SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Impact of COVID-19:

In March 2020, a global pandemic was declared due to an outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”). In an effort to contain the virus, on March 16th the state of Colorado mandated a temporary shutdown of all casinos including Monarch Black Hawk and on March 17th the state of Nevada mandated the temporary closure of all casinos including Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno. The COVID-19 outbreak has had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

Our Nevada and Colorado properties reopened with limited operations on June 4, 2020 and June 17, 2020, respectively. The poker room and buffet at Atlantis resumed operations at the beginning of August. Table games at our Colorado property resumed operation on September 11, 2020 and were closed again on November 13, 2020. State-imposed COVID-19 operating restrictions reduced our permitted casino floor, restaurant and meeting space capacity at Monarch Black Hawk from 50% to 25% on November 13th through the end of the year, and our permitted occupancy was reduced at Atlantis from 50% to 25% on November 24 through the end of the year. The buffet at our Colorado property was temporarily being operated as a table-service restaurant. Additionally, changes were made from routine operations relating to restrictions in occupancy and social distancing requirements, which include reduced seating at table games and in all restaurants, and a decreased number of active slot machines on the casino floors. The convention business at Atlantis was affected by the state-mandated gathering limits, which at this time are the lessor of 100 persons or 35% of the listed fire code capacity. We have experienced hotel stay and convention booking cancelations, and since the reopening, guest visitation and hotel and convention bookings have been lower than prior to the state-mandated closures, and are expected to remain lower for the near future. In addition, we have incurred additional expenses to comply with the COVID-19 state -mandated and company -implemented protocols.

The Company has taken steps to mitigate the effects of the economic downturn and uncertainty by reducing operating expenses, taking advantage of federal and state government programs that support companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and their employees, and entering into an amended and restated credit agreement with its lender, which extended the maturity date of the Company’s credit facility to September 3, 2023 and increased the aggregated principal amount of the facility from $241.3 million to $270.0 million with an option to increase the facility by up to an additional $75.0 million revolving line of credit. See NOTE 6. LONG-TERM DEBT.

The Company believes that the $2.0 million of cash in our interest-bearing money market fund and the $70.0 million available under our Fourth Amended Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020, as well as the anticipated operating cash flows, will be sufficient to fund its operations, meets its debt obligations and fulfill its capital expenditure plans for the next twelve months.

Use of Estimates

In preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and in bank, as well as money market funds with an original maturity of 90 days or less.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Property and equipment is depreciated principally on a straight line basis over the estimated useful lives as follows:


Land improvements	15	-	40	years
Buildings	30	-	40	years
Building improvements	5	-	40	years
Furniture	5	-	10	years
Equipment	3	-	20	years

The Company evaluates property and equipment and other long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with the guidance for accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. For assets to be disposed of, the Company recognizes the asset to be sold at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs of disposal. Fair value for assets to be disposed of is generally estimated based on comparable asset sales, solicited offers or a discounted cash flow model.

For assets to be held and used, the Company reviews fixed assets for impairment annually during the fourth quarter of each year or whenever indicators of impairment exist. If an indicator of impairment exists, we compare the estimated future cash flows of the asset, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. If the undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, the impairment is measured based on fair value compared to carrying value, with fair value typically based on a discounted cash flow model or market comparables, when available. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there were no impairment charges.

Debt Issuance Costs

Costs incurred in connection with the issuance of long-term debt are amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt agreement utilizing the effective interest rate method. Unamortized amounts of debt issuance costs are recorded as a reduction of the outstanding debt and included in “Long-term debt, net”.

On September 3, 2020, the Company refinanced its credit facility. The unamortized costs related to the existing credit facility as of August 31, 2020 were $476 thousand. As the credit facility is a loan syndication with separate debt instruments existing between the debtor and the individual creditors participating in the syndication, in accordance to ASC 470-50, the Company expensed $95 thousand, representing a portion of unamortized debt issuance cost, allocated to the lenders that left the syndication and deferred the rest of the unamortized debt issuance cost of the existing credit facility, together with the issuance costs of the new facility.

As of December 31, 2020, debt issuance costs, net of amortization, were $2.8 million.

Revenues Recognition

Revenue Recognition:

The majority of the Company’s revenue is recognized when products are delivered or services are performed. For certain revenue transactions (when a patron uses a club loyalty card), in accordance with accounting standard update No. 2014-09 (“ASC 606”), a portion of the revenue is deferred until the points earned by the patron are redeemed or expire.

Casino revenue: Casino revenues represent the net win from gaming activity, which is the difference between the amounts won and lost, which represents the transaction price. Jackpots, other than the incremental amount of progressive jackpots, are recognized at the time they are won by customers. Funds deposited by customers in advance and outstanding chips and slot tickets in the customers’ possession are recognized as a liability until such amounts are redeemed or used in gaming play by the customer. Additionally, net win is reduced by the performance obligations for the players’ club program, progressive jackpots and any pre-arranged marker discounts. Progressive jackpot provisions are recognized in two components: 1) as wagers are made for the share of players’ wagers that are contributed to the progressive jackpot award, and 2) as jackpots are won for the portion of the progressive jackpot award contributed by the Company. Cash discounts and other cash incentives to guests related to gaming play are recorded as a reduction to gaming revenue.

