Caesars Entertainment, Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Jun 30, 2024

The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and operating results of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, which may be referred to as the “Company,” “CEI,” “Caesars,” “we,” “our,” or “us,” for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements and the notes thereto and other financial information included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Form 10-Q have the same meanings as in the 2023 Annual Report.

We refer to (i) our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements as our “Financial Statements,” (ii) our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as our “Balance Sheets,” (iii) our Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations and Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) as our “Statements of Operations,” and (iv) our Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows as our “Statements of Cash Flows.” References to numbered “Notes” refer to “Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements” included in Item 1, “Unaudited Financial Statements,” unless otherwise noted.

The statements in this discussion regarding our expectations of our future performance, liquidity and capital resources, and other non-historical statements are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information” in this report.

Objective

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to be a narrative explanation of the financial statements and other statistical data that should be read in conjunction with the accompanying financial statements to enhance an investor’s understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations. Our objectives are: (i) to provide a narrative explanation of our financial statements that will enable investors to see the Company through the eyes of management; (ii) to enhance the overall financial disclosure and provide the context within which financial information should be analyzed; and (iii) to provide information about the quality of, and potential variability of, our earnings and cash flows so that investors can ascertain the likelihood of whether past performance is indicative of future performance.

Overview

We are a geographically diversified gaming and hospitality company that was founded in 1973 by the Carano family with the opening of the Eldorado Hotel Casino in Reno, Nevada. Beginning in 2005, we grew through a series of acquisitions, including the acquisition of MTR Gaming Group, Inc. in 2014, Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. in 2017, Tropicana Entertainment, Inc. in 2018, Caesars Entertainment Corporation in 2020 and William Hill PLC in 2021. Our ticker symbol on the NASDAQ Stock Market is “CZR.”

We own, lease, brand or manage an aggregate of 53 domestic properties in 18 states with approximately 51,000 slot machines, video lottery terminals and e-tables, approximately 2,800 table games and approximately 44,900 hotel rooms as of June 30, 2024. In addition, we have other properties in North America that are authorized to use the brands and marks of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Our primary source of revenue is generated by our casino properties’ gaming operations, our retail and online sports betting and online gaming, and we utilize our hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment, racing, retail shops and other services to attract customers to our properties.

As of June 30, 2024, we owned 22 of our casinos and leased 24 casinos in the U.S. We lease 18 casinos from VICI Properties L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“VICI”), pursuant to a regional lease, a Las Vegas lease and a Joliet lease (the “VICI Leases”). In addition, we lease six casinos from GLP Capital, L.P., the operating partnership of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (“GLPI”) pursuant to a Master Lease (as amended, the “GLPI Master Lease”) and a Lumière lease associated with our Horseshoe St. Louis property (together with the GLPI Master Lease, the “GLPI Leases”).

We operate and conduct retail and online sports wagering across 32 jurisdictions in North America, 26 of which offer online sports betting. Additionally, we operate iGaming in five jurisdictions in North America. The map below illustrates Caesars Digital’s presence as of June 30, 2024:

In 2022, we partnered with NYRABets LLC, the official online wagering platform of the New York Racing Association, Inc., and have launched the Caesars Racebook app within 21 states as of June 30, 2024. The Caesars Racebook app provides access for pari-mutuel wagering at over 300 racetracks around the world as well as livestreaming of races. Wagers placed can earn credits towards our Caesars Rewards loyalty program or points which can be redeemed for free wagering credits.

We are also in the process of expanding our Caesars Digital footprint into other states in the near term with our Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Racebook and iGaming mobile apps as jurisdictions legalize or provide necessary approvals. No customers under 21 years old are allowed to wager on any of our Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Racebook and iGaming mobile apps.

Investments and Partnerships

Pompano Joint Venture

In April 2018, we entered into a joint venture with Cordish Companies (“Cordish”) to plan and develop a mixed-use entertainment and hospitality destination expected to be located on unused land adjacent to the casino and racetrack at our Pompano property. As the managing member, Cordish will operate the business and manage the development, construction, financing, marketing, leasing, maintenance and day-to-day operation of the various phases of the project. Additionally, Cordish will be responsible for the development of the master plan for the project with our input and will submit it for our review and approval. While we hold a 50% variable interest in the joint venture, we are not the primary beneficiary; as such, the investment in the joint venture is accounted for using the equity method. We participate evenly with Cordish in the profits and losses of the joint venture, which are included in Transaction and other costs, net on the Statements of Operations.

We have contributed a total of $7 million in cash and approximately 209 acres of land with a total fair value of $69 million. We have no further obligation to contribute additional real estate or cash. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded $64 million of income related to the investment, primarily due to the joint venture’s gain on the sale of a land parcel. As of both June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our investment in the joint venture was $147 million and is recorded in Investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates on the Balance Sheets.

Reportable Segments

Segment results in this MD&A are presented consistent with the way our management reviews operating results, assesses performance and makes decisions on a “significant market” basis. Management views each of the Company’s casinos as an operating segment. Operating segments are aggregated based on their similar economic characteristics, types of customers, types of services and products provided, and their management and reporting structure. Our principal operating activities occur in four reportable segments: (1) Las Vegas, (2) Regional, (3) Caesars Digital, and (4) Managed and Branded, in addition to Corporate and Other.

Presentation of Financial Information

The presentation of financial information herein for the periods after our completed divestiture of Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino (“Rio”) at the end of the third quarter of 2023 is not fully comparable to the periods prior to such divestiture.

This MD&A is intended to provide information to assist in better understanding and evaluating our financial condition and results of operations. Our historical operating results may not be indicative of our future results of operations because of the factor described in the preceding paragraph and the changing competitive landscape in each of our markets, including changes in market and societal trends, as well as by factors discussed elsewhere herein. We recommend that you read this MD&A in conjunction with our unaudited Financial Statements and the notes to those statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Key Performance Metrics

Our primary source of revenue is generated by our gaming operations, our retail and online sports betting, as well as our online gaming. Additionally, we utilize our hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, retail shops, racing and other services to attract customers to our properties. Our operating results are highly dependent on the volume and quality of customers staying at, or visiting, our properties and using our sports betting and iGaming applications.

Key performance metrics include volume indicators such as drop or handle, which refer to amounts wagered by our customers. The amount of volume we retain, which is not fully controllable by us, is recognized as casino revenues and is referred to as our win or hold. Slot win percentage is typically in the range of approximately 9% to 11% of slot handle for both the Las Vegas and Regional segments. Table games hold percentage is typically in the range of approximately 16% to 23% of table games drop in both the Las Vegas and Regional segments. Sports betting hold is typically in the range of 5% to 10% and iGaming hold typically ranges from 3% to 5%. In addition, hotel occupancy, which is the average percentage of available hotel rooms occupied during a period, is a key indicator for our hotel business in the Las Vegas segment. See “Results of Operations” section below. Complimentary and discounted rooms are treated as occupied rooms in our calculation of hotel occupancy. The key metrics we utilize to measure our profitability and performance are Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin.

Significant Factors Impacting Financial Results

The following summary highlights the significant factors impacting our financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

• New Developments – During the construction of the permanent facilities for Caesars Virginia and Harrah’s Columbus Nebraska, we opened temporary gaming facilities during the second quarter of 2023. Caesars Virginia’s temporary facility opened on May 15, 2023, and the permanent facility is scheduled to open in December 2024. Harrah’s Columbus Nebraska’s temporary facility was open from June 12, 2023, through March 20, 2024, closing in anticipation of the permanent facility which opened on May 17, 2024, following weeks of construction disruption due to weather.
• Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Racebook and iGaming mobile apps – We continue to launch Caesars Sportsbook and Caesars Racebook in new jurisdictions, and our online and mobile iGaming application, Caesars Palace Online Casino, launched in the summer of 2023. As new states and jurisdictions have legalized sports betting, we have made varying degrees of upfront investments which have been executed through marketing campaigns and promotional incentives to acquire new customers and establish our presence in the new state or jurisdiction. We adjust our level of investment during the launch period in new jurisdictions based, in part, on prior experience and do not expect such investment to continue at elevated levels subsequent to the initial launch periods. Furthermore, on June 18, 2024, we completed the acquisition of the operations of WynnBET’s Michigan iGaming business and long-term extension of iGaming market access rights with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
• Debt Transactions – During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we refinanced $4.4 billion of debt in both periods. In April 2024, Caesars Virginia, LLC entered into a new $425 million Caesars Virginia Delayed Draw Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility and utilized $120 million as of June 30, 2024. In addition, we amended the CEI Credit Agreement and reduced the interest rate margin on the CEI Term Loan B in May 2024. We made a voluntary principal repayment of $100 million on our CEI Term Loan B in June 2024. See Liquidity and Capital Resources below for more detail related to 2024 transactions. As a result of these transactions, we recorded loss on early extinguishment of debt on the Statements of Operations of $3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and $51 million and $197 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
• Economic Factors Impacting Discretionary Spending – Gaming and other leisure activities we offer represent discretionary expenditures which may be sensitive to economic downturns which impacts the behavior among the components of our customer mix differently. We also monitor recent trends, including higher inflation, interest rates, and global hostilities, and the related effects on travel, our customers, and our operations.
• Impairment Charges – Primarily due to localized competition within certain markets in the Regional segment, resulting in decreased projected future cash flows at certain properties, the Company recognized impairments of certain intangible assets. The Company identified trademarks, gaming rights and goodwill at three reporting units with estimated fair values below their respective carrying values. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recognized impairment charges totaling $118 million. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company did not realize an impairment.

