling alley and a first-class hotel.
In each case, the Missouri Gaming Commission will make the final decision in its discretion on whether to allow any of the projects to proceed and to whom to issue one or more gaming licenses in the St. Louis market based in part on the decisions of the City of St. Louis Authorities and the St. Louis County Authority. If the Missouri Gaming Commission ultimately were to approve the Company for either or both development opportunities, it is anticipated that construction would begin as soon as the Company receives all necessary building approvals and permits. There can be no assurance either project will ultimately be approved by the Missouri Gaming Commission and other relevant governmental authorities.
The Company faces significant competition in each of the jurisdictions in which it has established gaming operations. Such competition may intensify in some of these jurisdictions as new gaming operations enter these markets and existing competitors expand their operations. The Companys properties compete directly with other gaming properties in Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, and Argentina, as well as in states adjacent to the Companys properties. To a lesser extent, the Company also competes for customers with other casino operators in North American markets, including casinos located on Native American reservations, and other forms of gaming, such as lotteries and Internet gaming. Many of the Companys competitors are larger and have substantially greater name recognition and marketing resources, as well as access to lower cost sources of financing, and sometimes, particularly for Native American casinos, lower or non-existent tax rates. In addition, the Company believes that increased legalized gaming in other states, particularly in areas close to its existing gaming properties, such as Alabama, Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma or Texas, or the expansion of Native American gaming in or near the states in which the Company operates, could create additional competition for the Company and could adversely affect its operations.
Government Regulation and Gaming Issues
The ownership and operation of gaming facilities are subject to extensive state and local regulation. The states and localities in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct gaming operations require the Company to hold various licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and approvals. The various regulatory authorities, including the Indiana Gaming Commission, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the Mississippi Gaming Commission, the Nevada State Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission, may, among other things, limit, condition, suspend, revoke or fail to renew a license or approval to own any of the gaming subsidiaries for any cause deemed reasonable by such licensing authorities. Substantial fines or
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forfeitures of assets for violations of gaming laws or regulations may be levied against the Company, its subsidiaries and the persons involved.
To date, the Company and its subsidiaries have obtained all governmental licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and approvals necessary for the operation of its gaming facilities. However, there can be no assurance that the Company and its subsidiaries will be able to obtain any new licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and approvals that may be required in the future or that existing ones will be renewed or will not be suspended or revoked. Any expansion of gaming operations in the existing jurisdictions or into new jurisdictions, including St. Louis, Missouri, will require various additional licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and approvals of the gaming authorities. The approval process can be time consuming and costly and has no assurance of success.
For a more detailed description of gaming regulations to which the Company is subject, see Exhibit 99.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Government Regulation and Gaming Issues, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The following is a summary of the Companys employees by property at December 31, 2003, some of which are part-time:
| Property |
Employees (approx.) | |
| Boomtown New Orleans |
988 | |
| Belterra Casino Resort |
1,126 | |
| Boomtown Bossier City |
983 | |
| Casino Magic Biloxi |
1,032 | |
| Boomtown Reno |
873 | |
| Casino Magic Argentina |
331 | |
| Corporate |
63 | |
| Total |
5,396 | |
The Company does not employ the staff at the Hollywood Park-Casino or the Crystal Park Casino. Additionally, during busier months, each casino property supplements its permanent staff with seasonal employees.
Compliance with federal, state and local provisions which have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment have not had a material effect upon capital expenditures, earnings or the competitive position of the Company.
The Company operates land-based casinos in Argentina. Casino Magic Argentinas contribution to the Companys net income is immaterial as compared with the contributions of the Companys domestic gaming operations. Casino Magic Argentinas assets held in Argentina were $10,662,000 at December 31, 2003, or approximately 1% of the Companys consolidated assets on that date.
Pinnacle pays significant taxes in the communities in which it operates. In 2003, Pinnacle paid or accrued $110,600,000 in gaming taxes, $10,900,000 in payroll taxes, $7,100,000 in property taxes, and $5,100,000 in sales taxes during the year. Setting aside income taxes, Pinnacle paid or accrued $133,700,000 for taxes paid to state and local authorities in 2003.
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The Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports are available free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), through its Internet website, www.pinnacle-entertainment-inc.com. The Companys filings also are available through a database maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
The following describes the Companys principal real estate properties:
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.: The Company leases approximately 14,000 square feet for its corporate offices in Las Vegas, Nevada under lease agreements that expire in October 2005, with renewal options through 2011.
Boomtown New Orleans: The Company owns approximately 54 acres in Harvey, Louisiana that are utilized by Boomtown New Orleans. The Company owns the facilities and associated improvements at the property, including the riverboat casino.