Players’ Club Program: The Company operates a players’ club program under which as players perform gaming activities they earn and accumulate points, which may be redeemed for a variety of goods and services. Given the significance of the players’ club program and the ability for members to bank such points based on their past play, the Company has determined that players’ club program points granted in conjunction with gaming activity constitute a material right and, as such, represent a performance obligation associated with the gaming contracts. At the time points are earned, the Company recognizes deferred revenue at the standalone selling prices (“SSP”) of the goods and services that the points are expected to be redeemed for, with a corresponding decrease in gaming revenue. The points estimated SSP is computed as the cash redemption value of the points expected to be redeemed, which is determined through an analysis of all redemption activity over the preceding twelve-month period.

As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, the Company had estimated the obligations related to the players’ club program at $9.8 million and $9.4 million, respectively, which is included in Accrued Expenses in the Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity section in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Food and Beverage, Hotel and Other (retail) Revenues: Food and Beverage, Hotel and Other Revenues in general are recognized when products are delivered or services are performed. The Company recognizes revenue related to the products and services associated with the players points’ redemptions at the time products are delivered or services are performed, with corresponding reduction in the deferred revenue, at SSP. Other complimentaries in conjunction with the gaming and other business are also valued at SSP. Hotel revenue is presented net of non-third-party rebates and commissions. The cost of providing these complimentary goods and services are included as expenses within their respective categories.

Other Revenues: Other revenues (excluding retail) primarily consist of commissions received on ATM transactions and cash advances, which are recorded on a net basis as the Company represents the agent in its relationship with the third-party service providers, and commissions and fees received in connection with pari-mutuel wagering, which are also recorded on a net basis.

Sales and other taxes: 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 revenues or operating expenses. In addition, tips and other gratuities, excluding service charges, collected from customers on behalf of the Company’s employees are also accounted for on a net basis and are not included in revenues or operating expenses.

Gaming taxes

Gaming Taxes

The Company is subject to taxes based on gross gaming revenue in the jurisdictions in which it operates, subject to applicable jurisdictional adjustments. These gaming taxes are an assessment on the Company’s gaming revenue and are recorded as casino expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. These taxes totaled $17.2 million, $23.0 million and $22.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Other Operating items, net

Other operating items, net, in general consist of miscellaneous operating charges. For the year ended December 31, 2020, Other operating items, net, was $6.7 million and included: $2.8 million in pre-opening expenses relating to the Monarch Black Hawk Expansion project; $1.6 million in professional service fees relating to our construction litigation; $1.4 million in Colorado legislation lobbying expenses; $0.7 million in equipment, supplies and employee testing expenses directly attributable to the pandemic for reopening of the properties and incremental to normal operations; and $0.2 million in unamortized debt issuance cost write off and loss on disposal of assets. For the year ended December 31, 2019, Other operating items, net, was $3.1 million, which includes $2.5 million in pre-opening expenses relating to the Monarch Black Hawk Expansion project, $0.3 million in professional service fees relating to our construction litigation and $0.3 million in professional service fees relating to a due diligence on an acquisition opportunity.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the authoritative guidance requiring that compensation cost relating to stock-based payment transactions be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock options, and based on the closing share price of the Company’s stock on the grant date for restricted stock awards. The cost is recognized as an expense over the employee’s requisite service period (the vesting period of the equity award). The Company’s stock-based employee compensation plan is more fully discussed in NOTE 10.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments has been determined by the Company, using available market information and valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required to develop the estimates of fair value; thus, the estimates provided herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange.

The carrying amounts of cash, account receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. Additionally, the carrying value of our long-term debt approximates fair value due to the variable nature of applicable interest rates and relative short-term maturity.

Certain Risks and Uncertainties

The Company’s operations are dependent on its continued licensing by the Nevada and Colorado gaming regulatory bodies. The loss of a license could have a material adverse effect on future results of operations.

The Company is dependent on the Northern Nevada and Denver, Colorado markets for a significant number of its patrons and revenues. If economic conditions in these areas deteriorate or additional gaming licenses are awarded, the Company’s results of operations could be adversely affected.

The Company is dependent on the U.S. economy in general, and any deterioration in the national economic, energy, credit and capital markets could have a material adverse effect on future results of operations.

The Company is dependent on the travel industry and any disruption or restriction on national or international travel and entertainment, like a pandemic disease or a risk of pandemic disease, could materially and adversely affect our future results of operations.

The Company is dependent upon a stable gaming and admission tax structure in the locations in which it operates. Any change in the tax structure could have a material adverse effect on future results of operations.