LONG-TERM DEBT	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
LONG-TERM DEBT
LONG-TERM DEBT	NOTE 7. LONG-TERM DEBT On July 20, 2016, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit facility agreement (the “Amended Credit Facility”). Under the Amended Credit Facility, our available borrowing capacity is $250.0 million, and the maturity date is July 20, 2021. As of June 30, 2019, the Company had an outstanding principal balance of $132.5 million under the Amended Credit Facility, a $0.6 million Standby Letter of Credit, and $116.9 million remaining in available borrowings of the $250.0 million maximum principal available under the Amended Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2019, there have been no withdrawals from the Standby Letter of Credit. The total revolving loan commitment under the Amended Credit Facility will be automatically and permanently reduced to $50.0 million on the earlier of the last business day of the first full quarter after completion of the expansion project at the Monarch Casino Black Hawk (the “Monarch Black Hawk Expansion”), or on December 31, 2019, and all then outstanding revolving loans up to $200.0 million under the Amended Credit Facility will be converted to a term loan at such time. The Company may be required to prepay borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility no later than December 31, 2019, depending on our leverage ratio. The Company has an option to permanently reduce the maximum revolving available credit at any time so long as the amount of such reduction is at least $0.5 million and in multiples of $50 thousand. Borrowings are secured by liens on substantially all of the Company’s real and personal property. In addition to other customary covenants for a facility of this nature, as of June 30, 2019, the Company is required to maintain a Total Leverage Ratio (Total Funded Debt divided by EBITDA, as defined in the Amended Credit Facility) of no more than 4.75:1 and a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (EBITDA divided by Fixed Charges, as defined in the Amended Credit Facility) of at least 1.15:1. As of June 30, 2019, the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio were 2.1:1 and 10.1:1, respectively. The interest rate under the Amended Credit Facility is LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 2.50%, or a base rate (as defined in the Amended Credit Facility) plus a margin ranging from 0.00% to 1.50%, or the Prime Rate. The applicable margins will vary depending on our leverage ratio. Commitment fees are equal to the daily average unused revolving commitment multiplied by the commitment fee percentage, ranging from 0.175% to 0.45%, based on our leverage ratio. At June 30, 2019, the Company’s interest rate was based on LIBOR and its leverage ratio was such that pricing for borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility was LIBOR plus 1.50%. At June 30, 2019, the one-month LIBOR interest rate was approximately 2.20%. The carrying value of the debt outstanding under the Amended Credit Facility approximates fair value because the interest fluctuates with the lender’s prime rate or other market rates of interest. The Company may prepay borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility without penalty (subject to certain charges applicable to the prepayment of LIBOR borrowings prior to the end of the applicable interest period). Amounts prepaid may be re-borrowed so long as the total borrowings outstanding do not exceed the maximum principal available. The Company believes that its existing cash balances, cash flow from operations and borrowings available under the Amended Credit Facility will provide it with sufficient resources to fund its operations, meet its debt obligations, and fulfill its capital expenditure plans over the next twelve months; however, its operations are subject to financial, economic, competitive, regulatory, and other factors, many of which are beyond its control. If the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash flow or if its cash needs exceed our borrowing capacity under the Amended Credit Facility, it could be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as reducing, delaying or eliminating planned capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital.

NOTE 7. LONG-TERM DEBT

On July 20, 2016, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit facility agreement (the “Amended Credit Facility”). Under the Amended Credit Facility, our available borrowing capacity is $250.0 million, and the maturity date is July 20, 2021.

As of June 30, 2019, the Company had an outstanding principal balance of $132.5 million under the Amended Credit Facility, a $0.6 million Standby Letter of Credit, and $116.9 million remaining in available borrowings of the $250.0 million maximum principal available under the Amended Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2019, there have been no withdrawals from the Standby Letter of Credit.

The total revolving loan commitment under the Amended Credit Facility will be automatically and permanently reduced to $50.0 million on the earlier of the last business day of the first full quarter after completion of the expansion project at the Monarch Casino Black Hawk (the “Monarch Black Hawk Expansion”), or on December 31, 2019, and all then outstanding revolving loans up to $200.0 million under the Amended Credit Facility will be converted to a term loan at such time. The Company may be required to prepay borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility no later than December 31, 2019, depending on our leverage ratio. The Company has an option to permanently reduce the maximum revolving available credit at any time so long as the amount of such reduction is at least $0.5 million and in multiples of $50 thousand.

Borrowings are secured by liens on substantially all of the Company’s real and personal property.

In addition to other customary covenants for a facility of this nature, as of June 30, 2019, the Company is required to maintain a Total Leverage Ratio (Total Funded Debt divided by EBITDA, as defined in the Amended Credit Facility) of no more than 4.75:1 and a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (EBITDA divided by Fixed Charges, as defined in the Amended Credit Facility) of at least 1.15:1. As of June 30, 2019, the Company’s Total Leverage Ratio and Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio were 2.1:1 and 10.1:1, respectively.

The interest rate under the Amended Credit Facility is LIBOR plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 2.50%, or a base rate (as defined in the Amended Credit Facility) plus a margin ranging from 0.00% to 1.50%, or the Prime Rate. The applicable margins will vary depending on our leverage ratio. Commitment fees are equal to the daily average unused revolving commitment multiplied by the commitment fee percentage, ranging from 0.175% to 0.45%, based on our leverage ratio.

At June 30, 2019, the Company’s interest rate was based on LIBOR and its leverage ratio was such that pricing for borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility was LIBOR plus 1.50%. At June 30, 2019, the one-month LIBOR interest rate was approximately 2.20%. The carrying value of the debt outstanding under the Amended Credit Facility approximates fair value because the interest fluctuates with the lender’s prime rate or other market rates of interest.

The Company may prepay borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility without penalty (subject to certain charges applicable to the prepayment of LIBOR borrowings prior to the end of the applicable interest period). Amounts prepaid may be re-borrowed so long as the total borrowings outstanding do not exceed the maximum principal available.

The Company believes that its existing cash balances, cash flow from operations and borrowings available under the Amended Credit Facility will provide it with sufficient resources to fund its operations, meet its debt obligations, and fulfill its capital expenditure plans over the next twelve months; however, its operations are subject to financial, economic, competitive, regulatory, and other factors, many of which are beyond its control. If the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash flow or if its cash needs exceed our borrowing capacity under the Amended Credit Facility, it could be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as reducing, delaying or eliminating planned capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital.