Gaming
Contracts
All of
our Class II and Class III gaming revenues are derived through
contracts with our Native American customers. Our contracts typically run over
multiple years, and can be terminated earlier under certain specified
conditions. The contracts specify the quantity and type of player terminals to
be installed, and the terms of the rental or participation arrangement. In some
instances, there is also a limited waiver of sovereign immunity by certain
tribes that typically provides for the arbitration of any dispute under the
contract, and the right to enforce any decision of the arbitrator by application
to a federal or state court having jurisdiction, while in other instances there
is no limited waiver of sovereign immunity. Our largest customer, who accounts
for over 39% of our revenue, has not given us a limited waiver of sovereign
immunity. Under these contracts, we are also granted the right, under certain
circumstances, to enter the land of the Native American tribe for the purpose of
removing our property. See “Risk Factors – We do not rely upon the term of our
customer contracts to retain the business of our customers,” and “– Our ability
to enforce Contractual Rights on Native American Land.” Furthermore, the NIGC
has recently expressed concern that some of our “forms of contract” may violate
the spirit of the “sole proprietary interest” concept that is required to be
written into all tribal gaming regulations.
Intellectual
Property
We rely
to a limited extent upon patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws,
license agreements, and employee nondisclosure agreements to protect our
proprietary rights and technology. Since these laws and contractual provisions
provide only limited protection, we rely more upon proprietary know-how and
continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive
position. Insofar as we rely on trade secrets, unpatented know-how, and
innovation, there is no assurance that others will not independently develop
similar technology or that secrecy will not be breached.
Patents,
Trademarks and Trade Names. We have patents issued and patents pending in
the United States. We also have patents pending overseas corresponding to some
of our U.S. patents and pending U.S. patent applications. Our trademarks and
trade names include but are not limited to the following: Players Passport®,
MGAMe® System,
Reel Time Bingo®,
MegaNanza®,
MegaBingo®, and
MegaMania®. All
references herein to those trademarks and trade names are deemed to include the
applicable trade name or trademark designation. See “Risk Factors – We may not
be successful in protecting our intellectual property rights, or avoiding claims
that we are infringing upon the intellectual property rights of
others.”
Licenses
and Registrations
We are
licensed by the State of Washington to sell Class III video lottery systems
and to conduct Class III gaming in that state, and we are licensed by the
state of Louisiana as a manufacturer of charitable gaming equipment. In
Minnesota, we are licensed by the state as a linked bingo prize provider. For
Class II or Class III gaming, we are licensed by all Native American
jurisdictions in which we do business. We have sought and obtained
determinations that our New Generation games are Class II gaming from each
tribe’s gaming commission prior to the installation of the games in their
facilities. We are also licensed by the State of New York for the purpose of
providing the central-determinant-driven video lottery system operated at
certain racetracks.
In
accordance with the Federal Gambling Devices Act of 1962, we are required
to register annually with the Criminal Division of the United States Department
of Justice. This registration is required in order for us to sell, distribute,
manufacture, transport and/or receive gaming equipment, machines or components
across interstate lines.
Competition
We
currently compete in a variety of gaming markets with companies that are both
larger and smaller than we are. We compete with other vendors for customers,
primarily on the basis of the amount of profit our gaming products generate for
our customers in relation to other vendors’ gaming products and the prices and /
or fees that we choose for our products and services. We believe that the most
important factor influencing our customers’ product selection is the appeal of
those products to end users. This appeal has a direct effect on the volume of
play by end users, and drives the amount of revenue generated for and by our
customers. Our ability to remain competitive depends primarily on our ability to
continuously develop new game themes, gaming engines, hardware platforms and
systems that appeal to end users, and to introduce those game themes and systems
in a timely manner. See “Risk Factors – Our future performance will depend on
our ability to develop and introduce new gaming systems and to enhance existing
games that are widely accepted and played.” We may not be able to continue to
develop and introduce appealing new game themes and systems that meet the
demands of current or prospective customers.
In our
core Oklahoma market, we believe the increased competition has and may continue
to intensify pressure on our pricing model. In the future, gaming providers will
compete on the basis of price as well as the entertainment value and
technological superiority of their products. While we will continue to compete
by regularly introducing new and faster games with technological enhancements
that we believe will appeal to end users, we believe that the net revenue
retained by our customers from their installed base of player terminals will
become a more significant factor, one that may require us to change the terms of
our participation arrangements with customers to remain
competitive.
We plan
to market a variety of new gaming platforms, new proprietary content, new
innovative gaming systems, and new proprietary stand-alone player terminals to
both the Native American Class III casino and conventional commercial casino
markets. These traditional gaming markets are very competitive with companies
with significant gaming experience and financial resources.
Employees
At
September 30, 2008, we had 484 full-time and part-time
employees, including 210 engaged in field operations and business
development, 206 in system and game development, 22 in sales
and marketing activities, 17 in accounting functions,
and 29 in other general administrative and executive functions. We do
not have a collective bargaining agreement with any of our employees. We believe
our relationship with our current employees is good.
We have
announced a plan targeting a $5 million reduction in operating expenses
that will be effective no later than March 31, 2009.
Governmental
Regulation
General.
We are subject to federal, state and Native American laws and regulations
that affect both our general commercial relationships with our Native American
tribal customers as well as the products and services provided to them. We also
offer products for charity bingo markets that are subject to state and local
regulation. Our ability to enter into traditional commercial gaming
jurisdictions is subject to established state regulatory requirements. The
following is only a summary of the more material aspects of these laws and
regulations, and is not a complete recitation of all applicable
law.
Federal
Regulation. The most important pieces of federal legislation affecting
our business are:
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the
IGRA which is administered by the NIGC and the Secretary of the United
States Department of the Interior;
and
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the
Federal Gambling Devices Act of 1962, or the Johnson Act, which requires
annual registration, and various record-keeping and equipment
–identification requirements. If we fail to comply with the Johnson Act
requirements, we could be subject to various penalties including, but not
limited to, the seizure and forfeiture of
equipment.
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Tribal-State
Compacts. Native American tribes cannot offer Class III gaming
unless, among other things, they are parties to compacts with the states in
which they operate. The tribal-state compacts typically include provisions
entitling the state to receive revenues from the income a tribe derives from
Class III gaming activities. Although compacts are intended to document the
agreement between the state and a tribe relative to permitted Class III
gaming operations, they are agreements, and can be subject to interpretive and
other ambiguity and disputes. Currently, we operate in three states where
compacts significantly affect our business: California, Oklahoma, and
Washington.
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Oklahoma.
During 2004, the Oklahoma Legislature passed legislation
authorizing certain forms of gaming at racetracks, and additional types of
games at tribal gaming facilities, pursuant to a tribal-state compact. The
Oklahoma gaming legislation allows the tribes to sign a compact with the
state of Oklahoma to operate an unlimited number of electronic instant
bingo games, electronic bonanza-style bingo games, electronic amusement
games, and non-house-banked tournament card games. In addition, certain
horse tracks in Oklahoma are allowed to operate a limited number of
instant and bonanza-style bingo games and electronic amusement games. All
vendors placing games at any of the racetracks under the compact will
ultimately be required to be licensed by the state of Oklahoma. Pursuant
to the compacts, vendors placing games at tribal facilities will have to
be licensed by each tribe. All electronic games placed under the compact
will have to be certified by independent testing laboratories to meet
technical specifications. These technical specifications were published by
the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission and the individual tribal gaming
authorities in the first calendar quarter of 2005. To date,
independent testing labs have given wide latitude as to what constitutes a
compliant game.
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We
believe the 2004 Oklahoma legislation significantly clarifies and expands the
types of gaming permitted by Native America tribes in that state. We expect
continued intensified competition from vendors currently operating in Oklahoma,
as well as new competitors with significant gaming experience and financial
resources. As the rules and regulations governing Class II gaming are
clarified by court decisions and by new rule-making procedures, we anticipate
more competition and further pressure on our market and revenue share
percentages in Oklahoma. New tribal-state compacts, such as the Oklahoma gaming
legislation passed by referendum in 2004, have also led to increased
competition. In addition, we continue to experience an extended period of
uncertainty relative to enforcement of existing restrictions on
non-Class II devices, which is forcing us to continue competing against
games that do not appear to comply with the published regulatory restrictions on
Class II games. As a result of this increased competition in Oklahoma, we
have and may continue to experience pressure on our pricing model, with the
result that gaming providers are competing on the basis of price as well as the
entertainment value and technological superiority of their products. While we
will continue to compete by regularly introducing new and more entertaining
games with technological enhancements that we believe will appeal to end users,
we believe that the level of revenue retained by our customers from their
installed base of player terminals will become a more significant competitive
factor, one that may require us to change the terms of our participation
arrangements with customers.
The
legislation requires Oklahoma tribes to develop their own licensing procedures.
Some of our Oklahoma tribal customers have developed these procedures, and
others are in the process of defining the procedures. For that reason,
deployment of games to be operated under the compact in Oklahoma is proceeding
at an erratic pace and will continue to do so for many months. Moreover, tribal
policies and procedures, as well as tribal selection of gaming vendors, are
subject to the political and governance environment within the tribe. Changes in
tribal leadership or tribal political pressure can affect our relationships with
our customers. As a result of these and other considerations, it remains
difficult to forecast the short-term impact on our business from the recent
Oklahoma gaming legislation.
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Washington.
In Washington State, we offer player terminals operated in
conjunction with local central determinant systems, pursuant to compacts
between the state and certain Native American tribes in that state. These
compacts are recognized by IGRA to permit Class III gaming, which
would otherwise be illegal.
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Native American
Regulation of Gaming. IGRA requires that Native American tribes adopt and
submit for NIGC approval the ordinances that regulate tribes’ conduct of gaming.
While these ordinances vary from tribe to tribe, they commonly provide for the
following:
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Native
American ownership of the gaming
operation;
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Establishment
of an independent tribal gaming
commission;
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Use
of gaming net revenues for Native American government, economic
development, health, education, housing or related
purposes;
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Independent
audits, including specific audits of all contracts for amounts greater
than $25,000;
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Native
American background investigations and
licenses;
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Adequate
safeguards for the environment, public health and safety;
and
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Dispute
resolution procedures.
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Pursuant
to IGRA, our tribal customers have adopted regulations requiring the tribe to
have the “sole proprietary interest” in their gaming activities.
Charity Gaming.
Charity bingo facilities are generally operated by nonprofit
organizations for charitable, educational and other lawful purposes. Charity
bingo is not currently subject to a nationwide regulatory system such as the one
created by IGRA to regulate Native American gaming, so regulation is on a
state-by-state, and sometimes a county-by-county basis. We currently offer
charity bingo gaming systems in the state of Alabama pursuant to state and
county regulations. We also offer games to certain operators in the state of
Louisiana.
International
Commercial Bingo Market. We started business in Mexico in 2006. The
Mexican bingo (lottery of numbers) market is regulated by Mexico’s Ministry of
the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación), a branch of the federal government.
The entities and individuals who have obtained bingo (lottery of number) permits
may only operate player terminals that comply with Mexican law and regulations,
from time to time in effect. Accordingly, our contracts require us to provide
player terminals that comply with said laws and regulations, and therefore, we
submit our games for compliance certification to an independent lab prior to
placing them in a facility of a permit holder.
Available
Information. Through the Investor Relations link on our website, www.multimediagames.com,
we make available free of charge to the public, as soon as reasonably
practicable after such information has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those
reports furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act. The public may read and copy any materials we file with or furnish to the
SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room
at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public
may also obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by
calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website,
www.sec.gov, which includes reports, proxy and information statements, and other
information regarding us and other issuers that file electronically with the
SEC. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are
not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Additionally, we make available free of charge on our internet website:
i) our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; ii) the charter of our
Nominating and Governance Committee; iii) the charter of our Compensation
Committee; and iv) the charter of our Audit Committee.
Multimedia
Games, Inc. was incorporated in Texas on August 30, 1991. Unless the
context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “MGAM,” “we,” “us,” and “our”
include Multimedia Games, Inc., and our wholly-owned subsidiaries: Megabingo,
Inc.; MGAM Systems, Inc.; Innovative Sweepstakes Systems, Inc.; MGAM Services,
LLC; MGAM Systems International, Inc.; Megabingo International, LLC; Multimedia
Games de Mexico 1, S. de R.L. de C.V.; and Servicios de Wild
Basin S. de R.L. de C.V. Our executive offices are located at
206 Wild Basin Rd., Bldg. B, Fourth Floor, Austin, Texas, 78746, and
our telephone number is (512) 334-7500.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
The
following risk factors should be carefully considered in connection with the
other information and financial statements contained in this Annual Report,
including “PART II – Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” If any of these risks actually
occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be
seriously and materially harmed, and the trading price of our common stock could
decline.
Our
business operations and product offerings are subject to strict regulatory
licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and/or
approvals.
Our
ability to conduct our existing traditional business, expand operations, develop
and distribute new products, games and systems, and expand into new gaming
markets is subject to significant federal, state, local, Native American, and
foreign regulations. Specifically, our company, officers, directors, key
employees, major shareholders, and products, games and systems are subject to
licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and/or approvals
necessary for the operation of our gaming activities.
We have
received licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and/or
approvals from a number of state, local, Native American, and foreign gaming
regulatory authorities. Our tribal customers are empowered to develop their own
licensing procedures and requirements, and we currently have limited, if any,
information regarding the ultimate process or expenses involved with securing
and or maintaining licensure by the tribes. Moreover, tribal policies and
procedures, as well as tribal selection of gaming vendors, are subject to the
political and governance environment within the tribe.
We may
require new licenses, permits and approvals in the future, and such licenses,
permits or approvals may not be granted to us. Obtaining and maintaining all
required licenses, findings of suitability, registrations, permits and/or
approvals is time consuming and expensive. The suspension, revocation,
nonrenewal or limitation of any of our licenses would have a material adverse
effect on our business operations, financial condition and results of
operations.
Our
ability to effectively compete in Native American gaming markets is vulnerable
to legal and regulatory uncertainties.
Historically,
we have derived most of our revenue from the placement of Class II player
terminals and systems for gaming activities conducted on Native American lands.
These activities are subject to federal regulation under the Gambling Devices
Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1171, et seq
(“Johnson Act”), the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (“IGRA”), the
National Indian Gaming Commission (“NIGC”), and the regulatory requirements of
various tribal gaming commissions. The Johnson Act broadly defines “gambling
devices” to include any “machine or mechanical device” designed and manufactured
“primarily” for use in connection with gambling, and that, when operated,
delivers money or other property to a player “as the result of the application
of an element of chance.” A government agency or court that literally applied
this definition, and did not give effect to subsequent congressional legislation
or to certain regulatory interpretations or judicial decisions, could determine
that the manufacture and use of our electronic player terminals, and perhaps
other key components of our Class II gaming systems that rely to some
extent upon electronic equipment to run a game, constitute Class III gaming
and, in the absence of a tribal-state compact, are illegal. Our tribal customers
could be subject to significant fines and penalties if it is ultimately
determined they are offering an illegal game, and an adverse regulatory or
judicial determination regarding the legal status of our products could have
material adverse consequences for our business, operating results and prospects.
Other government enforcement, regulatory action, judicial decisions, proposed
legislative action, rumors that have in the past and will continue to affect our
business, operating results and prospects, include but are not limited
to:
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proposed
legislation that would classify electronic technologic aids used by Native
American tribes in Class II games, such as bingo, as gambling
devices, and/or require certification by the NIGC of the Class II
technologic aids;
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proposed
legislation that would authorize the NIGC to promulgate regulations
regarding the use of technologic
aids;
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proposed
rules by the NIGC concerning classification standards to distinguish
between Class II games played with technologic aids and
Class III facsimiles of games of chance, a revision of the definition
of “electronic or electromechanical
facsimile;
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proposed
legislation and/or rules that would allow the NIGC authority to review
contracts between Native American tribes and their
suppliers;
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government
enforcement, regulatory action, judicial decisions, or the prospects or
rumors involving any of our games which have not been reviewed and / or
approved as legal Class II games by the
NIGC;
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contractual
and regulatory interpretations and enforcement actions by state regulators
and/or courts with regard to compacts between the state various tribes,
including but not limited to tribes with compacts in the states of
Washington and Oklahoma;
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adverse
rulings regarding game classification by state and/or federal
courts;
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adverse
regulatory decisions by tribal gaming
commissions;
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lack
of regulatory or judicial enforcement action. In particular, we believe we
have lost, and could continue to lose, market share to competitors who
offer games that do not appear to comply with published regulatory
restrictions on Class II games, and thereby offer features not
available in our products;
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the
use of sovereign immunity by the tribes to interfere with our ability to
enforce our contractual rights on Native American
land;
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new
laws and regulations relating to Native American gaming may be enacted,
and that existing laws and regulations could be amended or reinterpreted
in a manner adverse to our
business;
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investigations
by the Inspector General for the Department of the Interior and the Acting
General Counsel for the NIGC into the practice of certain tribes
conducting gaming on land originally acquired in trust for non-gaming
purposes; and
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a
determination by the NIGC that our development agreements, either by
themselves or when taken together with other agreements demonstrate a
proprietary interest by us in the tribes gaming activity. Management
contracts are subject to additional regulatory requirements and oversight,
including preapproval by the NIGC that could delay our providing products
and services to customers, as well as divert customers to our
competitors.
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All of
the above risk factors could result in significant and immediate adverse impacts
on our business and operating results. Additionally, each of the above described
risk factors increase the cost of doing business and could take our
executives’
attention away from operations. The trading price of our common stock has in the
past and may in the future be subject to significant fluctuations based upon
market perceptions of the legal status of our products and our ability to
compete in the Native American markets. Regulatory action against our customers
or equipment in these or in other markets could result in machine seizures and
significant revenue disruptions, among other adverse consequences. Moreover,
tribal policies and procedures, as well as tribal selection of gaming vendors,
are subject to the political and governance environment within the tribe.
Changes in tribal leadership or tribal political pressure can affect our
business relationships within Native American markets.
The
ultimate outcome of pending litigation is uncertain.
We are
involved in a number of commercial and intellectual property litigation matters.
Current estimates of loss regarding pending litigation may not be reflective of
final outcome. The results of rulings, judgments and/or settlements of pending
litigation may result in financial liability that is materially higher than what
management has estimated at this time. We make no assurances that we will not be
subject to liability with respect to current or future litigation. We maintain
various forms of insurance coverage. However, substantial rulings, judgments
and/or settlements could exceed the amount of insurance coverage (or any cost
allocation agreement with an insurance carrier), or could be excluded under the
terms of an existing insurance policy. Additionally, failure to secure favorable
outcomes in pending litigation could result in adverse consequences to our
business, operating results and/or overall financial condition (including
without limitation, possible adverse effects on compliance with the terms of our
credit facility).
Our
ability to enforce contractual rights on Native American land.
Federally
recognized Native American tribes are independent governments, subordinate to
the United States, with sovereign powers, except as those powers may have been
limited by treaty or by the United States Congress. The power of Native
Americans tribes to enact their own laws, regulate gaming operations and
contracts, is an exercise of Native American sovereignty, as recognized by IGRA.
Native American tribes maintain their own governmental systems and often their
own judicial systems. Native American tribes have the right to tax persons and
enterprises conducting business on Native American lands, and also have the
right to require licenses and to impose other forms of regulation and regulatory
fees on persons and businesses operating on their lands.
In the
absence of a specific grant of authority by Congress, states may regulate
activities taking place on Native American lands only if the tribe has a
specific agreement or compact with the state. Our contracts with Native American
customers normally provide that only certain provisions will be subject to the
governing law of the state in which a tribe is located. However, these
choice-of-law clauses may not be enforceable.
Native
American tribes generally enjoy sovereign immunity from suits similar to that of
the individual states and the United States. In order to sue a Native American
tribe (or an agency or instrumentality of a Native American tribe), the tribe
must have effectively waived its sovereign immunity with respect to the matter
in dispute.
Our
contracts with some Native American customers include a limited waiver of each
tribe’s sovereign immunity, and generally provide that any dispute regarding
interpretation, performance or enforcement shall be submitted to, and resolved
by, arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the
American Arbitration Association, and that any award, determination, order or
relief resulting from such arbitration is binding and may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction. However, in some instance, there is no limited waiver
of sovereign immunity. Our largest customer, who accounts for over 39% of
our revenue, has not given us a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. In the
instances where tribes have not waived sovereign immunity, or in the event that
a limited waiver of sovereign immunity is held to be ineffective, we could be
precluded from judicially enforcing any rights or remedies against a tribe.
These rights and remedies include, but are not limited to, our right to enter
Native American lands to retrieve our property in the event of a breach of
contract by the tribe party to that contract.
If a
Native American tribe has effectively waived its sovereign immunity, there
exists an issue as to the forum in which a lawsuit can be brought against the
tribe. Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and generally do not
have jurisdiction to hear civil cases relating to Native Americans. In addition,
contractual provisions that purport to grant jurisdiction to a federal court are
not effective. Federal courts may have jurisdiction if a federal question is
raised by the suit, which is unlikely in a typical contract dispute. Diversity
of citizenship, another common basis for federal court jurisdiction, is not
generally present in a suit against a tribe, because a Native American tribe is
not considered a citizen of any state. Accordingly, in most commercial disputes
with tribes, the jurisdiction of the federal courts may be difficult or
impossible to obtain. We may be unable to enforce any arbitration decision
effectively.
Our
expansion into non-Native American gaming activities will present new challenges
and risks that could adversely affect our business or results of
operations.
As we
expand into new markets, we expect to encounter business, legal, operational and
regulatory uncertainties similar to those we face in our Native American gaming
business. As a result, we may encounter legal and regulatory challenges that are
difficult or impossible to foresee and which could result in an unforeseen
adverse impact on planned revenues or costs associated with the new market
opportunity. If we are unable to effectively develop and operate within these
new markets, then our business, operating results and financial condition would
be impaired.
Successful
growth in accordance with our strategy may require us to make changes to our
gaming systems to ensure that they comply with applicable regulatory
requirements, and may require us to obtain additional licenses. In certain
jurisdictions and for certain venues, our ability to enter these markets will
depend on effecting changes to existing laws and regulatory regimes. The ability
to effect these changes is subject to a great degree of uncertainty and may
never be achieved. We may not be successful in entering into other segments of
the gaming industry.
Generally,
our placement of systems, games and technology into new market segments involves
a number of business uncertainties, including:
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Whether
our resources and expertise will enable us to effectively operate and grow
in such new markets;
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Whether
our internal processes and controls will continue to function effectively
within these new segments;
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Whether
we have enough experience to accurately predict revenues and expenses in
these new markets;
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Whether
the diversion of management attention and resources from our traditional
business, caused by entering into new market segments, will have harmful
effects on our traditional
business;
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Whether
we will be able to successfully compete against larger companies who
dominate the markets that we are trying to enter;
and
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Whether
we can timely perform under our agreements in these new
markets.
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Our
ability to expand into international gaming markets will present new challenges
and risks that could adversely affect our business or results of
operations.
We have
only recently begun to develop international business, and we realized revenue
from the sale of an Electronic Instant Lottery System to the Israel National
Lottery during fiscal 2006 and from contracts to supply Electronic Bingo
Terminals to casinos in Mexico during fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Neither our transactions in Israel nor in Mexico have been profitable to date or
are currently profitable, and may not lead to future profitable business. To
date, there are not as many permanent facilities opened in Mexico as we
originally projected, and the hold per day in certain of the open facilities in
Mexico has not met our original expectations. There can be no assurances that
our games will gain market acceptance in Mexico, additional facilities will open
in Mexico, or that the hold per day will increase in those facilities in Mexico
currently not meeting our expectations. International transactions are subject
to various risks, including but not limited to:
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Higher
operating costs due to local laws or
regulations;
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Unexpected
changes in regulatory requirements;
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Tariffs
and other trade barriers
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Costs
and risks of localizing products for foreign
countries;
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Difficulties
in staffing and managing geographically disparate
operations;
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Greater
difficulty in safeguarding intellectual property, licensing and other
trade restrictions;
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Challenges
negotiating and enforcing contractual
provisions;
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Repatriation
of earnings; and
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Anti-American
sentiment due to the war in Iraq and other American policies that may be
unpopular in certain regions, particularly in the Middle
East.
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Our
ability to comply with interpretation of federal regulations.
We may
face regulatory risks as a result of interpretations of other federal
regulations, such as banking regulations, as applied to our gaming systems. We
may be required to make changes to our games to comply with such regulations,
with attendant costs and delays that could adversely affect our business.
Specifically, the IRS is conducting a Bank Secrecy Act audit at one of the
tribal casinos, the NIGC has deferred a determination of whether the tribal
gaming operations are in compliance with (25 C.F.R. § 542.3(c)(2)
until the IRS audit is completed.
Our
ability to develop, enhance and/or introduce successful gaming systems and
games.
We may be
unable to successfully and cost effectively develop and introduce new and
enhanced gaming systems, games and content that will be widely accepted both by
our customers and their end users. Additionally, we may be unable to enhance
existing products in a timely manner in response to changing regulatory, legal
or market conditions or customer requirements, or new products and/or new
versions of our existing products may not achieve market acceptance. A decrease
in demand for our games could also result in an increase in our inventory
obsolescence charges.
Our
limited control over our customer’s casino operations.
Collectively
our senior management has decades of successful experience in gaming operations.
Where appropriate, we seek to provide assistance to our key customers in the
form of project management, with a focus on facility layout and planning, gaming
floor configuration and customized marketing and promotional initiatives.
However, our key customers are solely responsible for the operations of their
facilities. Our key customers may not take our advice on their operations,
marketing, facility layout, gaming floor configuration, and / or promotional
initiatives. To the
extent that our machines are not a part of an optimized facility layout or
gaming floor configuration and / or to the extent that our machines are not
supported by effective marketing / promotional initiatives, our operating
results could suffer.
Our
dependence upon a few customers who are based in Oklahoma.
For the
years ended September 30, 2008,2007 and 2006,
approximately 58%, 59% and 52%, respectively, of our gaming revenues
were from Native American tribes located in Oklahoma, and
approximately 39%, 42% and 36%, respectively, of our gaming
revenues were from one tribe in that state. The significant concentration of our
customers in Oklahoma means that local economic changes may adversely affect our
customers, and therefore our business, disproportionately to changes in national
economic conditions, including more sudden adverse economic declines or slower
economic recovery from prior declines. The loss of any of our Oklahoma tribes as
customers would have a material and adverse effect upon our financial condition
and results of operations. In addition, the legislation allowing tribal-state
compacts in Oklahoma has resulted in increased competition from other vendors,
who we believe have avoided entry into the Oklahoma market due to its uncertain
and ambiguous legal environment. The legislation allows for other types of
gaming, both at tribal gaming facilities and at Oklahoma racetracks. The loss of
significant market share to these new gaming opportunities or our competitors’
products in Oklahoma could also have a material adverse effect upon our
financial condition and results of operations.
We
believe the introduction of more aggressive instant bingo machines, with
characteristics of traditional slot machines, into the Oklahoma market, has
adversely affected our operating results and market position in that state and
may continue to do so in the future.
State
compacts with our existing Native American customers to allow Class III
gaming.
As our
Class II tribal customers enter into such compacts with the states in which
they operate, allowing the tribes to offer Class III games, we believe the
number of our game machine placements in those customers’ facilities could
decline significantly, and our operating results could be materially adversely
affected. As our tribal customers make the transition to gaming under compacts
with the state, we believe there will be significant uncertainty in the market
for our games that will make our business more difficult to manage or
predict.
As a
result, we anticipate further pressure on our market and revenue share
percentages in Oklahoma or the market could shift from revenue share
arrangements to a “for sale” model. We believe the establishment of state
compacts depends on a number of political, social, and economic factors which
are inherently difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, although we attempt to
closely monitor state legislative developments that could affect our business,
we may not be able to timely predict when or if a compact could be entered into
by one or more of our tribal customers.
Our
ability to realize satisfactory returns on money lent to new and existing
customers to develop or expand gaming facilities.
We enter
into development agreements to provide financing for construction and/or
remodeling of gaming facilities, primarily in the state of Oklahoma. Under our
development agreements, we secure a long-term revenue share percentage and a
fixed number of player terminal placements in the facility, in exchange for
development and construction funding. However, we may not realize the
anticipated benefits of any of these strategic relationships or financing. In
connection with one or more of these transactions, and to obtain the necessary
development funds, we may: issue additional equity securities which would dilute
existing stockholders; extend secured and unsecured credit to potential or
existing tribal customers which may not be repaid; incur debt on terms
unfavorable to us or that we are unable to repay; and incur contingent
liabilities.
Our
development efforts or financing activities may result in unforeseen operating
difficulties, financial risks, or required expenditures that could adversely
affect our liquidity. It may also divert the time and attention of our
management that would otherwise be available for ongoing development of our
business. In addition, certain of the agreements contain performance standards
for our player terminals that could allow the facility to reduce a portion of
our player terminals.
The NIGC
has expressed its view that our development agreements violate the requirements
of IGRA and tribal gaming regulations, which state that the Native American
tribes must hold “sole proprietary interest” in the tribes’ gaming operations,
which presents additional risks for our business. See “Certain Risk
Factors – Our ability to effectively compete in Native American gaming
markets is vulnerable to legal and regulatory uncertainties.”
In the
past we have, and in the future we expect to, reduce our floor space in certain
of our Class II facilities as a result of ongoing competitive pressures
faced by our customers from alternative gaming facilities and faced by our
machines from competitors’ products. In addition, future NIGC decisions could
affect our ability to place our games with these tribes.
Our
industry is intensely competitive.
We
compete in an intensely competitive industry against larger companies with
significant financial, research design and development, and marketing resources.