Belterra Casino Resort: The Company owns 167 acres and leases 148 acres that are utilized by Belterra Casino Resort. The Company owns the facilities and associated improvements at the property, including the dockside riverboat. In addition, the Company owns the Ogle Haus Inn, a 54-room hotel operation in Vevay, Indiana, approximately 10 miles from the Belterra Casino Resort. The Ogle Haus is used primarily for overflow capacity during peak visitation periods.
Boomtown Bossier City: The Company owns 23 acres on the banks of the Red River in Bossier City, Louisiana. The property contains a dockside riverboat casino, hotel, parking structure and other land-based facilities, all of which are owned by the Company. The Company also leases approximately one acre of water bottoms from the State of Louisiana pursuant to a lease due to expire in September 2006.
Casino Magic Biloxi: Casino Magic Biloxi is located on approximately 10.6 acres, of which 5.5 acres are owned and approximately 5.1 acres are leased. The leases expire in June 2008. The Company has options to extend the terms of each lease for 15 additional five-year periods. The Company also leases approximately 6.4 acres of submerged tidelands from the State of Mississippi. The tidelands are under a lease that expires in May 2008. Thereafter, the Company has the prior right, exclusive of all other persons, to release the tidelands at the expiration of the lease, as may be agreed upon between the Company and the State of Mississippi. The Company owns the dockside casino and all of the land-based facilities, including the hotel.
Boomtown Reno: The Company owns 569 acres near Verdi, Nevada, with current operations presently utilizing approximately 61 acres. The Company owns all of the improvements and facilities at the property, including the casino, hotel, truck stop, recreational vehicle park and service station, along with the related water rights and sewage treatment plant.
During 2002, the property was annexed into the City of Reno, Nevada, which will allow the facility to be connected to the City of Renos municipal sewer system. Currently, development of the additional acreage is restricted by the existing sewage treatment plant. It is anticipated that the sewer line connection will be completed in 2004.
The Company also owns 290 acres in the mountains outside Reno, Nevada, which are surrounded by federal land.
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Casino Magic Argentina: The Company operates casinos in southern Argentina, in the cities of Neuquen, San Martin de los Andes and Junin de los Andes. All three casinos are currently in leased facilities. In 2001, the Company acquired approximately 20 acres in the city of Neuquen, which Pinnacle intends to use as a site for a new casino facility.
Hollywood Park-Casino: The Company leases the Hollywood Park-Casino under a long-term lease agreement that, including a 10-year renewal option, expires in 2019. It then subleases it to an unaffiliated third party operator under a year-to-year lease.
Crystal Park Casino: The Company owns the approximately 20 acres on which the casino facility, adjoining hotel and parking is located.
Lake Charles, Louisiana: The Company leases 227 acres of unimproved land from the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District upon which the Lake Charles resort development is being constructed. The lease calls for annual payments of $835,600 commencing upon opening of the resort complex with increases for inflation thereafter, subject to a maximum annual increase of 5%. The lease has an initial term of ten years, commencing on the opening of the resort casino, with six renewal options of ten years each. In addition, the Company entered into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the City of Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish and the District requiring Pinnacle to make infrastructure improvements, including, among other things, a road extension and utility improvements, and pay non-specific impact fees, which, collectively, are expected to approximate $11,375,000. The Company has included such obligations in the $325,000,000 project budget. In 2002, the Company also entered into an option to lease an additional 75 acres of unimproved land adjacent to the 227 acres. The one-year lease option currently expires on August 15, 2004, with two remaining one-year renewal options. The terms of the lease, if the option is exercised, would be substantially similar on a per acre basis to the terms of the lease for the 227 acres.
Land in St. Louis, Missouri: The Company owns approximately 7.3 acres of contiguous land in downtown St. Louis, Missouri near the Edward Jones domed stadium and Americas Center convention center and the Gateway Arch. See New Developments and Expansion Plans St. Louis Development Proposals for a discussion of the two development proposals the Company submitted to the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.
Warehouse Leases: The Company leases warehouse space at various locations close to its operating properties for various operating purposes.
Properties Held For Sale: As of December 31, 2003, the Company owned approximately 97 acres of surplus land in Inglewood, California. On February 27, 2004, the Company sold 37 of these acres for approximately $22,000,000 in cash to a regional homebuilder, and anticipates recording a gain on the sale of approximately $13,200,000.
