Exhibit 99.1
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MTR GAMING GROUP ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
Company to Begin Operating Binion’s Beginning March 2005
CHESTER, WV — November 8, 2004 — MTR Gaming Group, Inc. (Nasdaq National Market:MNTG) today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine-month period ended September 30, 2004. See attached tables (including Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP).
Total revenues for the quarter were $85.2 million compared to $84.1 million in the third quarter of 2003. EBITDA grew by 6% to $18.6 million compared to $17.6 million in the same quarter of last year. Net income was $5.9 million or $.20 per diluted share, compared to $6.0 million or $.21 per diluted share in the third quarter of last year.
Net win from slot operations at Mountaineer remained constant at $68.6 million, producing net win-per-day-per-machine of $232 based on an average of 3,220 machines for both the current quarter and the third quarter of 2003. EBITDA at Mountaineer increased 5% to $20.6 million in the third quarter of 2004 from $19.7 million in the third quarter of 2003.
Revenues at MTR’s Speedway Property in North Las Vegas increased 14% to $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2004 and the property generated $180,000 in EBITDA representing an improvement over a $78,000 loss in the same period of 2003. Binion’s contributed EBITDA of $767,000 in the third quarter of 2004. Scioto Downs’ revenues totaled $2.4 million and had an EBITDA loss of $249,000 for the third quarter of 2004.
Edson R. (Ted) Arneault, President and CEO of MTR Gaming Group, stated, “While traffic was strong at Mountaineer during the quarter, we believe economic conditions, high fuel prices, flooding from the hurricanes in September and, to a lesser degree, the recent proliferation of slot machines in bars, restaurants and fraternal organizations near Mountaineer affected gaming revenues at Mountaineer. Nonetheless, we continued to focus on controlling costs, which produced strong EBITDA margins at the property for the quarter.”
For the first nine months of 2004, total revenues rose 9% to $244.0 million, while EBITDA increased 10% to $45.5 million. Net income was $11.9 million or $.41 per diluted share, compared to $12.9 million and $.45 per diluted share for the same period in 2003. The results for the first nine months of 2003 included a net $432,000 gain on the sale of property, whereas the 2004 period included a $45,000 loss.
Net win at Mountaineer rose 8% to $200.9 million during the first nine months of 2004, producing net win-per-day-per-machine of $228 based on an average of 3,220 machines for the current period, compared to $220 with an average of 3,112 machines in the 2003 period.
EBITDA at Mountaineer increased 10% to $51.2 million in the first nine months of 2004 from $46.7 million in nine-month period of 2003.
Revenues at the Company’s Speedway Property in North Las Vegas increased 12% to $7.9 million for the first nine months of 2004 and the property generated $666,000 in EBITDA compared to essentially breaking even in the same period of 2003. Binion’s contributed EBITDA of $1.6 million in the nine-month period of 2004. Scioto Downs’ operations generated revenues of $5.3 million and had an EBITDA loss of $1.3 million for the first nine months of 2004.
Development Updates
• The Company has received notification that Harrah’s does not intend to extend the Joint Operating Agreement for another year. Accordingly, the agreement will expire by its own terms on March 11, 2005, at which time MTR will begin operating Binion’s. During the period from the April 1, 2004 reopening date through September 30, 2004, while Binion’s was being operated by Harrah’s, the property generated revenues of $34.0 million and EBITDA of $1.8 million. This excludes entry fees and other direct revenue from the World Series of Poker® and payments made to MTR under the Joint Operating Agreement. MTR anticipates that Binion’s will represent a significant diversification of the Company’s revenue base. The final two tables of the 2005 World Series of Poker® will take place at Binion’s in accordance with the Joint Operating Agreement.
• The Company is pursuing its project development efforts in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Michigan and Ohio, including supporting gaming legislative initiatives and pursuing judicial remedies where necessary.
“We continue to pursue prudent development opportunities that leverage our knowledge and expertise in the gaming and racino markets. While the cost of exploring these opportunities may burden near-term results from time to time, we believe our attractive entry costs will provide significant long-term value for our shareholders,” concluded Mr. Arneault.