These larger companies are aggressively competing against us in our core
business operations, including but not limited to, charity bingo, lottery, Class
II, Class III, and international bingo markets. Additionally, new smaller
competitors may enter our traditional markets. The increased competition will
intensify pressure on our pricing model. We expect to face increased competition
as we attempt to enter new markets and new geographical locations. In the
future, gaming providers will compete on the basis of price as well as the
entertainment value and technological superiority of their
products.
Other
members of our industry may independently develop games similar to our games,
and competitors may introduce noncompliant games that unfairly compete in
certain markets due to uneven regulatory enforcement policies.
Additionally,
or customers compete with other providers of entertainment for their end user’s
entertainment budget. Consequently, our customers might not be able to spend new
capital on acquiring gaming equipment. Moreover, our customers might reduce
their utilization of revenue share agreements.
We
may not be successful in protecting our intellectual property rights, or
avoiding claims that we are infringing upon the intellectual property rights of
others.
We rely
upon patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, license agreements and
employee nondisclosure agreements to protect our proprietary rights and
technology, but these laws and contractual provisions provide only limited
protection. We rely to a greater extent upon proprietary know-how and continuing
technological innovation to maintain our competitive position. Insofar as we
rely on trade secrets, unpatented know-how and innovation, others may be able to
independently develop similar technology, or our secrecy could be breached. The
issuance of a patent to us does not necessarily mean that our technology does
not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others. As we enter into
new markets by leveraging our existing technology, and by developing new
technology and new products, it becomes more and more likely that we will become
subject to infringement claims from other parties. We are currently involved in
several patent disputes. See Item 3. Legal Proceedings. Problems with
patents or other rights could increase the cost of our products, or delay or
preclude new product development and commercialization. If infringement claims
against us are valid, we may seek licenses that might not be available to us on
acceptable terms or at all. Litigation would be costly and time consuming, but
may become necessary to protect our proprietary rights or to defend against
infringement claims. We could incur substantial costs and diversion of
management resources in the defense of any claims relating to the proprietary
rights of others or in asserting claims against others. We cannot guarantee that
our intellectual property will provide us with a competitive advantage or that
it will not be circumvented by competitors.
We
rely on software licensed from third parties, and technology provided by
third-party vendors, the loss of which could increase our costs and delay
deployment and/or suspend of our gaming systems and player
terminals.
We
integrate various third-party software products as components of our software.
Our business would be disrupted if this software, or functional equivalents of
this software, were either no longer available to us or no longer offered to us
on commercially reasonable terms. In either case, we would be required to either
redesign our software to function with alternate third-party software, or
develop these components ourselves, which would result in increased costs and
could result in delays in our deployment of our gaming systems and player
terminals. Furthermore, we might be forced to limit the features available in
our current or future software offerings.
We rely
on the content of certain software that we license from third-party vendors. The
software could contain bugs that could have an impact on our
business.
We also
rely on the technology of third-party vendors, such as telecommunication
providers, to operate our nationwide broadband telecommunications network. A
serious or sustained disruption of the provision of these services could result
in some of our player terminals being non-operational for the duration of the
disruption, which would adversely affect our ability to generate revenue from
those player terminals.
Our
Credit Facility contains covenants that limit our ability to finance future
operations or capital needs, or to engage in other business
activities.
The
operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our debt agreements,
including the Credit Facility may adversely affect our ability to finance future
operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities. Our
Credit Facility requires us to maintain a minimum EBITDA of $60 million on
a trailing twelve month basis, a total debt to EBITDA leverage ratio of no more
than 1.75:1.00 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of at
least 1.5:1.0. The Credit Facility contains certain covenants that, among
other things, restrict our ability as well as our restricted subsidiaries’
ability to:
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§
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incur
additional indebtedness, assume a guarantee or issue preferred
stock;
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§
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pay
dividends or make other equity distributions or payments to or affecting
our subsidiaries;
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§
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purchase
treasury stock;
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§
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make
certain investments;
|
|
§
|
sell
or dispose of assets or engage in mergers or
consolidations;
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|
§
|
engage
in certain transactions with subsidiaries and
affiliates;
|
|
§
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enter
into sale leaseback transactions;
and;
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|
§
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certain
business activities.
|
These
restrictions could limit our ability to obtain future financing, make strategic
acquisitions or needed capital expenditures, withstand economic downturns in our
business or the economy in general, conduct operations or otherwise take
advantage of business opportunities that may arise. A failure to comply with the
restrictions contained in the Credit Facility could lead to an event of default,
which could result in an acceleration of our indebtedness. Such acceleration
would constitute an event of default under the indentures governing the senior
unsecured notes. Our future operating results may not be sufficient to enable
compliance with the covenants in the Credit Facility or to remedy any such
default. In addition, in the event of acceleration, we may not have or be able
to obtain sufficient funds to refinance our indebtedness or make any accelerated
payments. Also, we may not be able to obtain new financing. Even if we were able
to obtain new financing, we cannot guarantee that the new financing will be on
commercially reasonable terms or terms that are acceptable to us. If we default
on our indebtedness, our business financial condition and results of operation
could be materially and adversely affected.
We
do not rely upon the term of our customer contracts to retain the business of
our customers.
Our
contracts with our customers are on a year-to-year or multi-year basis. Except
for customers with whom we have entered into development agreements, we do not
rely upon the stated term of our customer contracts to retain the business of
our customers, as often noncontractual considerations unique to doing business
in the Native American market override strict adherence to contractual
provisions. We rely instead upon providing competitively superior player
terminals, games and systems to give our customers the incentive to continue
doing business with us. At any point in time, a significant portion of our
business is subject to nonrenewal, and, if not renewed, would materially and
adversely affect our earnings, financial condition and cash flows.
If
our key personnel leave us, our business could be materially adversely
affected.
We depend
on the continued performance of the members of our senior management team and
our technology team. If we were to lose the services of any of our senior
officers, directors, or any key member of our technology team, and could not
find suitable replacements for such persons in a timely manner, it could have a
material adverse effect on our business.
We
may incur prize payouts in excess of game revenues.
Certain
of our contracts with our Native American customers relating to our Legacy and
Reel Time Bingo system games provide that our customers receive, on a daily
basis, an agreed percentage of gross gaming revenues based upon an assumed level
of prize payouts, rather than the actual level of prize payouts. This can result
in our paying our customers amounts greater than our customers’ percentage share
of the actual hold per day. In addition, because the prizes awarded in our games
are based upon assumptions as to the number of players in each game and
statistical assumptions as to the frequency of winners, we may experience on any
day, or over short periods of time, a “game deficit,” where the aggregate amount
of prizes paid exceeds aggregate game revenues. If we have to make any excess
payments to customers, or experience a game deficit over any statistically
relevant period of time, we are contractually entitled to adjust the rates of
prize payout to end users in order to recover any deficit. In the future, we may
miscalculate our statistical assumptions, or for other reasons, we may
experience abnormally high rates of jackpot prize wins, which could materially
and adversely affect our cash flow on a temporary or long-term basis, and which
could materially and adversely affect our earnings and financial
condition.
If
we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able
to accurately report financial results or prevent fraud.
Effective
internal controls are necessary to provide reliable financial reports and to
assist in the effective prevention of fraud. Any inability to provide reliable
financial reports or prevent fraud could harm our business. We must annually
evaluate our internal procedures to satisfy the requirements of Section 404
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires management and auditors
to assess the effectiveness of internal controls. If we fail to remedy or
maintain the adequacy of its internal controls, as such standards are modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time, the Company could be subject to
regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties or shareholder
litigation.
In
addition, failure to maintain adequate internal controls could result in
financial statements that do not accurately reflect our financial condition.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to complete the work necessary to
fully comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or that our
management and our independent registered public accounting firm will continue
to conclude that our internal controls are effective.
Our
business prospects and future success rely heavily upon the integrity of our
employees and executives and the security of our gaming systems.
The
integrity and security of our gaming systems is critical to its ability to
attract customers and players. We strive to set exacting standards of personal
integrity for our employees and for system security involving the gaming systems
that we provide to our customers. Our reputation in this regard is an important
factor in our business dealings with our current and potential customers. For
this reason, an allegation or a finding of improper conduct on our part or on
the part of one or more of our employees that is attributable to us, or of an
actual or alleged system security defect or failure attributable to us could
have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition, results,
and prospects, including our ability to retain existing contracts or obtain new
or renewed contracts.
Our
games and systems may experience loss based on malfunctions, anomalies and/or
fraudulent activities.
Our games
and systems could produce false payouts as the result of malfunctions, anomalies
and/or fraudulent activities. We depend on our security precautions to prevent
fraud. We depend on regulatory safeguards, which may not be available in all
jurisdictions and/or markets, to protect us against jackpots awarded as a result
of malfunctions, anomalies and/or fraudulent activities. There can be no
guarantee that regulatory safeguards, in jurisdictions and/or markets were they
do exist, will be sufficient to protect us from liabilities associated with
malfunctions, anomalies and/or fraudulent activities.
The
occurrence of malfunctions, anomalies and/or fraudulent activities could result
in litigation against us by our customers based on lost revenue and or other
claims based in tort or breach of contract. Moreover, these occurrences could
result in investigations and/or disciplinary actions by applicable gaming
regulators.
Any
disruption in our network or telecommunications services, or adverse weather
conditions in the areas in which we operate could affect our ability to operate
our games, which would result in reduced revenues and customer down
time.
Our
network is susceptible to outages due to fire, floods, power loss, break-ins,
cyberattacks and similar events. We have multiple site back-up for our services
in the event of any such occurrence. Despite our implementation of network
security measures, our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses and break-ins;
similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems in any
such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating
results and financial condition.
Adverse
weather conditions, particularly flooding, tornadoes, heavy snowfall and other
extreme weather conditions often deter our end users from traveling, or make it
difficult for them to frequent the sites where our games are installed. If any
of those sites experienced prolonged adverse weather conditions, or if the sites
in Oklahoma, where a significant number of our games are installed,
simultaneously experienced adverse weather conditions, our results of operations
and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
In
addition, our agreement with the New York State Division of the Lottery permits
termination of the contract at any time for failure by us or our system to
perform properly. Failure to perform under this or similar contracts could
result in substantial monetary damages, as well as contract
termination.