On February 13, 2004, the Company amended and reinstated its agreement (which had been terminated by its terms in December 2003) to sell the remaining 60 acres to a retail development company for $36,000,000 in cash. Among other things, the amendment restates the agreement as an option to purchase the land and extends the time for closing the transaction until April 30, 2004 in consideration of a non-refundable payment received by the Company of $2,000,000 which will be credited against the purchase if the transaction closes. The amendment also grants the buyer the option to further extend the closing until May 31, 2004 upon payment of an additional non-refundable payment of $1,000,000 which also would be credited against the purchase price if the transaction closes. There can be no assurance that such sale will ultimately be completed on a timely basis, or at all.
Astoria Entertainment Litigation: In November 1998, Astoria Entertainment, Inc. filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Astoria, an unsuccessful applicant for a license
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to operate a riverboat casino in Louisiana, attempted to assert a claim under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), seeking damages allegedly resulting from its failure to obtain a license. Astoria named several companies and individuals as defendants, including Hollywood Park, Inc. (the predecessor to Pinnacle Entertainment), Louisiana Gaming Enterprises, Inc. (LGE), then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Entertainment, and an employee of Boomtown, Inc. The Company believed the claims had no merit and, indeed, in February 1999 Astoria voluntarily dismissed its claims against Hollywood Park, LGE, and the Boomtown employee.
On March 1, 2001, Astoria amended its complaint, adding new claims and renaming Boomtown, Inc. and LGE as defendants. Astoria asserted that the defendants (i) conspired to corrupt the process for awarding licenses to operate riverboat casinos in Louisiana, (ii) succeeded in corrupting the process, (iii) violated federal and Louisiana antitrust laws, and (iv) violated the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act. Astoria asserted that it would have obtained a license to operate a riverboat casino in Louisiana, but for these alleged improper acts. On August 21, 2001, the court dismissed Astorias federal claims with prejudice and its state claims without prejudice. In May 2002, Astoria refiled its state claims in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana, and the matter is still pending. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of this litigation, management intends to defend it vigorously.
Poulos Lawsuit: A class-action lawsuit was filed on April 26, 1994, in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida (the Poulos Lawsuit), naming as defendants 41 manufacturers, distributors and casino operators of video poker and electronic slot machines, including Casino Magic. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants have engaged in a course of fraudulent and misleading conduct intended to induce people to play such games based on false beliefs concerning the operation of the gaming machines and the extent to which there is an opportunity to win. The suit alleges violations of RICO, as well as claims of common law fraud, unjust enrichment and negligent misrepresentation, and seeks damages in excess of $6,000,000,000. On May 10, 1994, a second class-action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida (the Ahern Lawsuit), naming as defendants the same defendants who were named in the Poulos Lawsuit and adding as defendants the owners of certain casino operations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, who were not named as defendants in the Poulos Lawsuit. The claims in the Ahern Lawsuit are identical to the claims in the Poulos Lawsuit. Because of the similarity of parties and claims, the Poulos Lawsuit and Ahern Lawsuit were consolidated into one case file (the Poulos/Ahern Lawsuit) in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida. On December 9, 1994 a motion by the defendants for change of venue was granted, transferring the case to the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, in Las Vegas. In an order dated April 17, 1996, the court granted motions to dismiss filed by Casino Magic and other defendants and dismissed the complaint without prejudice. The plaintiffs then filed an amended complaint on May 31, 1996 seeking damages against Casino Magic and other defendants in excess of $1,000,000,000 and punitive damages for violations of RICO and for state common law claims for fraud, unjust enrichment and negligent misrepresentation.
At a December 13, 1996 status conference, the Poulos/Ahern Lawsuit was consolidated with two other class-action lawsuits (one on behalf of a smaller, more defined class of plaintiffs and one against additional defendants) involving allegations substantially identical to those in the Poulos/Ahern Lawsuit (collectively, the Consolidated Lawsuits) and all pending motions in the Consolidated Lawsuits were deemed withdrawn without prejudice. The plaintiffs in the Consolidated Lawsuits filed a consolidated amended complaint on February 14, 1997, which the defendants moved to dismiss. On December 19, 1997, the court granted the defendants motion to dismiss certain allegations in the RICO claim, but denied the motion as to the remainder of such claim; granted the defendants motion to strike certain parts of the consolidated amended complaint; denied the defendants remaining motions to dismiss and to stay or abstain; and permitted the plaintiffs to substitute one of the class representatives. On January 9, 1998, the plaintiffs filed a second consolidated amended complaint containing claims nearly identical to those in the previously dismissed complaints. The defendants answered, denying the substantive allegations of the second consolidated amended complaint. On June 21, 2002, the court denied plaintiffs motion for class certification. On July 11, 2002, the plaintiffs filed a petition for permission to appeal the courts denial of the plaintiffs motion for class certification. On August 15, 2002, the United States Court of
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Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted plaintiffs petition. On August 23, 2002, the plaintiffs filed their notice of appeal with the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. On or about April 30, 2003, the plaintiffs filed their opening brief on appeal. Defendants answering brief was filed on September 18, 2003. The plaintiffs reply brief was filed on October 20, 2003. Oral argument on the appeal of the order denying class certification was heard on January 15, 2004 and a decision is pending.