Results of Operations

The following table highlights the results of our operations:

(Dollars in millions)

(a) Corporate and Other includes revenues related to certain licensing arrangements and various revenue sharing agreements and includes eliminations of transactions among segments to reconcile to the Company’s consolidated results. Corporate and Other Adjusted EBITDA includes corporate overhead costs, which consist of certain expenses, such as: payroll, professional fees and other general and administrative expenses.

(b) See the “Supplemental Unaudited Presentation of Consolidated Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023” discussion later in this MD&A for a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA.

Consolidated comparison of the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

Net Revenues

Net revenues were as follows:

(Dollars in millions)

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period, consolidated net revenues decreased primarily due to continued headwinds in our Regional segment as a result of increased competition in certain markets and construction disruption from renovation projects at certain of our properties. The Las Vegas segment continues to generate high hotel occupancy, improved room rates and improved table games hold in the second quarter of 2024. Caesars Digital continues to generate strong revenue growth driven by improved sports betting hold and increases in both iGaming handle and iGaming hold.

Consolidated net revenues decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period, due to a decline in casino revenues in our Las Vegas segment primarily driven by the decrease in gaming volume associated with the divestiture of Rio at the end of the third quarter of 2023. The Regional segment was negatively impacted by inclement weather in several of our property locations during the first quarter of 2024, the continued impact of competition associated with new casino resorts opening in some of our regional markets, and construction disruption from renovation projects at certain of our properties during the first half of 2024. These results were partially offset by net revenues generated from the opening of our temporary gaming facilities at Caesars Virginia and Harrah’s Columbus Nebraska during the second quarter of 2023, followed by the permanent facility of Harrah’s Columbus Nebraska in May 2024. Furthermore, Caesars Digital delivered strong revenue growth driven by higher hold in sports betting and a significant increase in iGaming volumes coupled with improved hold.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were as follows:

(Dollars in millions)

* Not meaningful.

Casino expenses consist principally of salaries and wages associated with our gaming operations, gaming taxes and marketing and advertising costs attributable to our Caesars Digital segment. Food and beverage expenses consist principally of salaries and wages and costs of goods sold associated with our food and beverage operations. Hotel expenses consist principally of salaries, wages and supplies associated with our hotel operations. Other expenses consist principally of salaries and wages, costs of goods sold associated with our retail operations, entertainment costs, including professional talent fees, and other operations.

Casino expenses increased for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period, in connection with higher gaming taxes and software costs associated with increased revenues in our Caesars Digital segment, offset in part by lower gaming revenues in our Regional segment. We continue to strategically manage our marketing and advertising spend to reduce our casino expenses related to our Caesars Digital segment. Food and beverage expenses have increased mainly due to higher union and non-union wages in addition to increased employee head count in our Las Vegas segment associated with new food and beverage offerings. We continue to focus on labor efficiencies to manage increased labor costs.

General and administrative expenses include items such as information technology, facility maintenance, utilities, property and liability insurance, expenses for administrative departments such as accounting, compliance, purchasing, human resources, legal, internal audit, property taxes and marketing expenses indirectly related to our gaming and non-gaming operations. General and administrative expenses decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year periods, due to lower general advertising expenses and reduced rent expense related to the Rio which was divested at the end of the third quarter of 2023.