Financial Guidance
Due to current business trends, for the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company expects total revenues of $71.0-$73.0 million, EBITDA of $11.5-$12.5 million and net income of $1.1-$1.5 million. This will produce total revenues of $315.0-$317.0 million, EBITDA of $57-$58 million and net income of $13.0-$13.4 million for fiscal year 2004. The Company’s guidance assumes that (i) there will be no material new competition; (ii) the Commonwealth Court’s decision upholding Presque Isle Downs’ license will not be overturned; and (iii) no material changes in economic conditions, West Virginia gaming or tax laws or world events; and is subject to recoverability of certain costs in the event the Company obtains regulatory approval to relocate Presque Isle Downs and determines to do so and in the event the Company is unable to move forward with plans in Minnesota and Michigan.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP
EBITDA or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), is unaudited and should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or income from operations as an indicator of our operating performance, or cash flows from operating activities, as a measure of liquidity. We have presented EBITDA as a supplemental disclosure because it is a widely used measure of performance and basis for valuation of companies in our industry. Uses of our cash flows
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that are not reflected in EBITDA include capital expenditures (which are significant given our expansion), interest payments, income taxes, and debt principal repayments. Moreover, other companies that provide EBITDA information may calculate EBITDA differently than we do. A reconciliation of GAAP income from operations to EBITDA is included in the financial tables accompanying this release.
Conference Call
Management will conduct a conference call and webcast focusing on the financial results and recent corporate developments at 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, November 8, 2004. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 706-679-0882 — please call in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin, and ask for the MTR Gaming call. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site at www.mtrgaming.com. To listen to the live call please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to listen live, the conference call will be archived on the Company’s web site.
About MTR Gaming Group
MTR Gaming Group, Inc., through subsidiaries, owns and operates the Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester, West Virginia; Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio; the Ramada Inn and Speedway Casino in North Las Vegas, Nevada; Binion’s Horseshoe Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, which the Company operates jointly with an affiliate of Harrah’s; and holds a license (request for judicial review pending) to build Presque Isle Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack with pari-mutuel racing in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Company also owns a 50% interest in the North Metro Harness Initiative, LLC which is pursuing a license to construct and operate a harness racetrack and card room 30 miles north of downtown Minneapolis. Additionally, the Company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 90% interest in Jackson Trotting Association, LLC, which operates Jackson Harness Raceway in Jackson, Michigan. The Mountaineer facility, the Company’s primary source of revenues, currently encompasses a thoroughbred racetrack with off-track betting and export simulcasting, 3,220 slot machines, 359 hotel rooms, golf course, spa & fitness center, theater and events center, convention center and fine dining and entertainment. MTR is included on the Russell 2000® and Russell® 3000 Indexes. For more information, please visit www.mtrgaming.com.
Except for historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning, among other things, future plans and operating results, and specifically guidance concerning the results for 2004 and expectations concerning the financial performance of Binion’s during the first full year after the company takes over operations. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the statements made to be incorrect and/or for actual results to differ materially. Those risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to weather conditions or road conditions impeding access to Mountaineer, adverse changes in West Virginia video lottery laws or the rates of taxation of video lottery operations, the West Virginia’s Tourism Board’s administration of the advertising matching program, legalization of new forms of gaming in the Company’s target markets, which would lead to increased competition, the impact of new competition resulting from slots in Pennsylvania, general economic conditions affecting the resort business, dependence upon key personnel and the ability to attract new personnel, changes in the number of diluted shares, leverage and debt service, expiration or non-renewal of gaming licenses, favorable resolution of the pending legal challenge to our Pennsylvania racing license and receipt of a slots license for the facility, costs associated with maintenance and expansion of Mountaineer Park’s infrastructure to meet the demands attending increased patronage, costs and risks attending construction, expansion of operations, continued dependence on Mountaineer for the vast majority of our revenues, disruption in developing our planned Pennsylvania operations
