Operator News
US – Gaming pays off for Gaming and Leisure Properties with Bally’s and Cordish Companies deals set to kick in
By Phil - 31 July 2023
Gaming and Leisure Properties saw its second quarter revenue rise by 9.2 per cent to $356.6m compared to the second quarter in 2022, reflecting GLPI’s long-term expansion and diversification as a landlord with six tenants with 59 properties across 18 states, including eight new properties added in 2022 and in early 2023 with The Cordish Companies and Bally’s Corporation, which will benefit results in the second half of 2023 and beyond.
Peter Carlino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GLPI, commented: “Our strong tenant relationships with the industry’s top regional gaming operators and the general resiliency of gaming revenue drove another period of record quarterly results. Our opportunistic approach to portfolio expansion and concurrent focus on strong capital returns and yields for our shareholders is highlighted by our second quarter 2023 dividend of $0.72 per share, up from $0.705 per share in the year-ago period.
“Our pipeline of opportunities with both prospective and current tenants is robust and we believe there are near- and longer-term cases for GLPI to further support tenants with innovative financing, capital and development structures in an accretive, prudent manner. This operating strategy has driven stable, visible growth of our rental cash flows and AFFO, for ten years, enabling GLPI to consistently increase capital returns to shareholders through increased quarterly and special cash dividends.
“A highlight of the quarter — which clearly highlights GLPI’s unique growth positioning with current tenants, was our entry into a letter of intent in May with Bally’s and Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics, or the A’s, to develop an integrated casino within a new 30,000-seat Las Vegas stadium for the team at our 35-acre Tropicana site. GLPI intends to commit to up to $175m of funding for construction costs and may have the opportunity to provide additional construction financing under certain circumstances. In June, the Nevada legislature approved public funding for the A’s Las Vegas stadium paving the way for the stadium project at the site and the ultimate re-development of the Tropicana Las Vegas. The letter of intent provides that the transaction will be subject to customary approvals and other conditions, including a requisite relocation approval from Major League Baseball on or before December 1, 2023.
“We expect to deliver continued record results over the balance of 2023 reflecting our recent portfolio expansions, recently completed transactions and contractual rent escalators. Our disciplined capital investment approach, combined with our focus on stable and resilient regional gaming markets, supports our confidence that the Company is well positioned to further grow our cash dividend and drive long-term shareholder value.”
