XML 121 R11.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Additional disclosure is available in the "Accounting Policy" section of certain footnotes.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase and are stated at the lower of cost or market value. Our cash and cash equivalents of $2,806 million and $2,771 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, include $944 million and $977 million held by CGP LLC, respectively, which is not available for our use to fund operations or satisfy our obligations.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we had $185 million and $425 million of restricted cash, respectively, comprised of current and non-current portions. Restricted cash includes proceeds from bond offerings that are in escrow prior to closing; cash reserved under loan agreements for (a) development projects and (b) certain expenditures incurred in the normal course of business, such as interest services, real estate taxes, casualty insurance, and capital improvements; and certain other cash deposits that are designated by management for specific purpose.
Receivables
We issue credit to approved casino customers following background checks and investigations of creditworthiness. Business or economic conditions or other significant events could affect the collectibility of these receivables. Accounts receivable are typically non-interest bearing and are initially recorded at cost.
Marker play represents a significant portion of our overall table games volume. We maintain strict controls over the issuance of markers and aggressively pursue collection from those customers who fail to pay their marker balances timely. These collection efforts are similar to those used by most large corporations when dealing with overdue customer accounts, including the mailing of statements and delinquency notices, personal contacts, the use of outside collection agencies and civil litigation. Markers are generally legally enforceable instruments in the United States. Markers are not legally enforceable instruments in some foreign countries, but the United States’ assets of foreign customers may be reached to satisfy judgments entered in the United States. We consider the likelihood and difficulty of enforceability, among other factors, when we issue credit to customers who are not residents of the United States.
Accounts are written off when management deems the account to be uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts previously written off are recorded when received. We reserve an estimated amount for gaming receivables that may not be collected to reduce the Company’s receivables to their net carrying amount. Methodologies for estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts range from specific reserves to various percentages applied to aged receivables. Historical collection rates are considered, as are customer relationships, in determining specific reserves. As with many estimates, management must make judgments about potential actions by third parties in establishing and evaluating our reserves for allowance for doubtful accounts. Receivables are reported net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $196 million and $162 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
Casino Revenues
Casino revenues are measured by the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses, with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs and for chips in customers’ possession. Food and beverage, rooms, and other operating revenues are recognized when services are performed. Advance deposits on rooms and advance ticket sales are recorded as customer deposits until services are provided to the customer. Sales taxes and other taxes collected from customers on behalf of governmental authorities are accounted for on a net basis and are not included in net revenues or operating expenses.
The retail value of accommodations, food and beverage, and other services furnished to guests without charge is included in gross revenues and then deducted as promotional allowances. See Note 12, “Casino Promotional Allowances.”
Interactive Entertainment—Social and Mobile Games
CIE derives revenue from the sale of virtual currencies within casino-themed social and mobile games that are played on various global social and mobile third-party platforms. Within the Slotomania application, game players may collect free virtual coins on a regular basis, may send “gifts” of either free virtual coins or free slot machine spins to their friends through interactions with the Facebook application, and may “earn” free virtual coins through targeted marketing promotions. Within the Bingo Blitz application, game players may collect free bingo credits on a regular basis, may send “gifts” of free bingo credits or other virtual items to their friends through interactions with the Facebook application, and may “earn” free bingo credits through targeted marketing promotions. Virtual coins in Slotomania and virtual bingo credits in Bingo Blitz (collectively referred to as “virtual currency” or “virtual goods”) allow the game players to play the respective games free of charge. A game player may purchase additional virtual goods above and beyond the level of free virtual goods available to that player. Purchased virtual goods are deposited into the player’s account and are then not separately identifiable from virtual goods previously obtained by the player.
CIE is able to reliably estimate the period of time over which virtual currency is consumed. As such, CIE recognizes revenue using an item-based revenue model. However, CIE is unable to distinguish between when purchased or free virtual currency is being consumed; therefore, CIE must estimate the amount of outstanding purchased virtual currency at each reporting period based on customer behavior. CIE records within other current liabilities the deferred revenue associated with its social and mobile games, and also records within other current assets the prepaid platform fees associated with this deferred revenue.
CIE’s applications are played on various social and mobile third-party platforms for which such third parties collect monies from CIE’s customers and pay CIE an amount after deducting a platform fee. CIE is the primary obligor with its customers under these arrangements, retains the ability to establish the pricing for its virtual currencies, and assumes all credit risk with its customers. Based upon these facts, CIE recognizes revenues from its game-playing customers on a gross basis and related platform fees are recorded as a component of operating expense.
Advertising
The Company expenses the production costs of advertising the first time the advertising takes place. Advertising expense was $270 million, $208 million, and $194 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.