In
addition, we enter into certain agreements that could require us to pay damages
resulting from loss of revenues if our systems are not properly functioning, or
as a result of a system malfunction or an inaccurate pay table.
Worsening
economic conditions may adversely affect our business.
The
demand for entertainment and leisure activities tends to be highly sensitive to
consumers’ disposable incomes, and thus a decline in general economic conditions
or an increase in gasoline prices may lead to our end users having less
discretionary income with which to wager. This could cause a reduction in our
revenues and have a material adverse effect on our operating results. The
gaming industry is currently experiencing a period of reduced demand. If as a
result of deteriorating economic conditions, fewer people gamble in our
customers' facilities, or if amounts spent per person in our customers'
facilities are reduced from historical levels, our business could be materially
and adversely affected.
Additionally,
a decline in general economic conditions might negatively impact our customers’
ability to pay us in a timely fashion. Our customers’ failure to make timely
payments could result in an increase in our bad debt provision.
Our
ability to recognize revenue at the time of sale and delivery is dependent upon
obtaining Vendor-Specific Objective Evidence, or VSOE, for products yet to be
delivered or services yet to be performed.
We
believe future transactions with existing and future customers may be more
complex than transactions entered into currently. As a result, we may enter into
more complicated business and contractual relationships with customers which, in
turn, can engender increased complexity in the related financial accounting.
Legal and regulatory uncertainty may also affect our ability to recognize
revenue associated with a particular project, and therefore the timing and
possibility of actual revenue recognition may differ from our
forecast.
The
carrying value of our assets in Mexico is dependent upon our ability to
successfully deploy games into Mexico.
We have
excess player stations not deployed at September 30, 2008, which were
intended to be deployed at facilities in Mexico. If the opening of facilities is
altered negatively, either by significant delay, or by cancellation, the
realizable value of these assets could be reduced. In such instances we may be
required to recognize increased expense on our income statement related to the
impairment of these assets.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff
Comments
None
ITEM 2. Properties
We do not
own any real property. As of September 30, 2008, we are under contract
for the following leases, and we believe the facilities are suitable to our
business and adequate for our current and near-term needs:
|
|
Square Feet
|
|
|
Monthly Rent
|
|
Expiration Date
|
Austin,
Texas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate
Offices
|
|
|
67,761 |
|
|
$ |
124,627 |
|
July 2010
|
Assembly
and Warehouse Facilities
|
|
|
44,940 |
|
|
|
45,504 |
|
December 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tulsa,
Oklahoma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operations
and Sales Offices
|
|
|
3,736 |
|
|
|
3,105 |
|
February 2010
|
Warehouse
|
|
|
77,000 |
|
|
|
13,220 |
|
May 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plano,
Texas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technology
Offices
|
|
|
5,010 |
|
|
|
8,350 |
|
April 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kent,
Washington
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warehouse
|
|
|
14,400 |
|
|
|
8,069 |
|
August 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albany,
New York
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office
Space
|
|
|
2,708 |
|
|
|
3,660 |
|
December 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schenectady,
New York
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
System
Operations
|
|
|
1,690 |
|
|
|
3,012 |
|
September 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
St.
Paul, Minnesota
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office/Warehouse
|
|
|
3,000 |
|
|
|
1,875 |
|
March 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mexico
City, Mexico
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office/Warehouse/Training
Center
|
|
|
26,039 |
|
|
|
16,802 |
|
May 2009
|
ITEM 3. Legal
Proceedings
Diamond Game
Enterprises, Inc. On November 16, 2004, Diamond Game
Enterprises, Inc., or Diamond Game, filed suit in the State Court in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, against us, along with others, including Clifton Lind, Robert
Lannert, Gordon Graves, Video Gaming Technologies, Inc., or VGT, and its
president, John Yarbrough, alleging five causes of action: (i) deceptive
trade practices; (ii) unfair competition; (iii) wrongful interference
with business; (iv) malicious wrong / prima facie tort; and
(v) restraint of trade. The case asserts that we offered allegedly illegal
Class III games on the MegaNanza® and Reel
Time Bingo® gaming
systems to Native American tribes in Oklahoma. Diamond Game claims that the
offer of these games negatively affected the market for its pull-tab game, Lucky
Tab II. Diamond Game also alleges that our development agreements with
Native American tribes unfairly interfere with the ability of Diamond Game to
successfully conduct its business. Diamond Game is seeking injunctive relief and
unspecified damages in excess of $65 million. Diamond Game’s theories of
recovery include claims for actual, treble and punitive damages, as well as
revenue disgorgement.
Diamond
Game and VGT (and its principals) entered into a confidential settlement
agreement in September 2007. We will be given credit for the actual amount
of that settlement should any verdict be entered against us in connection with
this case. Two motions had been pending before the court in connection with the
matter: (i) Diamond Game filed a motion for partial summary judgment
seeking a court ruling on game classification for MegaNanza and Reel Time Bingo;
and (ii) we filed a motion seeking summary judgment based on jurisdictional
issues. On November 29, 2007, the trial court denied our motion for
summary judgment on the jurisdictional issues, and ruled on Diamond Game’s
motion for partial summary judgment, finding that our MegaNanza and Reel Time
Bingo versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 games are not Class II
games under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, or IGRA, but instead
are Class III games.
The
court’s ruling stated that it was not binding on our tribal customers and we do
not expect any of the Reel Time Bingo games currently in play in Oklahoma to be
removed as a result of the court’s ruling. Other game versions included in the
ruling are not in play in Oklahoma. The court’s rulings are not dispositive of
the case and the opinion has no affect on the right of Native American tribes to
play games offered by us. The trial court granted our motion for immediate
certification of its ruling to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. We sought immediate
review of the trial court’s decision. On February 19, 2008, the
Oklahoma Supreme Court denied our request for immediate review of the trial
court’s decision. The action of the Oklahoma Supreme Court does not preclude a
subsequent appeal of the trial court’s decision and we will continue to assert
that the games in question are legal Class II games, and that game
classification cannot be decided by an Oklahoma State Court. Presently, the
parties remain engaged in pre-trial discovery. The trial court has assigned a
jury trial date of March 23, 2009.
While we
continue to vigorously defend ourselves and believe that our MegaNanza and Reel
Time Bingo versions 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 games were in fact
Class II games, given the inherent uncertainties in this litigation, we are
unable to make any prediction as to the ultimate outcome.
Kaw Nation of
Oklahoma. In a related case, the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma, a Native
American Tribe in Oklahoma, filed suit against Diamond Game Enterprises, Inc.
and Oklahoma State Court District Judge Noma Gurich on
October 14, 2008. We, along with Clifton Lind, Robert Lannert and
Gordon Graves joined the Kaw Nation as Plaintiffs in that lawsuit. The Kaw
Nation claims that the assumption of jurisdiction and determination by Judge
Gurich over the determination of the classification under IGRA of MegaNanza and
Reel Time Bingo, which the Kaw Nation had previously classified as
Class II, violated the Kaw Nation’s sovereign rights, as well as its rights
under IGRA as the primary regulator of gaming on Native American lands and the
Indian Commerce Clause of the Constitution of the United States of America.
Additionally, we, Clifton Lind, Robert Lannert and Gordon Graves claim jointly
with the Kaw Nation that in the state court lawsuit, Judge Gurich and Diamond
Game have engaged in joint activity under color of state law, which violates the
Plaintiffs’ Constitutional and federal statutory rights, including their rights
to free commercial speech and due process of law. We, Clifton Lind, Robert
Lannert, Gordon Graves and the Kaw Nation also jointly contend that Judge Gurich
and Diamond Game have engaged in activity that is prohibited by the Oklahoma
State Constitution, which expressly disclaims jurisdiction over activity
occurring on Native American lands. The Kaw Nation, we and the other Plaintiffs
seek a declaratory judgment against Judge Gurich, holding that, as a state court
judge, Judge Gurich does not have jurisdiction to determine the classification
under IGRA of games being played on Native American lands. The Plaintiffs also
seek an injunction against Diamond Game, enjoining Diamond Game from proceeding
in its state court lawsuit. On November 4, 2008, Diamond Game filed a
Motion to Dismiss the Kaw Nation lawsuit, alleging that the Plaintiffs had
failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. On
November 13, 2008, Plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint, seeking
additional relief in the alternative that the federal court determine the
classification of MegaNanza and Reel Time Bingo. Plaintiffs filed their response
in opposition to the Motion to Dismiss on November 25, 2008. On
December 1, 2008, Diamond Game filed its Motion to Dismiss Amended
Complaint, again contending that the Plaintiffs had failed to state a claim upon
which relief could be granted, relying in part upon the federal court’s Order of
Remand in the Cory Investments, Ltd. case (see below). At this time, Plaintiffs
intend to file a motion for preliminary injunction in the immediate near future.
Given the inherent uncertainties in this litigation, we are unable to make any
prediction as to the ultimate outcome.
Cory Investments
Ltd. On May 7, 2008, Cory Investments, LTD., or Cory Investments, filed
suit in the State Court in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma against us, along with
others, including Clifton Lind; Robert Lannert; Gordon Graves; Video Gaming
Technologies, Inc. or VGT and its president, Jon Yarbrough, and a former VGT
representative, John Marley; Worldwide Gaming Technologies, or WGT; AGS, LLC,
d/b/a American Gaming Systems; AGS Partners, LLC; Ronald Clapper, the owner of
WGT, AGS, LLC and AGS Partners; Sierra Design Group; and Bally Technologies. The
case asserts that we offered allegedly illegal Class III games on the
MegaNanza and Reel Time Bingo gaming systems to Native American tribes in
Oklahoma which had a severe negative impact on Cory Investments’ market for its
legal Class II games. Cory Investments also alleges that the Defendants
conspired to drive it and other Class II competitors out of the
Class II market in Oklahoma and other states. In addition to the conspiracy
allegations, Cory Investments alleges six causes of action: (i) deceptive
trade practices; (ii) common law unfair competition; (iii) wrongful
interference with business; (iv) malicious wrong / prima facie tort;
(v) intentional interference with contract; and
(vi) unreasonable restraint of trade. Cory Investments is seeking
unspecified actual and punitive damages and equitable relief.