Corporate expenses include unallocated expenses such as payroll, inclusive of the annual bonus, stock-based compensation, professional fees, and other various expenses not directly related to the Company’s operations.

Impairment charges were recorded within our Regional segment in June 2024 as a result of a decrease in projected future cash flows at certain properties primarily due to localized competition.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to the same prior year period primarily related to recently completed construction projects.

Transaction and other costs, net for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 primarily includes non-cash losses on the write down and disposal of assets and non-cash changes in equity method investments. Transaction and other costs, net for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 primarily includes pre-opening costs in connection with new property openings, professional services for integration activities and non-cash changes in equity method investments.

Other income (expenses)

Other income (expenses) were as follows:

(Dollars in millions)

* Not meaningful.

Interest expense, net increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period primarily due to the annual rent escalator associated with our VICI Leases. Interest expense associated with our debt instruments is also slightly higher due to our debt mix, partially offset by our continuing efforts to reduce outstanding debt. An increase in capitalized interest resulting from ongoing construction projects, including our new developments, has also offset the increase in total interest expense.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, loss on extinguishment of debt was primarily related to the prepayments of the CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2025 and the Caesars Resort Collection (“CRC”) Senior Secured Notes and the partial prepayment of the CEI Term Loan B. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, loss on extinguishment of debt was primarily related to the prepayments of the CRC Term Loan and the CRC Incremental Term Loan.

Other income (loss) for the six months ended June 30, 2024 primarily represents a change in estimate of our disputed claims liability.

The income tax provision for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 differed from the expected income tax benefit based on the federal tax rate of 21% primarily due to an increase in federal and state valuation allowances against the deferred tax assets for excess business interest expense.

The income tax benefit for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 differed from the expected income tax benefit based on the federal tax rate of 21% primarily due to the partial release of federal and state valuation allowances.

Segment comparison of the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

Las Vegas Segment

(Dollars in millions)

(a) Prior year gaming volumes include Rio’s table games drop of $23 million and $50 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, and slot handle of $111 million and $244 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period, our Las Vegas segment’s net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin increased slightly as a result of improved hotel occupancy and higher room rates and table games hold. Increased labor costs and the divestiture of Rio at the end of the third quarter of 2023 partially offset these increases and contributed to lower gaming volumes and casino revenue. However, a decrease in rent associated with Rio provided a benefit to net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin. New food and beverage offerings also contributed to improved net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.

Our Las Vegas segment’s net revenues, net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period. Net revenues were negatively impacted by lower casino volumes associated with the divestiture of Rio. The Las Vegas segment was also negatively impacted by higher operating costs associated with (a) higher union and non-union wages, (b) increased employee head count associated with new food and beverage offerings and (c) increased promotional costs associated with special events held over the Super Bowl weekend.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, slot win percentage in the Las Vegas segment was within our typical range.

Regional Segment

(Dollars in millions)

* Not meaningful.

Our Regional segment’s net revenues decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to inclement weather in several of our regional property locations that negatively impacted visitor volume in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the continued impact of competition associated with new casino resorts opening in some of our regional markets and ongoing construction disruption from renovation projects at certain of our properties within the segment contributed to the decline in net revenues. The Regional segment has also experienced declines in gaming volume resulting from a shift in customer mix as our higher rated play has remained steady with some growth, partially offset by a reduction in unrated play. Moreover, Regional hotel revenues benefited from a national tournament that drove visitation to the northern Nevada region in the second quarter of 2023. The impact of these unfavorable factors were partially offset by the incremental revenues attributable to our temporary gaming facilities at Caesars Virginia and Harrah’s Columbus Nebraska that opened during the second quarter in 2023. The permanent facility of Harrah’s Columbus Nebraska opened in May 2024 following the closure of the temporary facility in March 2024.

As a result of the continued headwinds in the Regional segment impacting certain of our properties, we recorded impairments totaling $118 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024.

Slot win percentage in the Regional segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 was within our typical range.

Caesars Digital Segment

(Dollars in millions)

* Not meaningful.