The claims are not covered under the Companys insurance policies. While the Company cannot predict the outcome of this action, management intends to defend it vigorously.
Casino Magic Biloxi Patron Incident: On January 13, 2001, three Casino Magic Biloxi patrons sustained injuries as a result of an assault by another Casino Magic Biloxi patron, who then killed himself. Several other patrons sustained injuries while attempting to exit the casino. On August 1, 2001, two of the casino patrons injured during the January 13, 2001 incident filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Harrison County, Mississippi, Second Judicial District. The complaint alleges that Biloxi Casino Corp. failed to exercise reasonable care to keep its patrons safe from foreseeable criminal acts of third persons and seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on August 17, 2001. The amended complaint added an allegation that Biloxi Casino Corp. violated a Mississippi statute by serving alcoholic beverages to the perpetrator who was allegedly visibly intoxicated and that Biloxi Casino Corp.s violation of the statute was the proximate cause of or contributing cause to plaintiffs injuries. One of the three shooting victims recently alleged that her injuries from the initial incident caused her to suffer additional substantial damage in a subsequent car wreck. Each of the shooting victims alleges permanent total or permanent partial disability. There is no trial date.
On March 20, 2002, the third injured victim filed a subsequent complaint in the Circuit Court of Harrison County, Mississippi, Second Judicial District. The allegations in the complaint are substantially similar to those contained in the August 1, 2001 lawsuit. No trial date has been set for the subsequent suit.
While the Company cannot predict the outcome of these actions, the Company, together with its applicable insurers, intends to defend them vigorously.
Wage and Hour Dispute: A class-action lawsuit was filed on March 11, 2003, in Los Angeles Superior Court, naming as defendants certain entities related to the Hollywood Park facility, including the Company. The lawsuit, filed by one plaintiff on behalf of himself and a purported class of non-exempt Hollywood Park Casino Food and Beverage Department Employees, alleges violations of wage and hour laws and tort claims to recover wages and punitive damages for work allegedly performed during meal periods without compensation. The case was dismissed as to the Company on October 14, 2003.
Actions by Greek Authorities: In 1995, a subsidiary of Casino Magic Corp., Casino Magic Europe B.V. (CME), performed management services for Porto Carras Casino, S.A. (PCC), a joint venture in which CME had a minority interest. Effective December 31, 1995, CME, with the approval of PCC, assigned its interests and obligations under the PCC management agreement to a Greek subsidiary, Casino Magic Hellas S.A. (Hellas). Hellas issued invoices to PCC for management fees that accrued during 1995, but had not been billed by CME.
In September 1996, local Greek tax authorities in Thessaloniki assessed a penalty of approximately $3,500,000 against Hellas, and an equal amount against PCC, arising out of the presentation and payment of the invoices. The Thessaloniki tax authorities asserted that the Hellas invoices were fictitious, representing an effort to reduce the taxable income of PCC.
The assessment of the fine against PCC was overturned by the Administrative Court of Thessaloniki on December 11, 2000. While Hellas appeal of its assessment was dismissed for technical procedural failures and has not been reinstated, Greek counsel has advised the Company that the rationale of the court in the PCC fine matter would bar enforcement of a fine levied against Hellas. On March 31, 2003, the Administrative Court of
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Appeals affirmed the Administrative Court of Thessalonikis decision to overturn the fine against PCC. The taxing authorities have appealed this ruling to the Supreme Court, but the date of this hearing has not been set.
In June 2000, Greek authorities issued a warrant to appear at a September 29, 2000 criminal proceeding to Marlin Torguson (a member of the Companys board of directors and Chairman of the Board of CME in 1995) and Robert Callaway (former Associate General Counsel for the Company and, prior to its acquisition by the Company, CMEs General Counsel). They were convicted in absentia as being culpable criminally for corporate misconduct based solely on the issuance of invoices by Hellas to PCC and on their status as alleged executive board members of PCC. On April 10, 2003, the Court of Misdemeanors of Thessaloniki ruled in favor of Messrs. Torguson and Callaway on appeal from the criminal proceeding and overturned their criminal convictions. The due date for filing an appeal to such ruling expired on October 1, 2003.