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and other facilities we may expand and/or acquire, extensive regulation by gaming and racing authorities, regulatory approval of our building plans for Presque Isle Downs and regulatory approval of our motion to permit relocation (in the event we determine to move), successful challenge of the Minnesota Racing Commission’s decision not to authorize a second racetrack in the state; satisfaction of all of the closing conditions, including regulatory approval, of our acquisition in Michigan, our compliance with environmental laws and potential exposure to environmental liabilities, limited public market and liquidity of our common stock, shares eligible for future sale, and successful cross-marketing of the Company’s Ohio and planned Pennsylvania operations with Mountaineer, successful implementation of telephone and Internet wagering at Scioto Downs, successful transition and operation of Binion’s, and other factors described in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
For Additional Information, Please Contact: | | | | |
MTR Gaming Group, Inc. | | Investor Relations Counsel: |
Edson R. (Ted) Arneault, President & CEO | | The Equity Group Inc. |
(304) 387-8300 | | www.theequitygroup.com |
www.mtrgaming.com | | Lauren Barbera | (212) 836-9610 |
| | lbarbera@equityny.com |
| | Loren G. Mortman | (212) 836-9604 |
| | | | | |
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MTR GAMING GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
| | Three Months Ended September 30 | | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |
| | 2004 | | 2003 | | 2004 | | 2003 | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Gaming | | $ | 70,458,000 | | $ | 70,312,000 | | $ | 206,590,000 | | $ | 191,819,000 | |
Parimutuel commissions | | 4,313,000 | | 3,762,000 | | 10,586,000 | | 8,194,000 | |
Food, beverage and lodging | | 7,298,000 | | 7,210,000 | | 19,143,000 | | 17,631,000 | |
Other | | 3,088,000 | | 2,779,000 | | 7,685,000 | | 5,528,000 | |
Total revenues | | 85,157,000 | | 84,063,000 | | 244,004,000 | | 223,172,000 | |
Less promotional allowances | | (1,296,000 | ) | (1,415,000 | ) | (3,465,000 | ) | (3,760,000 | ) |
Net revenues | | 83,861,000 | | 82,648,000 | | 240,539,000 | | 219,412,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Costs of revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of gaming | | 40,510,000 | | 41,889,000 | | 124,935,000 | | 117,684,000 | |
Cost of parimutuel commissions | | 2,961,000 | | 2,560,000 | | 7,660,000 | | 6,086,000 | |
Cost of food, beverage and lodging | | 4,851,000 | | 5,195,000 | | 13,844,000 | | 13,117,000 | |
Cost of other revenues | | 2,416,000 | | 2,357,000 | | 6,564,000 | | 5,619,000 | |
Total cost of revenues | | 50,738,000 | | 52,001,000 | | 153,003,000 | | 142,506,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | 33,123,000 | | 30,647,000 | | 87,536,000 | | 76,906,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Selling, general and administrative expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Marketing and promotions | | 2,700,000 | | 2,082,000 | | 7,925,000 | | 5,752,000 | |
General and administrative | | 11,781,000 | | 10,981,000 | | 34,100,000 | | 29,905,000 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 5,946,000 | | 4,783,000 | | 16,452,000 | | 13,376,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total selling, general and administrative expenses | | 20,427,000 | | 17,846,000 | | 58,477,000 | | 49,033,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Operating income | | 12,696,000 | | 12,801,000 | | 29,059,000 | | 27,873,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Other (expense) income: | | | | | | | | | |
(Loss) gain on disposal of property | | (76,000 | ) | (11,000 | ) | (45,000 | ) | 432,000 | |
Interest income | | 58,000 | | 94,000 | | 163,000 | | 231,000 | |
Interest expense | | (3,373,000 | ) | (3,457,000 | ) | (10,312,000 | ) | (8,347,000 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Income before provision for income taxes | | 9,305,000 | | 9,427,000 | | 18,865,000 | | 20,189,000 | |
Provision for income taxes | | 3,443,000 | | 3,438,000 | | 6,980,000 | | 7,329,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 5,862,000 | | $ | 5,989,000 | | $ | 11,885,000 | | $ | 12,860,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net income per share: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.21 | | $ | 0.22 | | $ | 0.42 | | $ | 0.46 | |
Diluted | | $ | 0.20 | | $ | 0.21 | | $ | 0.41 | | $ | 0.45 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | 28,551,201 | | 27,798,876 | | 28,422,385 | | 27,809,212 | |
Diluted | | 28,884,256 | | 28,364,874 | | 28,919,761 | | 28,630,987 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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MTR GAMING GROUP, INC.