We and
the other defendants were served with summons and a copy of the lawsuit during
the week of July 21, 2008. The defendants removed the action to the
United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Cory
Investments filed a motion with the federal court to remand the case back to the
state court. That motion was granted by the federal court on
November 13, 2008, resulting in a transfer of the case back to the
state court. Currently all of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss which
are currently pending before the State Court District Judge. We believe that the
claims of Cory Investments are without merit and intend to defend the case
vigorously. Given the inherent uncertainties in this litigation, we are unable
to make any prediction as to the ultimate outcome.
International
Gamco, Inc. International Gamco, Inc., or Gamco, claiming certain rights
in U.S. Patent No. 5,324,035, or the ‘035 Patent, brought suit against
us on May 25, 2004, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of California alleging that our central determinant system, as operated
by the New York State Lottery, infringes the ‘035 Patent. Gamco claims
to have acquired ownership of the ‘035 Patent from Oasis Technologies,
Inc., or Oasis, a previous owner of the ‘035 Patent. In February 2003,
Oasis assigned the ‘035 Patent to International Game Technology, or IGT.
Gamco claims to have received a license back from IGT for the New York
State Lottery. The lawsuit claims that we infringed the ‘035 Patent after
the date on which Gamco assigned the ‘035 Patent to IGT.
Pursuant
to an agreement between us and Bally Technologies, Inc., or Bally, we currently
sublicense the right to practice the technology stated in the ‘035 Patent
in Native American gaming jurisdictions in the United States. Bally obtained
from Oasis the right to sublicense those rights to us, and that sublicense
remains in effect today. Under the sublicense from Bally, in the event that we
desire to expand our own rights beyond Native American gaming jurisdictions, the
agreement provides us the following options: (i) to pursue legal remedies
to establish its rights independent of the ‘035 Patent;
or (ii) to negotiate directly and enter into a separate agreement with
Oasis for such rights, paying either a specified one-time license fee per
jurisdiction or a unit fee per gaming machine.
We have
made a number of challenges to Gamco’s standing to sue for infringement of the
‘035 Patent. On October 15, 2007, pursuant to an Interlocutory
Appeal, the Federal Circuit reversed the District Court’s Order refusing to
dismiss Gamco’s Supplemental and Second Amended Complaint against us. The
Federal Circuit held that Gamco did not have sufficient rights in the
‘035 Patent to sue us without the involvement of the patent
owner, IGT.
On
December 4, 2007, Gamco and IGT entered into an Amended and
Restated Exclusive License Agreement whereby IGT granted to Gamco exclusive
rights to the ‘035 Patent in the state of New York and the right to
sue for past infringement of the same. On January 9, 2008, Gamco filed
its Third Amended Complaint for Infringement of the ‘035 Patent against us.
On January 28, 2008, we filed an Answer to the Complaint denying
liability. We also filed a Third Amended Counterclaim against Oasis, Gamco and
certain officers at Gamco, for fraud, promise without intent to perform,
negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, specific performance and
reformation of contract with regard to our rights under the Sublicense Agreement
for the ‘035 Patent, as well as for non-infringement and invalidity of the
Patent. These parties have filed a motion to dismiss and a motion for summary
judgment as to these claims. We have filed a motion for partial summary judgment
on its breach of contract and specific performance claims seeking to enforce the
terms of the Sublicense Agreement. We have also moved for summary judgment on
Gamco’s complaint on the ground that it is a licensee. All motions to dismiss
and motions for summary judgment will be heard by the court on
February 26, 2009.
The court
has scheduled a Markman hearing to construe the claims of the ‘035 Patent
for January 13, 2009. The court will also consider at that time our
motion for partial summary judgment to invalidate all of the means-plus-function
claims of the ‘035 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 112, 6. A trial
date has not been set by the court.
We
continue to vigorously defend this matter. Given the inherent uncertainties in
this litigation, we are unable to make any prediction as to the ultimate
outcome.
NIGC Class II
Game Classification Regulations. On October 24, 2007, the NIGC
published in the Federal Register, four proposed rules concerning Classification
Standards to distinguish between Class II games played with technologic
aids and Class III facsimiles of games of chance, a revision of the
definition of “electronic or electromechanical facsimile,” technical standards
for Class II gaming and Class II minimum internal control standards.
If the Classification Standards and the revised definition of “electronic or
electromechanical facsimile” become final regulations, they will have a material
and adverse economic impact on the Class II gaming market by limiting the
use of Class II electronic technology and severely restricting the manner
in which bingo may be played thereby making Class II games less attractive
to the customer. On January 15, 2008, the NIGC extended the comment
period for the proposed Class II gaming regulations until
March 9, 2008. However, in May 2008, the Chairman of the NIGC
announced that the NIGC would not move forward with its plans to publish final
regulations revising the definition of “electronic or electromechanical
facsimile” and implementing new Class II gaming classification standards.
The NIGC has published regulations establishing technical standards for
Class II electronic gaming and Class II minimum internal control
standards. The standards allow for a 5-year grandfathering moratorium if
existing games and systems meet minimum requirements. We are currently
submitting games and systems to be evaluated under the new grandfathering
moratorium articulated in 25 CFR 547.4 of the new NIGC technical
standards.
Development
Agreements. In 2004, we received a letter from the Acting General
Counsel of the NIGC, dated November 30, 2004, advising us that our
agreements with a certain customer may evidence a proprietary interest by us in
a tribe’s gaming activities, in violation of IGRA and the tribe’s gaming
ordinances. The NIGC invited us and the tribe to submit any explanation or
information that would establish that the agreements’ terms do not violate the
requirement that tribes maintain sole proprietary interest in their own gaming
operations.
In a
letter dated November 8, 2007, the Acting General Counsel of the NIGC
reiterated the statements made in her November 30, 2004 letter, that
the NIGC did not then conclude that the agreements with the tribe that it
reviewed constituted management agreements, but that the NIGC was concerned
that, taken together, the agreements demonstrated a proprietary interest, by us,
in the tribe’s gaming activity that may be contrary to law. Although we believe
that we responded to the NIGC in 2004, explaining why the agreements did
not violate the sole proprietary interest prohibition of IGRA and did not
constitute a management agreement, the November 8, 2007 letter
indicated that the NIGC did not receive the written explanation or further
information and requested explanation. On December 17, 2007, we
responded in writing to the NIGC, correcting the misstatements contained in the
NIGC’s 2004 letter. To date, we have received no further communication from
the NIGC on this issue.
If
certain of our development agreements are finally determined to be management
contracts or to create a “proprietary” interest of ours in tribal gaming
operations, there could be material adverse consequences to us. In that event,
we may be required, among other things, to modify the terms of such agreements.
Such modification may adversely affect the terms on which we conduct business,
and have a significant impact on our financial condition and results of
operations from such agreements and from other development agreements that may
be similarly interpreted by the NIGC.
Our
development agreements could be subject to further review at any time. Any
further review of our development agreements by the NIGC, or alternative
interpretations of applicable laws and regulations could require substantial
modifications to those agreements, or result in their designation as “management
contracts,” which could materially and adversely affect the terms on which we
conduct business.
Other Litigation.
In addition to the threat of litigation relating to the Class II or
Class III status of our games and equipment, we are the subject of various
pending and threatened claims arising out of the ordinary course of business. We
believe that any liability resulting from these various other claims will not
have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial
condition.
Other.
Existing federal and state regulations may also impose civil and criminal
sanctions for various activities prohibited in connection with gaming
operations, including false statements on applications, and failure or refusal
to obtain necessary licenses described in the regulations.
ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of
Securities Holders
No matter
was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2008 covered by this report, through the solicitation of proxies or
otherwise.
PART
II
ITEM 5. Market for
Registrant’s Common Equity,
Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Our
common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, or NASDAQ, under the
symbol “MGAM.” Prior to September 27, 2001, we were listed on the
Nasdaq Small Cap Market under the same symbol. The following table sets forth
the quarterly high and low closing sale prices per share of our common stock as
reported by NASDAQ for each quarter during the last two fiscal
years.
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$ |
10.14 |
|
|
$ |
8.92 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
|
12.25 |
|
|
|
8.97 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
13.24 |
|
|
|
10.66 |
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
|
12.95 |
|
|
|
8.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$ |
9.78 |
|
|
$ |
6.95 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
|
8.45 |
|
|
|
5.14 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
|
6.05 |
|
|
|
3.75 |
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
|
5.75 |
|
|
|
3.50 |
|
There
were approximately 56 holders of record of our common stock as of
December 8, 2008.
We have
never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We intend to
retain our earnings to finance growth and development, and therefore do not
anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable
future. The declaration and payment of any dividends on our common stock would
be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to the terms of our
Credit Facility, our financial condition, capital requirements, future
prospects, and other factors deemed relevant.
There
were no other share repurchases during the year ended
September 30, 2008.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
Plan Category(1)
|
|
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants, and rights (#)
|
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants, and rights ($)
|
|
|
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding
securities reflected in
the first column)
(#)
|
|
Equity
compensation plans approved
by security holders
|
|
|
4,290,008 |
|
|
$ |
6.84 |
|
|
|
1,640,590 |
|
Equity
compensation plans not
approved by security holders
|
|
|
2,456,500 |
|
|
|
4.93 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total
|
|
|
6,746,508 |
|
|
$ |
6.14 |
|
|
|
1,640,590 |
|
(1)
|
Stock
Plans are discussed in further detailed under “PART IV – Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules – Note 10. Stockholders’
Equity.”
|
Performance
Comparison Graph. The following graph depicts our total return to
shareholders from September 30, 2003 through
September 30, 2008, relative to the performance of (i) the NASDAQ
Composite Index; and (ii) stock in a selected peer group index, or the
“Peer Group”. The Peer Group consists of Progressive Gaming International Corp.