(a) Includes total promotional and complimentary incentives related to sports betting, iGaming, and poker of $62 million and $55 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $148 million and $132 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Promotional and complimentary incentives for poker were $3 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 and $6 million and $7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

(b) Caesars Digital generated an additional $199 million and $212 million of sports betting handle for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $478 million and $540 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is not included in this table, for select wholly-owned and third-party operations for which Caesars Digital provides services and we receive all, or a share of, the net profits. Hold related to these operations was 9.4% and 10.9%, for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and 9.6% and 10.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Sports betting handle includes $11 million and $12 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $22 million and $24 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to horse racing and pari-mutuel wagers.

Caesars Digital reflects the operations for retail and online sports betting, iGaming, poker, and horse racing, which includes our Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Racebook and iGaming mobile apps.

Caesars Digital’s net revenues, net income (loss), Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin improved significantly for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to higher iGaming handle and iGaming hold coupled with improved sports betting hold. Sports betting hold improved for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to prior year, reflecting the benefit of continued investment in our sports betting platform.

As sports betting and online casinos expand through increased state or jurisdictional legalization, new product launches, and customer adoption, variations in hold percentages and increases in promotional and marketing expenses in highly competitive markets during promotional periods may negatively impact Caesars Digital’s net revenues, net income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin in comparison to current or prior periods.

Sports betting and iGaming hold percentages in the Caesars Digital segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 were within our typical range.

Managed and Branded Segment

(Dollars in millions)

We manage several properties and license rights to the use of certain of our brands. These revenue agreements typically include reimbursement of certain costs that we incur directly. Such costs are primarily related to payroll costs incurred on behalf of the properties under management. The revenue related to these reimbursable management costs has a direct impact on our evaluation of Adjusted EBITDA margin which, when excluded, reflects margins typically realized from such agreements. The table below presents the amount included in net revenues and total operating expenses related to these reimbursable costs.

(Dollars in millions)

Corporate & Other

(Dollars in millions)

* Not meaningful.

Supplemental Unaudited Presentation of Consolidated Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

Adjusted EBITDA (described below), a non-GAAP financial measure, has been presented as a supplemental disclosure because it is a widely used measure of performance and basis for valuation of companies in our industry and we believe that this non-GAAP supplemental information will be helpful in understanding our ongoing operating results. Management has historically used Adjusted EBITDA when evaluating operating performance because we believe that the inclusion or exclusion of certain recurring and non-recurring items is necessary to provide a full understanding of our core operating results and as a means to evaluate period-to-period results. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before interest income or interest expense net of interest capitalized, (benefit) provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, impairment charges, other (income) loss, net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, transaction costs associated with our acquisitions, developments, and divestitures, and non-cash changes in equity method investments. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the expense associated with certain of our leases as these transactions were accounted for as financing obligations and the associated expense is included in interest expense. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Adjusted EBITDA is unaudited and should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss) as an indicator of our operating performance. Uses of cash flows that are not reflected in Adjusted EBITDA include capital expenditures, interest payments, income taxes, debt principal repayments, and payments under our leases with affiliates of VICI Properties Inc. and GLPI, which can be significant. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of our liquidity. Other companies that provide EBITDA information may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do. The definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as the definitions used in any of our debt agreements.

The following tables summarizes our Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in addition to reconciling net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA in accordance with GAAP (unaudited):

(In millions)

(a) Benefit for income taxes during the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 includes the release of $940 million of valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.

(b) Other (income) loss for the six months ended June 30, 2024 primarily represents a change in estimate of our disputed claims liability.

(c) Impairment charges for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 includes impairment within our Regional segment as a result of a decrease in projected future cash flows at certain properties primarily due to localized competition.

(d) Transaction costs and other, net primarily includes costs related to non-cash losses on the write down and disposal of assets, professional services for transaction and integration costs, various contract exit or termination costs, pre-opening costs in connection with our temporary facility openings, and non-cash changes in equity method investments.

