BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. In accordance with Rule 10-01, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete consolidated financial statements. The accompanying year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In management's opinion, all adjustments, including normal recurring accruals and adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Authority's operating results for the interim period, have been included. In addition, certain amounts in the accompanying 2014 supplemental condensed consolidating financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2015 presentation.

The gaming market in the Northeastern United States is seasonal in nature, with peak gaming activities often occurring at Mohegan Sun and Mohegan Sun Pocono during the months of May through August. Accordingly, the Authority's operating results for the three months and nine months ended June 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for other interim periods or an entire fiscal year.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Authority's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Authority and its majority and wholly-owned subsidiaries and entities. In accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) pertaining to consolidation of variable interest entities, the accounts of Salishan-Mohegan are consolidated into the accounts of Mohegan Ventures-NW and the accounts of NEBW are consolidated into the accounts of Mohegan Lacrosse as Mohegan Ventures-NW and Mohegan Lacrosse are deemed to be the primary beneficiaries. In consolidation, all inter-company balances and transactions were eliminated.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value amounts presented below are reported to satisfy disclosure requirements pursuant to authoritative guidance issued by the FASB pertaining to disclosures about fair values of financial instruments and are not necessarily indicative of amounts that the Authority could realize in a current market transaction.

The Authority applies the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs utilized to measure fair value into three levels:


•	Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;


•	Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data; and


•	Level 3 - Valuations based on models where the significant inputs are unobservable. The unobservable inputs reflect the Authority's estimates or assumptions that market participants would utilize in pricing such assets or liabilities.

The Authority's assessment of the significance of a particular input requires judgment and may affect the valuation of financial assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy.

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard update on revenue recognition that will be applied to all contracts with customers. The update requires an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects in exchange for the goods or services. It also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. This guidance will be required to be applied on a retrospective basis, using one of two methodologies, and was to be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early application not being permitted. However, in July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date by one year. This guidance will now be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim reporting periods thereafter. Entities are permitted to adopt the guidance as of the original effective date. The Authority is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In August 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. The update requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity's ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued. It also requires management to provide certain disclosures if conditions or events raise substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern. This guidance will be required for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim reporting periods thereafter, with early application permitted. The Authority is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In February 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which amends existing requirements applicable to reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether certain legal entities should be consolidated. This guidance will be required to be applied either on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis and will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim reporting periods thereafter, with early application permitted. The Authority is currently evaluating the impact that this guidance will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to clarify the required presentation of debt issuance costs. The update requires that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability rather than as an asset. This guidance will be required to be applied on a retrospective basis and will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim reporting periods thereafter, with early application permitted. The Authority plans to adopt this guidance for its annual reporting period ending September 30, 2015 and is currently evaluating the impact on its financial position and results of operations.