Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates The acquisition of Old GNOG has been accounted for as a reverse recapitalization. Under this method of accounting, Old GNOG was treated as the acquirer for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, the consolidated financial statements included herein reflect (i) the historical operating results of Old GNOG prior to the Acquisition Transaction, (ii) our combined results following the Acquisition Transaction, (iii) the assets, liabilities and accumulated deficit of Old GNOG at their historical amounts, and (iv) our equity and earnings per share presented for the period from the Closing Date through the end of the year. These audited consolidated financial statements include all the accounts of GNOG and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The financial statements included herein have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenue and expenses during the period reported. Management utilizes estimates, including, but not limited to, the useful lives of assets and inputs used to calculate the tax receivable agreement liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Emerging Growth Company Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Partnership has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Partnership, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements with another company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company, which has opted out of using the extended transition period, difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used. Concentrations Related to Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of operating cash and cash equivalents and cash reserved for users. The Company maintains separate accounts for cash and cash reserved for users in two financial institutions. Some amounts exceed federally insured limits. Management believes all financial institutions holding our cash are of high credit quality and we do not believe we are subject to unusual credit risk beyond the normal credit risk associated with commercial banking relationships. Segment Reporting Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Cash and cash equivalents include cash on accounts and cash on hand. We consider short-term, highly liquid investments that have an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Amounts held in financial institutions are in excess of FDIC insurance limits. We have not experienced any losses in such account and believe we are not exposed to any significant risks on our cash in bank accounts. Restricted cash represents required amounts on hand that generally represent the amount of players’ funds on deposit in their wagering accounts. Accounts Receivable Receivables consist of amounts due from third party payment processors and online gaming operators. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, there were $4.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively, due from gaming operators. Receivables are reviewed for collectability based on historical collection experience and specific review of individual accounts. Receivables are written off when they are deemed to be uncollectible. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 there was no allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivables are non-interest bearing and are initially recorded at cost. Amounts written off totaled $0.4 million, $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Customer Deposits Customer deposits are liabilities that relate to amounts due to players and online betting operators and are required to be maintained to comply with regulatory requirements. The amounts due to players consist of customer deposits, plus bonuses converted to cash, plus winning wagers, less losing wagers, and less player withdrawals. We separately track amounts due to players and per certain regulatory requirements must maintain a balance equal to or greater than amounts due as restricted cash. Property and Equipment, net Property and equipment are carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Leasehold improvements depreciation is computed over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Additions and improvements are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Useful lives of each asset class are as follows: Computer equipment and software 3-5 years Furniture and fixtures 5 years Leasehold improvements Lesser of the lease terms or the estimated useful lives of the improvements, generally 1 – 10 years Financial Instruments and Fair Value Fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, there exists a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1 Unadjusted quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2 Quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market that have been adjusted for items such as effects of restrictions for transferability and those that are not quoted but are observable through corroboration with observable market data, including quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3 Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability only used when there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. This hierarchy requires us to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. The carrying value of certain of our assets and liabilities, consisting primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain accrued liabilities approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of such instruments. The fair value of our long-term debt is determined by Level 1 measurements based on quoted market prices. The fair value and carrying value of our long-term debt as of December 31, 2020 was $171.0 million and $145.0 million, respectively. Revenue and Cost Recognition We recognize revenue for services when the services are performed and when we have no substantive performance obligations remaining. Online real money gaming revenues are recognized as the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses and are recorded as gaming revenue in the accompanying statements of operations, with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs. We report 100% of wins as revenue and our content provider’s share is reported in costs and expenses. Jackpots, other than the incremental progressive jackpots, are recognized at the time they are won by customers. We accrue the incremental progressive jackpots as the progressive games are played, and the progressive jackpot amount increases, with a corresponding reduction to gaming revenues. Free play and other incentives to customers related to internet gaming play are recorded as a reduction of gaming revenue. We are contracted to manage multi-year market access agreements with online gaming operators that are authorized to operate real money online gaming and sports betting in New Jersey, for which we receive royalties and cost reimbursement. Initial fees received for the market access agreements and prepaid guaranteed minimum royalties are deferred and recognized over the term of the contract as the performance obligations are satisfied. Gaming Taxes We incur gaming taxes, which are determined by each jurisdiction in which we operate, and are generally based on a percentage of gross gaming revenues (“GGR”) minus applicable deductions. We record a liability for gaming taxes payable as accrued gaming and related taxes in our consolidated balance sheets. Advertising Advertising costs are expensed as incurred during such year and are recorded as selling, general and administrative expense in our accompanying statements of operations. Advertising expenses were $17.5 million, $9.3 million and $8.2 million, in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Stock-Based Compensation We record compensation expense over the requisite service period for all stock-based compensation based on the grant date fair value of the award. The expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense in our statements of operations. As we have limited historical experience, our policy is to account for forfeitures of share-based compensation awards as they occur. Income Taxes We were subject to a tax sharing agreement with certain affiliates prior to the December 29, 2020 closing date of the Acquisition Transaction and we recognized tax assets and liabilities associated with temporary differences on a separate return basis in accordance with GAAP. Following the consummation of the Acquisition Transaction, we operate as an Up-C, meaning that substantially all of our assets are held indirectly through Golden Nugget Online Gaming LLC (“GNOG LLC”), our indirect subsidiary, and our business is conducted through GNOG LLC. We follow the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the underlying assets are realized or liabilities are settled. A valuation allowance reduces deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We use a recognition threshold of more-likely-than-not, and a measurement attribute for all tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, in order to be recognized in the financial statements. Accordingly, we report a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We recognize interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018‑13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework — Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” This update modifies fair value measurement disclosure requirements including (i) removing certain disclosure requirements such as the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, (ii) modifying certain disclosure requirements, and (iii) adding certain disclosure requirements such as changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this standard did not materially impact our financial statements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑02, “Leases (Topic 842).” This guidance requires recognition of most lease liabilities on the balance sheet to give investors, lenders, and other financial statement users a more comprehensive view of a company’s long-term financial obligations, as well as the assets it owns versus leases. ASU 2016‑02 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and for interim periods within annual periods after December 15, 2022. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018‑11 making transition requirements less burdensome. The standard provides an option to apply the transition provisions of the new standard at its adoption date instead of at the earliest comparative period presented in the Company’s financial statements. We are currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on our financial statements as well as the expected adoption method. We do not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, as additional guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable supportable forecasts. In addition, the guidance amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. The new guidance is effective for all public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. In October 2019, the FASB approved a proposal which grants smaller reporting companies additional time to implement FASB standards on current expected credit losses (CECL) to January 2023. As a smaller reporting company, we will defer adoption of ASU No. 2016‑13 until January 2023. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes-Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes ("ASU 2019-12"). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. The amendments also improve consistent application of and simplify GAAP for other areas of Topic 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. ASU 2019-12 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of adopting this guidance and the impact of adoption on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows. |