Bally's (BALY) - 2023 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Bally's Corporation reported a 6% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2023, reaching $612 million, with a full-year revenue increase of 9$342.3 million in Q4, a 7% increase year-over-year, and $94.7 million in adjusted EBITDA [20] - International Interactive revenues increased by 2.1$236 million in Q4, with record adjusted EBITDA of $93.2 million, a 4.3$33.4 million in revenue, a 27% year-over-year increase, but reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $9.8 million [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The UK operations within International Interactive saw a 10$30 million, as the company continues to invest in market expansion [22][24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Bally's Corporation is focused on a diverse operating model across Casinos & Resorts, International Interactive, and North America Interactive, viewing this diversity as a strength [6][10] - The company has a well-structured development pipeline, including the Chicago permanent casino project expected to begin construction in late 2024 and complete by late 2026 [8][10] - Bally's aims to enhance its market presence through strategic partnerships and technology improvements, particularly in the North American Interactive segment [12][45] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate macroeconomic challenges and highlighted a strong operational performance in 2023 [6][10] - The company anticipates continued growth in 2024, driven by the ramp-up of the Chicago temporary facility and the launch of iGaming in Rhode Island [24][25] - Management acknowledged the impact of severe weather on operations in January but noted a return to normal trends in February [32][19] Other Important Information - Bally's expects 2024 revenue in the range of $2.5 to$2.7 billion and adjusted EBITDA between $655 million and$695 million [24] - The company ended Q4 with $163.2 million in cash and$3.56 billion in net debt, reflecting ongoing investments and share repurchases [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Chicago's player demographics and database transfer to the permanent facility - Management reported a growing database of 65,000 players, primarily younger demographics, with plans to transfer this database to the permanent facility [28] Question: Updates on Tropicana and ACE Stadium plans - Management confirmed the closure of Tropicana on April 2nd to prepare the site for ACE Stadium construction, with ongoing evaluations for development options [30] Question: Weather impact on guidance for Casinos & Resorts - Management estimated a 20% impact from weather in January but noted a bounce back in February, expecting to return to normal growth levels [32] Question: U.K. regulatory changes and their impact - Management expressed confidence in adapting to regulatory changes in the U.K., viewing them as opportunities to capture market share from smaller operators [35] Question: Chicago Temporary Facility EBITDA target - Management confirmed the target of $50 million EBITDA for the Chicago Temporary Facility remains intact [38] Question: Capital allocation and leverage strategy - Management emphasized a balanced approach to capital allocation, with ongoing investments in development while maintaining flexibility for share repurchases [70][72]