Operator News
US – Century confirms Century move to land in Caruthersville with overall revenues down three per cent
By Phil - 4 November 2022
Century Casinos reported revenue of $112.6m, a decrease of four per cent from the three months ended September 30, 2021.
Earnings from operations were $20m, a decrease of 22 per cent from the three months ended September 30, 2021.
“Net operating revenue and Adjusted EBITDA decreased in the third quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The decreases were due, in part, to our record results in 2021 (driven by reduced COVID-19 restrictions in Missouri) as well as some impact from inflation and additional expenses related to the riverboat in Caruthersville due to low water levels in the Mississippi River. In October, we reduced the gaming positions available at the Caruthersville casino, temporarily operating from the barge only, as we had to close the riverboat gaming floor due to low water levels in the Mississippi River. We have received approval from the Missouri Gaming Commission to move the entire casino operations in Caruthersville to a land-based pavilion while we construct our new land-based casino. We are pleased to report our first hotel in Caruthersville opened in October, and at Cape Girardeau construction is underway for our hotel,” Erwin Haitzmann and Peter Hoetzinger, Co-Chief Executive Officers of Century Casinos remarked. “As we announced in August, we have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Rocky Gap Casino Resort operations. We are excited to enter the Maryland market and to add this property to our growing US portfolio,” Messrs. Haitzmann and Hoetzinger concluded.
Since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Company’s casinos have varied their operations based on the governmental health and safety requirements in the jurisdictions in which they are located. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Company’s results of operations in the first half of 2021 because of closures at the Company’s Canada and Poland properties during this period. Currently the Company’s operations have no health and safety requirements for entry and few other COVID-19 related restrictions. The duration and ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic otherwise remains uncertain.
On October 26, 2022, the Missouri Gaming Commission approved the relocation of the casino at Century Casino Caruthersville from the riverboat and the barge to a land-based pavilion until the new land-based casino and hotel are completed.
On October 13, 2022, the riverboat, which had operated since 1994, had to be closed as it was no longer accessible from the barge because of the record low water levels in the Mississippi River. Since then, Caruthersville has operated the casino from the barge with 299 slot machines and four table games. The pavilion building will not be affected by water levels and is protected by a flood wall. The pavilion will provide for easier access to the casino for customers and the company anticipates it will bring operating efficiencies and cost savings. The casino will be smaller with approximately 400 slot machines and seven table games, compared to 519 slot machines and seven table games on the riverboat and barge. Caruthersville will continue to operate from the barge until the move to the pavilion is complete. The company anticipates the move to the pavilion will be completed by the end of 2022 and that there will be no negative impact on results of operations thereafter. Also, the company’s stand-alone hotel in Caruthersville opened in late October 2022.