(e) Adjustment for pre-disposition results of operations reflecting the subtraction of results of operations for Rio prior to divestiture at the end of the third quarter of 2023. Such figures are based on unaudited internal financial statements and have not been reviewed by the Company’s auditors for the periods presented. The additional financial information is included to enable the comparison of current results with results of prior periods.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We are a holding company, and our only significant assets are ownership interests in our subsidiaries. Our ability to fund our obligations depends on existing cash on hand, cash flows from our subsidiaries and our ability to raise capital. Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources are existing cash on hand, cash flows from operations, availability of borrowings under our revolving credit facility and proceeds from the issuance of debt and equity securities. Our cash requirements may fluctuate significantly depending on our decisions with respect to business acquisitions or divestitures and strategic capital and marketing investments.

As of June 30, 2024, our cash on hand and borrowing capacity was as follows:

(In millions)

(a) Revolver capacity includes $2.25 billion under the CEI Revolving Credit Facility, maturing in January 2028 (subject to a springing maturity in the event certain other long-term debt of Caesars is not extended or repaid), and $25 million under the CVA Revolving Credit Facility, maturing on April 26, 2029, less $40 million reserved for specific purposes.

(b) Excludes approximately $280 million of additional borrowing available under the CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan.

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, our operating activities generated operating cash inflows of $534 million, as compared to operating cash inflows of $953 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to changes in working capital, coupled with the results of operations described above.

On February 6, 2024, we entered into an Incremental Assumption Agreement No. 3 pursuant to which we incurred a new senior secured incremental term loan in an aggregate principal amount of $2.9 billion (the “CEI Term Loan B-1”) under the CEI Credit Agreement. The CEI Term Loan B-1 requires quarterly principal payments in amounts equal to 0.25% of the original aggregate principal amount of the CEI Term Loan B-1, with the balance payable at maturity. Borrowings under the CEI Term Loan B-1 bear interest, paid at least quarterly, at a rate equal to, at our option, either (a) a forward-looking term rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“Term SOFR”), subject to a floor of 0.50% or (b) a base rate (the “Base Rate”) determined by reference to the highest of (i) the “Prime Rate” in the United States, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% per annum and (iii) the one-month Term SOFR plus 1.00% per annum, in each case, plus an applicable margin. Such applicable margin is 2.75% per annum in the case of any Term SOFR loan and 1.75% per annum in the case of any Base Rate loan. The CEI Term Loan B-1 was issued at a price of 99.75% of the principal amount and will mature on February 6, 2031.

Additionally, on February 6, 2024, we issued $1.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior secured notes due 2032 (the “CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2032”) pursuant to an indenture by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent. The CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2032 rank equally with all existing and future first-priority lien obligations of the Company and the subsidiary guarantors. The CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2032 will mature on February 15, 2032, with interest payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2024.

The net proceeds from the CEI Term Loan B-1 and the net proceeds from the issuance of the CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2032, together with borrowings under the CEI Revolving Credit Facility, were used to tender, redeem, repurchase, defease, and/or satisfy and discharge any and all of the principal amounts, including accrued and unpaid interest, related expenses and fees of both the 5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “CRC Senior Secured Notes”) and the 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2025”). As a result of these transactions, we recognized $48 million of loss on early extinguishment of debt.

On May 9, 2024, we entered into a fourth amendment to the CEI Credit Agreement which, among other things, reduces the interest rate margin applicable to the Company’s existing CEI Term Loan B to 2.75% per annum in the case of any Term SOFR loan and 1.75% per annum in the case of any Base Rate loan. Prior to the fourth amendment, the applicable margin was 3.25% per annum in the case of any Term SOFR loan (plus a Term SOFR adjustment of 0.10%) and 2.25% per annum in the case of any Base Rate loan, subject to one 0.25% step-down based on our net total leverage ratio. On June 28, 2024, we made a voluntary repayment of $100 million in aggregate principal amount of the CEI Term Loan B with cash on hand.

On April 26, 2024, Caesars Virginia, LLC entered into a credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and certain banks and other financial institutions and lenders party thereto (the “CVA Credit Agreement”), which provides for a senior secured first lien multi-draw term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million (the “CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan”) and a senior secured first lien revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $25 million (the “CVA Revolving Credit Facility”), both maturing on April 26, 2029. The CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments commencing on the last day of the first full fiscal quarter following the opening date of the permanent facility of Caesars Virginia. The CVA Revolving Credit Facility and the CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan are subject to a variable rate of interest based on Term SOFR plus an applicable margin. As of June 30, 2024, there was $120 million utilized under the CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan.