(formerly Mikohn Gaming Corp.), IGT, WMS, Inc., Bally and Shuffle Master, Inc.
All indices shown in the graph have been reset to a base of 100 as of
September 30, 2003, and assume an investment of $100 on that date
and the reinvestment of dividends paid since that date. Multimedia Games has
never paid a dividend on its common stock. The stock price performance shown in
the graph is not necessarily indicative of future price
performance.
ITEM 6. Selected
Financial Data
The
following selected financial data are derived from our Consolidated Financial
Statements. The data below should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes thereto, “Risk Factors” contained in Item 1(a) of
this Annual Report and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Item 7 of this Annual
Report.
|
|
Years
Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
Consolidated
Income Statement Data
|
|
(In
thousands, except per-share amounts)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
131,132 |
|
|
$ |
121,917 |
|
|
$ |
145,112 |
|
|
$ |
153,216 |
|
|
$ |
153,675 |
|
Operating
income (loss)
|
|
|
1,235 |
|
|
|
(4,589 |
) |
|
|
7,502 |
|
|
|
29,822 |
|
|
|
50,431 |
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
|
378 |
|
|
|
(744 |
) |
|
|
3,532 |
|
|
|
17,643 |
|
|
|
32,772 |
|
Earnings
(loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
0.13 |
|
|
|
0.64 |
|
|
|
1.19 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
(0.03 |
) |
|
|
0.12 |
|
|
|
0.60 |
|
|
|
1.07 |
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working
capital (deficit)
|
|
$ |
34,149 |
|
|
$ |
22,621 |
|
|
$ |
(5,835 |
) |
|
$ |
(19,401 |
) |
|
$ |
249 |
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
276,940 |
|
|
|
256,269 |
|
|
|
268,541 |
|
|
|
254,692 |
|
|
|
217,407 |
|
Long-term
obligations
|
|
|
86,575 |
|
|
|
82,412 |
|
|
|
47,243 |
|
|
|
37,317 |
|
|
|
14,685 |
|
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
150,732 |
|
|
|
147,809 |
|
|
|
167,945 |
|
|
|
158,917 |
|
|
|
150,147 |
|
Effective
October 1, 2005 (our fiscal year ended September 30, 2006),
we adopted the share-based payment provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards 123(revised), “Share-Based Payment,” using the
modified prospective transition method. SFAS No. 123(R) is a revision
of SFAS No. 123. Prior period amounts do not include a pro forma
adjustment for stock compensation expense.
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
We are a
developer and distributor of comprehensive systems, content, electronic games
and gaming player terminals for the casino, charity, international bingo, and
video lottery markets. Initially, our customers were located primarily in the
Native American gaming sector; however, around 2003, we began diversifying
into broader domestic and international gaming markets.
Although
we continue to develop systems and products for Native American tribes
throughout the United States, we now also develop and market i) products
and services for the commercial casino market; ii) video lottery systems
and other products for domestic and international lotteries; and
iii) products for charity and international bingo and other emerging
markets.
Our
products cover a broad spectrum of the gaming industry, including: interactive
systems for both server-based and stand-alone gaming operations; interactive
electronic bingo games for the Class II gaming market and for the
Class III, stand-alone and video lottery markets; proprietary gaming player
terminals in multiple configurations and formats; electronic instant lottery
scratch ticket systems; casino management systems, including player tracking,
cash and cage, slot accounting, and slot management modules; unified currency
systems; and other electronic and paper bingo systems. In addition, we provide
maintenance, operations support and other services for our customers and
products.
We design
and develop networks, software and content that provide our customers with,
among other things, comprehensive gaming systems, some of which are delivered
through a telecommunications network that links our player terminals with one
another, both within a single gaming facility or among several gaming
facilities.
We derive
the majority of our gaming revenue from participation (revenue sharing)
agreements, pursuant to which we place systems, player terminals, proprietary
and licensed content operated on player terminals, and back-office systems and
equipment (collectively referred to as “gaming systems”), into gaming
facilities. To a lesser degree, we earn revenue from the sale or placement of
gaming systems (e.g., the opening of a new casino, or a change in the law that
allows existing casinos to increase the number of player terminals permitted
under prior law) on a lease-purchase or participation basis and from the
back-office fees generated by video lottery systems, principally in the
Washington State, Class III market. We also generate gaming revenue as
consideration for providing the central determinant system for a network of
player terminals operated by the New York State Division of the Lottery. In
addition, we earn a small portion of our revenue from the sale of lottery
systems and the placement of nontraditional gaming products, such as electronic
scratch tickets, sweepstakes, or linked interactive paper bingo systems.
Recently, we entered the international electronic bingo market and currently
supply bingo systems to three customers in Mexico, whereby we receive fees based
on the net earnings of each system. During fiscal 2009, we intend to
generate revenue from the sale of non-linked Class III player terminals to
Class III Native American markets.
Class II
Market
We derive
our Class II gaming revenues from participation arrangements with our
Native American customers. Under these arrangements, we retain ownership of the
gaming equipment installed at our customers’ tribal gaming facilities, and
receive revenue based on a percentage of the hold per day generated by each
gaming system. Our portion of the hold per day is reported by us as “Gaming
revenue – Class II” and represents the total amount that end users wager,
less the total amount paid to end users for prizes, the amounts retained by the
facilities for their share of the hold and the accretion of contract
rights.
As the
Class II market has matured, we have seen new competitors with significant
gaming experience and financial resources enter the market. New tribal-state
compacts, such as the Oklahoma gaming legislation passed by referendum
in 2004, have also led to increased competition. In addition, there has
been what we believe to be an extended period of non enforcement by regulators
of existing restrictions on non-Class II devices, which has forced us to
continue competing against games that do not appear to comply with the published
regulatory restrictions on Class II games. Due to this increased
competition in Oklahoma, and because of continued conversion to games played
under the compact, we have and may continue to experience pressure on our
pricing model and hold per day, with the result being that gaming providers,
including us, are competing on the basis of price as well as the entertainment
value and technological superiority of their products. We have also experienced
and expect to continue to experience a decline in the number of our
Class II games deployed in Oklahoma, in accordance with our recent
conversion strategy. While we will continue to compete by regularly introducing
new and more entertaining games with technological enhancements that we believe
will appeal to end users, we believe that the level of revenue retained by our
customers from their installed base of player terminals will become a more
significant competitive factor, one that may require us to change the terms of
our participation arrangements with customers. We will continue the deployment
of one-touch, compact-compliant Class III games in Oklahoma, which will
reduce the number of Class II machines in play.
Class III
Games and systems for Oklahoma
During 2004,
the Oklahoma Legislature passed legislation authorizing certain forms of gaming
at racetracks, and additional types of games at tribal gaming facilities,
pursuant to a tribal-state compact. The Oklahoma gaming legislation allows the
tribes to sign a compact with the state of Oklahoma to operate an unlimited
number of electronic instant bingo games, electronic bonanza-style bingo games,
electronic amusement games, and non-house-banked tournament card games. In
addition, certain horse tracks in Oklahoma are allowed to operate a limited
number of instant and bonanza-style bingo games and electronic amusement games.
All vendors placing games at any of the racetracks under the compact will
ultimately be required to be licensed by the state of Oklahoma. Pursuant to the
compacts, vendors placing games at tribal facilities will have to be licensed by
each tribe. All electronic games placed under the compact have to be certified
by independent testing laboratories to meet technical specifications. These
technical specifications were published by the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission
and the individual tribal gaming authorities in the first calendar quarter
of 2005. We are fully licensed in Oklahoma and as of
September 30, 2008, we had placed 5,605 player terminals at
38 facilities that are operating under the Oklahoma gaming compact. We
generally receive a 20% revenue share for the games played under the
Oklahoma Gaming Compact.
Class III
Games and Systems for Native American and Commercial Casino Markets
During
fiscal 2007, we began designing and developing stand-alone Class III
player terminals to be sold or placed on a revenue share basis in the large and
broad Class III stand-alone gaming market for Native American casinos as
well as domestic and international commercial casinos. All player terminals
delivered to these markets will have to receive specific jurisdictional
approvals from the appropriate testing laboratory and from the appropriate
regulatory agency. Our first group of stand-alone player terminals has been
placed in the Class III stand-alone market in Rhode Island. We believe that
we will deliver additional player terminals to other Class III markets
beginning in fiscal 2009. We have recently announced key senior management
personnel additions which we believe will help accelerate our entrance into new
Class III markets.
Charity
Market
Charity
bingo and other forms of charity gaming are operated by or for the benefit of
nonprofit organizations for charitable, educational and other lawful purposes.
These games are typically only interconnected within the gaming facility where
the terminals are located. Regulation of charity gaming is vested with each
individual state, and in some states, regulatory authority is delegated to
county or municipal governmental units. In Alabama, our largest charity market,
constitutional amendments have been passed authorizing charity bingo in certain
locations. The regulation of charity bingo in Alabama is typically vested with a
local governmental authority. We typically place player terminals under
participation arrangements in the charity market and receive a percentage of the
hold per day generated by each of the player terminals. As of
September 30, 2008, we had 2,279 high-speed, standard bingo games
installed for the charity market in three Alabama facilities.
All
Other Gaming Markets
Class III Washington State
Market. The majority of our Class III gaming equipment in Washington
State has been sold to customers outright, for a one-time purchase price, which
is reported in our results of operations as “Gaming equipment, system sale and
lease revenue” at the time of proper revenue recognition. Certain game themes we
use in the Class III market have been licensed from third parties and are
resold to customers along with our Class III player terminals.
Historically, revenue from the sale of Class III gaming equipment is
recognized when the units are delivered to the customer, and the licensed games
installed or over the contract term when fair value of undelivered products has
not been established. Because we sell new products, systems and services for
which fair value has not been established, beginning in fiscal 2008,
revenue generated from this market will generally be recognized over the terms
of the contracts. To a considerably lesser extent, we also enter into either
participation arrangements or lease-purchase arrangements for our Class III
player terminals, on terms similar to those used for our player terminals in the
Class II market.