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(unaudited)
| | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | September 30 | | September 30 | |
| | 2004 | | 2003 | | 2004 | | 2003 | |
Net revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Mountaineer Park | | $ | 78,127,000 | | $ | 78,748,000 | | $ | 225,873,000 | | $ | 210,690,000 | |
Scioto Downs | | 2,446,000 | | 1,481,000 | | 5,289,000 | | 1,481,000 | |
Speedway - Las Vegas | | 2,638,000 | | 2,305,000 | | 7,870,000 | | 7,030,000 | |
Binion's Horseshoe | | 647,000 | | — | | 1,498,000 | | — | |
Speakeasy - Reno | | — | | — | | — | | 47,000 | |
Corporate | | 3,000 | | 114,000 | | 9,000 | | 164,000 | |
Consolidated | | $ | 83,861,000 | | $ | 82,648,000 | | $ | 240,539,000 | | $ | 219,412,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
EBITDA: | | | | | | | | | |
Mountaineer Park | | $ | 20,635,000 | | $ | 19,688,000 | | $ | 51,234,000 | | $ | 46,691,000 | |
Scioto Downs | | (249,000 | ) | (115,000 | ) | (1,259,000 | ) | (115,000 | ) |
Speedway - Las Vegas | | 180,000 | | (78,000 | ) | 666,000 | | 1,000 | |
Binion's Horseshoe | | 767,000 | | — | | 1,566,000 | | — | |
Speakeasy - Reno | | — | | — | | — | | (293,000 | ) |
Corporate | | (2,691,000 | ) | (1,911,000 | ) | (6,696,000 | ) | (5,035,000 | ) |
Consolidated | | $ | 18,642,000 | | $ | 17,584,000 | | $ | 45,511,000 | | $ | 41,249,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
MTR GAMING GROUP, INC.
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) TO EBITDA
(unaudted)
The following tables set forth a reconciliation of operating income (loss), a GAAP financial measure, to EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure.
| | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | | Financial Guidance | | Financial Guidance | |
| | September 30 | | September 30 | | Fourth Quarter Ending | | Year Ending | |
| | 2004 | | 2003 | | 2004 | | 2003 | | December 31, 2004 | | December 31, 2004 | |
Moutaineer Park: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income | | $ | 16,251,000 | | $ | 15,702,000 | | $ | 38,500,000 | | $ | 35,204,000 | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 4,384,000 | | 3,986,000 | | 12,734,000 | | 11,487,000 | | | | | |
EBITDA | | $ | 20,635,000 | | $ | 19,688,000 | | $ | 51,234,000 | | $ | 46,691,000 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Scioto Downs: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss | | $ | (464,000 | ) | $ | (259,000 | ) | $ | (1,905,000 | ) | $ | (259,000 | ) | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 215,000 | | 144,000 | | 646,000 | | 144,000 | | | | | |
EBITDA | | $ | (249,000 | ) | $ | (115,000 | ) | $ | (1,259,000 | ) | $ | (115,000 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Speedway - Las Vegas: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss | | $ | (157,000 | ) | $ | (399,000 | ) | $ | (276,000 | ) | $ | (960,000 | ) | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 337,000 | | 321,000 | | 942,000 | | 961,000 | | | | | |
EBITDA | | $ | 180,000 | | $ | (78,000 | ) | $ | 666,000 | | $ | 1,000 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Binion's Horseshoe: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income | | $ | 80,000 | | $ | — | | $ | 368,000 | | $ | — | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 687,000 | | — | | 1,198,000 | | — | | | | | |
EBITDA | | $ | 767,000 | | $ | — | | $ | 1,566,000 | | $ | — | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Speakeasy - Reno: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | (312,000 | ) | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | — | | — | | — | | 19,000 | | | | | |
EBITDA | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | (293,000 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss | | $ | (3,014,000 | ) | $ | (2,243,000 | ) | $ | (7,628,000 | ) | $ | (5,800,000 | ) | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 323,000 | | 332,000 | | 932,000 | | 765,000 | | | | | |
EBITDA | | $ | (2,691,000 | ) | $ | (1,911,000 | ) | $ | (6,696,000 | ) | $ | (5,035,000 | ) | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Consolidated: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating income | | $ | 12,696,000 | | $ | 12,801,000 | | $ | 29,059,000 | | $ | 27,873,000 | | $5,500,000-$6,500,000 | | $34,500,000-$35,500,000 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 5,946,000 | | 4,783,000 | | 16,452,000 | | 13,376,000 | | $6,000,000 | | $22,500,000 | |
EBITDA | | $ | 18,642,000 | | $ | 17,584,000 | | $ | 45,511,000 | | $ | 41,249,000 | | $11,500,000-$12,500,000 | | $57,000,000-$58,000,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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MTR GAMING GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| | September 30 | | December 31 | |
| | 2004 | | 2003 | |
| | (unaudited) | | | |
ASSETS | |
| | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 21,891,000 | | $ | 26,796,000 | |
Restricted cash | | 400,000 | | 820,000 | |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $160,000 in 2004 and $152,000 in 2003 | | 4,971,000 | | 6,957,000 | |
Accounts receivable - West Virginia Lottery Commission | | 5,709,000 | | 859,000 | |
Inventories | | 2,861,000 | | 2,664,000 | |
Deferred financing costs | | 1,784,000 | | 1,412,000 | |
Prepaid taxes | | — | | 3,071,000 | |
Deferred income taxes | | 1,176,000 | | 1,176,000 | |
Other current assets | | 2,578,000 | | 2,745,000 | |
Total current assets | | 41,370,000 | | 46,500,000 | |
| | | | | |
Property and equipment: | | | | | |
Land | | 28,757,000 | | 13,286,000 | |
Building | | 168,689,000 | | 148,050,000 | |
Equipment and automobiles | | 76,897,000 | | 67,579,000 | |
Furniture and fixtures | | 16,809,000 | | 15,221,000 | |
Construction in progress | | 7,541,000 | | 11,045,000 | |
| | 298,693,000 | | 255,181,000 | |
Less accumulated depreciation | | (69,585,000 | ) | (55,375,000 | ) |
| | 229,108,000 | | 199,806,000 | |
| | | | | |
Other assets: | | | | | |
Goodwill | | 1,492,000 | | 1,492,000 | |
Other intangibles | | 14,850,000 | | 13,789,000 | |
Note receivable | | 2,200,000 | | 2,215,000 | |
Deferred income taxes | | 2,256,000 | | 2,256,000 | |
Deferred financing costs, net of current portion | | 4,811,000 | | 6,052,000 | |
Deposits and other | | 13,297,000 | | 8,431,000 | |
| | 38,906,000 | | 34,235,000 | |
Total assets | | $ | 309,384,000 | | $ | 280,541,000 | |
| | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |
| | | | | |
Current liablities: | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 3,074,000 | | $ | 4,591,000 | |
Accrued payroll and payroll taxes | | 2,312,000 | | 2,340,000 | |
Accrued tax liability | | 3,427,000 | | — | |
Accrued interest | | 6,482,000 | | 3,296,000 | |
Accrued liabilities | | 6,069,000 | | 6,136,000 | |
Current portion of capital leases | | 2,620,000 | | 5,125,000 | |
Current portion of long-term and other debt | | 356,000 | | 975,000 | |
Total current liabilites | | 24,340,000 | | 22,463,000 | |
| | | | | |
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion | | 224,000 | | 1,799,000 | |
Long-term and other debt, less current portion | | 133,201,000 | | 133,295,000 | |
Deferred leashold obligation | | 13,270,000 | | — | |
Long-term deferred compensation | | 5,281,000 | | 3,127,000 | |
Deferred income taxes | | 14,216,000 | | 14,216,000 | |
Total liabilities | | 190,532,000 | | 174,900,000 | |
| | | | | |
Shareholders' equity: | | | | | |
Common stock | | — | | — | |
Paid in capital | | 60,060,000 | | 58,469,000 | |
Retained earnings | | 58,792,000 | | 47,172,000 | |
Total shareholders' equity | | 118,852,000 | | 105,641,000 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $ | 309,384,000 | | $ | 280,541,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
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