We expect that our primary capital requirements going forward will relate to the expansion and maintenance of our properties, taxes, servicing our outstanding indebtedness, and rent payments under the GLPI Leases and the VICI Leases. We make capital expenditures and perform continuing refurbishment and maintenance at our properties to maintain our quality standards. Our capital expenditure requirements for the remainder of 2024 include expansion projects, hotel renovations and continued investment into new markets with our Caesars Sportsbook and iGaming applications in our Caesars Digital segment. In addition, we may, from time to time, seek to repurchase or prepay our outstanding indebtedness. Any such purchases or prepayments may be funded by existing cash balances or the incurrence of debt. The amount and timing of any repurchase will be based on business and market conditions, capital availability, compliance with debt covenants and other considerations.

We have agreements with certain professional sports leagues and teams, sporting event facilities and media companies for tickets, suites, advertising, marketing, promotional and sponsorship opportunities including communication with partner customer databases. Some of the agreements provide us with exclusivity to access the aforementioned rights within the casino and/or sports betting category. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, obligations related to these agreements were $537 million and $605 million, respectively, with contracts extending through 2040. These obligations include leasing of event suites that are generally considered short term leases for which we do not record a right of use asset or lease liability. We recognize expenses in the period services are received in accordance with the various agreements. In addition, assets or liabilities may be recorded related to the timing of payments as required by the respective agreement.

Our partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to build and develop Caesars Virginia is estimated to open its permanent facility in December 2024. The permanent development has a budget of $650 million and will include a premier destination resort casino with a 320-room hotel, 1,300 slot machines, 85 live table games, a WSOP Poker Room, a Caesars Sportsbook, a live entertainment theater and 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. Caesars Virginia’s temporary facility opened on May 15, 2023 and the permanent facility is scheduled to open in December 2024. Construction of Caesars Virginia’s permanent facility is being funded in part by cash flows from the temporary facility as well as funds available under the CVA Credit Agreement.

Additionally, on May 17, 2024, we opened the permanent facility of Harrah’s Columbus Nebraska which is a casino featuring a new one-mile horse racing surface, a 40,000-square-foot-casino and sportsbook with more than 400 slot machines and 20 table games, as well as a restaurant and retail space.

As a condition of the extension of the casino operating contract and ground lease for Caesars New Orleans, formerly Harrah’s New Orleans, we were also required to make a capital investment of at least $325 million on or around Caesars New Orleans. The capital investment involves the rebranding of the property to Caesars New Orleans which includes a renovation and full interior and exterior redesign, updated casino floor, new culinary experiences and a new 340-room hotel tower. The project has a current capital plan of $430 million and is expected to be complete in late 2024.

Cash used for capital expenditures totaled $593 million and $573 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to our growth, renovation, maintenance, and other capital projects. The following table summarizes our capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2024, and an estimated range of capital expenditures for the remainder of 2024. Excluding capital expenditure relating to Caesars Virginia, we estimate 2024 cash capital expenditure spend of approximately $800 million.

(In millions)

(a) On April 26, 2024, Caesars Virginia, LLC entered into a new five-year $425 million pro rata bank financing to fund the remaining capital expenditures associated with the permanent casino resort facility, which is expected to open in December 2024.

A significant portion of our liquidity needs are for debt service and payments associated with our leases. Our estimated debt service (including principal and interest) is approximately $510 million for the remainder of 2024. We also lease certain real property assets from third parties, including VICI and GLPI. The VICI Leases are subject to annual escalations, that take effect in November of each year, based on the Consumer Price Index. We estimate our lease payments to VICI and GLPI to be approximately $660 million for the remainder of 2024.

We have periodically divested assets to raise capital or, in previous cases, to comply with conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions imposed by antitrust, gaming and other regulatory entities. If an agreed upon selling price for future divestitures does not exceed the carrying value of the assets, we may be required to record additional impairment charges in future periods which may be material.

We expect that our current liquidity, including availability of borrowings under our committed credit facility and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to fund our operations, capital requirements and service our outstanding indebtedness for the next twelve months.

Debt and Master Lease Covenant Compliance

The CEI Revolving Credit Facility, the CEI Term Loan A, the CEI Term Loan B, the CEI Term Loan B-1 and the indentures governing the CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2030, the CEI Senior Secured Notes due 2032, the CEI Senior Notes due 2027, and the CEI Senior Notes due 2029 contain covenants which are standard and customary for these types of agreements. These include negative covenants, which, subject to certain exceptions and baskets, limit our ability to (among other items) incur additional indebtedness, make investments, make restricted payments, including dividends, grant liens, sell assets and make acquisitions.

The CEI Revolving Credit Facility and the CEI Term Loan A include a maximum net total leverage ratio financial covenant of 7.25:1 until December 31, 2024 and 6.50:1 from and after December 31, 2024. In addition, the CEI Revolving Credit Facility and the CEI Term Loan A include a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenant of 1.75:1 until December 31, 2024 and 2.0:1 from and after December 31, 2024. From and after the repayment of the CEI Term Loan A, the financial covenants applicable to the CEI Revolving Credit Facility will be tested solely to the extent that certain testing conditions are satisfied. Failure to comply with such covenants could result in an acceleration of the maturity of indebtedness outstanding under the relevant debt document.

The GLPI Leases and VICI Leases contain certain covenants requiring minimum capital expenditures based on a percentage of net revenues along with maintaining certain financial ratios.

As of June 30, 2024, we were in compliance with all of the applicable financial covenants described above.

The CVA Revolving Credit Facility and the CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan contain covenants which are standard and customary for this type of agreement, including a maximum net total leverage ratio financial covenant of 4:1 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenant of 1.05:1. Caesars Virginia LLC’s compliance requirements commence after the first full quarter following the opening of the permanent facility of Caesars Virginia.

Share Repurchase Program

In November 2018, our Board of Directors authorized a $150 million common stock repurchase program (the “Share Repurchase Program”) pursuant to which we may, from time to time, repurchase shares of common stock on the open market (either with or without a 10b5-1 plan) or through privately negotiated transactions. The Share Repurchase Program has no time limit and may be suspended or discontinued at any time without notice. There is no minimum number of shares of common stock that we are required to repurchase under the Share Repurchase Program.

As of June 30, 2024, we have acquired 223,823 shares of common stock under the Share Repurchase Program at an aggregate value of $9 million and an average of $40.80 per share. No shares were repurchased during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no other material changes during the six months ended June 30, 2024 to our contractual obligations as disclosed in Part II, Item 7 of the 2023 Annual Report. See Note 5 to our unaudited Financial Statements, which is included elsewhere in this report, for additional information regarding contractual obligations.

Other Liquidity Matters

We are faced with certain contingencies, from time to time, involving litigation, claims, assessments, environmental remediation or compliance. These commitments and contingencies are discussed in greater detail, when applicable, in “Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings” and Note 5 to our unaudited Financial Statements, both of which are included elsewhere in this report. See “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business” which is included elsewhere in the 2023 Annual Report.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our critical accounting policies disclosures are included in the 2023 Annual Report. There have been no material changes since December 31, 2023. We have not substantively changed the application of our policies, and there have been no material changes in assumptions or estimation techniques used as compared to those described in the 2023 Annual Report.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not currently have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily from variable rate long-term debt arrangements. We manage our interest rate risk by monitoring interest rates, including future projected rates, and adjust our mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings.

As of June 30, 2024, long-term variable-rate borrowings totaled $6.1 billion under the CEI Term Loans and the CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan and no amounts were outstanding under the CEI Revolving Credit Facility or the CVA Revolving Credit Facility. Long-term variable-rate borrowings under the CEI Term Loans and the CVA Delayed Draw Term Loan represented approximately 49% of consolidated long-term debt as of June 30, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, the weighted average interest rates on our variable and fixed rate debt were 8.00% and 6.70%, respectively.

All of the variable rate debt instruments are subject to Term SOFR interest rates plus a reasonable margin.

We evaluate our exposure to market risk by monitoring interest rates in the marketplace and have, on occasion, utilized derivative financial instruments to help manage this risk. We do not utilize derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. There have been no other material quantitative changes in our market risk exposure, or how such risks are managed from the information previously reported under Part II, Item 7A of the 2023 Annual Report.

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports that we file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized, evaluated and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, evaluated and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls

There were no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

A description of our risk factors can be found in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” included in the 2023 Annual Report. There have been no material changes to those risk factors during the six months ended June 30, 2024.