We also
receive a small back-office fee from both leased and sold gaming equipment in
Washington State. Back-office fees cover the service and maintenance costs for
back-office servers installed in each facility to run our Class III games,
as well as the cost of related software updates.
State Video Lottery Market. In
January 2004, we installed our central determinant system for the video
lottery terminal network that the New York Lottery operates at licensed New York
State racetrack casinos. As payment for providing and maintaining the central
determinant system, we receive a small portion of the network-wide hold per day.
Our contract with the New York Lottery provides for a three-year term with an
additional three one-year automatic renewal under certain conditions. We are
seeking to take advantage of the recently passed legislation in New York State
that allows the New York Lottery to extend its vendor contracts at its sole
discretion, notwithstanding the automatic renewal provision. We are working to
significantly extend the current contract which is set to expire
in 2010.
International Commercial Bingo
Market. In March 2006, we entered into a contract with Apuestas
Internacionales, S.A. de C.V., or Apuestas, a subsidiary of Grupo
Televisa, S.A., to provide traditional and electronic bingo gaming,
technical assistance, and related services for Apuestas’ locations in Mexico.
Apuestas currently has a permit issued by the Mexican Ministry of the Interior
(Secretaria de Gobernación) to open and operate 65 bingo parlors. Apuestas
is projecting that all 65 bingo parlors will be open by May 2011. As
of September 30, 2008, we had installed 4,583 player terminals at
19 sites in Mexico under this contract with Apuestas. At
September 30, 2008, all installed player terminals placed are pursuant
to a revenue share arrangement that is comparable with our Oklahoma market
arrangements.
As of
September 30, 2008, we had entered into separate contracts with three
other companies incorporated in Mexico to provide traditional and electronic
bingo gaming, technical assistance, and related services for bingo parlors in
Mexico. As of September 30, 2008, we had
installed 550 player terminals at three parlors in Mexico under these
contracts.
Development
Agreements
As we
seek to continue the growth in our customer base and to expand our installed
base of player terminals, a key element of our strategy has become entering into
development agreements with various Native American tribes to assist in the
funding of new or expansion of existing tribal gaming facilities. Pursuant to
these agreements, we advance funds to the tribes for the construction of new
tribal gaming facilities or for the expansion of existing
facilities.
Amounts
advanced that are in excess of those to be reimbursed by such tribes for real
property and land improvements are allocated to intangible assets and are
generally amortized over the life of the contract on a straight-line
basis.
In return
for the amounts advanced by us, we receive a commitment for a fixed number of
player terminal placements in the facility or a fixed percentage of the
available gaming floor space, and a fixed percentage of the hold per day from
those terminals over the term of the development agreement. Certain of the
agreements contain player terminal performance standards that could allow the
facility to reduce a portion of our floor space. In addition, certain
development agreements allow the facilities to buy out floor space after
advances that are subject to repayment, have been repaid.
We have
in the past and may in the future, reduce the number of player terminals in
certain of our facilities as a result of ongoing competitive pressures faced by
our customers from alternative gaming facilities and pressures faced by our
machines from competitors’ products. We have in the past and may also in the
future, by mutual agreement and for consideration, amend these contracts in
order to reduce the number of player terminals at these facilities. In the
second quarter of fiscal 2008, we modified a development agreement by
agreeing to reduce the number of player terminals at a development site. In
return, we received a complete payoff of a note receivable in the amount of
$4.5 million.
We have
recently fulfilled a commitment to a significant, existing tribal customer to
provide approximately 43.8%, or $65.6 million, of the total funding
for a facility expansion. Because of our commitment to fund the expansion, we
secured the right to place an additional 1,400 gaming units in the expanded
facility in southern Oklahoma. We recorded all advances as a note receivable and
imputed interest on the interest free loan. The discount (imputed interest) was
recorded as contract rights and will be amortized over the life of the
agreement. The repayment period of the note will be based on the performance of
the facility. As of September 30, 2008, we had installed approximately
700 of the additional 1,400 units that we will place in the expanded
facility. The remaining 700 units are expected to be installed by
December 31, 2008.
As a
result of the substantial levels of development activity in Oklahoma, we expect
the future pace of development in Oklahoma to decline somewhat. Accordingly, we
do not anticipate future levels of development participation in Oklahoma to keep
pace with our historical levels. As of September 30, 2008, we have
placed approximately 4,700 units in 10 facilities in Oklahoma
pursuant to development agreements.
Recent
Developments
On
October 24, 2007, the NIGC published in the Federal Register, four
proposed rules concerning Classification Standards to distinguish between
Class II games played with technologic aids and Class III facsimiles
of games of chance, a revision of the definition of “electronic or
electromechanical facsimile,” technical standards for Class II gaming and
Class II minimum internal control standards. If the Classification
Standards and the revised definition of “electronic or electromechanical
facsimile” become final regulations, they will have a material and adverse
economic impact on the Class II gaming market by limiting the use of
Class II electronic technology and severely restricting the manner in which
bingo may be played thereby making Class II games less attractive to the
customer. On January 15, 2008, the NIGC extended the comment period
for the proposed Class II gaming regulations until March 9, 2008.
However, in May 2008, the Chairman of the NIGC announced that the NIGC
would not move forward with its plans to publish final regulations revising the
definition of “electronic or electromechanical facsimile” and implementing new
Class II gaming classification standards. The NIGC has published
regulations establishing technical standards for Class II electronic gaming
and Class II minimum internal control standards. The standards allow for a
5-year grandfathering moratorium if existing games and systems meet minimum
requirements. We are currently submitting games and systems to be evaluated
under the new grandfathering moratorium articulated in
25 CFR 547.4 of the new NIGC technical standards.
Results
of Operations
The
following tables set forth our end-of-period and average installed base of
player terminals for the years ended September 30, 2008, 2007
and 2006.
|
|
At September 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
End-of-period
installed player terminal base:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class II
player terminals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
Generation system - Reel Time Bingo
|
|
|
2,223 |
|
|
|
3,840 |
|
|
|
7,280 |
|
Legacy
system
|
|
|
303 |
|
|
|
384 |
|
|
|
373 |
|
Oklahoma compact
games
|
|
|
5,605 |
|
|
|
4,088 |
|
|
|
2,408 |
|
Mexico
|
|
|
5,133 |
|
|
|
2,515 |
|
|
|
600 |
|
Other player terminals(1)
|
|
|
2,613 |
|
|
|
2,735 |
|
|
|
2,519 |
|
|
|
Years Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Average
installed player terminal base:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class II player
terminals
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
Generation system - Reel Time Bingo
|
|
|
2,742 |
|
|
|
5,305 |
|
|
|
8,404 |
|
Legacy
system
|
|
|
324 |
|
|
|
363 |
|
|
|
396 |
|
Oklahoma compact
games
|
|
|
4,852 |
|
|
|
3,548 |
|
|
|
1,393 |
|
Mexico
|
|
|
3,985 |
|
|
|
1,536 |
|
|
|
210 |
|
Other player terminals(1)
|
|
|
2,722 |
|
|
|
2,613 |
|
|
|
2,629 |
|
|
(1)
|
Other
player terminals include charity, Rhode Island Lottery and Malta. Fiscal
Year 2006 includes Iowa Lottery for average
counts.
|
There
were no sweepstakes video readers installed at
September 30, 2007, and the average installed base for
fiscal 2007 was 376. There were 1,318 sweepstakes video
readers installed at September 30, 2006 and the average installed base
was 820. These sweepstakes video readers are not included in the above
tables.
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes thereto, included in “PART IV –
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.”
Fiscal 2008
Compared to Fiscal 2007
Total
revenues for 2008 were $ 131.1 million, compared to
$121.9 million in 2007, a $9.2 million,
or 8% increase.
Gaming
Revenue – Class II
|
§
|
Class II
gaming revenue decreased by $19.6 million, or 41%, to
$28.4 million in 2008, from $48.0 million in 2007. We
expect the number of Class II terminals to continue to decrease as
they are replaced with higher-earning Oklahoma compact player
terminals.
|
|
§
|
Legacy
revenue decreased $494,000, or 17%, to $2.4 million
in 2008, from $2.9 million in 2007. The average installed
base of player terminals and the average hold per day decreased 11%
and 5%, respectively, due to competitive
factors.
|
|
§
|
Reel
Time Bingo revenue was $26.0 million in 2008, compared to
$45.1 million in 2007, a $19.1 million, or 42%
decrease. The average installed base of player terminals
decreased 48% which was partially offset by a 16% increase in
hold per day. Accretion of contract rights related to development
agreements, which is recorded as a reduction of revenue, decreased
$1.5 million, or 57% to $1.1 million in 2008, compared
to $2.6 million in 2007. The reduction in accretion of
contract rights is the result of allocating the total accretion rights
across all product lines with the majority being allocated to Oklahoma
Compact. During 2008, we continued to convert Reel Time Bingo player
terminals to games played under the compact, which are included in “Gaming
revenue - Oklahoma compact,” and we expect this trend to continue in the
future as Reel Time Bingo competes with the higher hold per day of compact
games. In addition, as a result of the conversion from Reel Time Bingo to
games played under the compact, our revenue share percentage will decrease
to the market rate for compact
games.
|
Gaming
Revenue – Oklahoma Compact
|
§
|
Oklahoma
compact games generated revenue of $55.2 million in 2008,
compared to $37.1 million in 2007, an increase of
$18.1 million, or 49%. The average installed base increased 37%
as the conversion of Class II player terminals to compact games
continues. Hold per day increased 3%, primarily as a result of the
higher installed base of the stand-alone units, which have a higher hold
per day. Accretion of contract rights related to development agreements,
which is recorded as a reduction of revenue, decreased to
$2.8 million in 2008, compared to $2.9 million
in 2007.
|
Gaming
Revenue – Charity
|
§
|
Charity
gaming revenues decreased $3.4 million, or 19%, to
$14.6 million for 2008, compared to $18.0 million for the
same period of 2007. The average installed base of player terminals
and the average hold per day decreased 4% and 18%, respectively.
The decrease in the hold per day is primarily attributable to competitive
factors and to a lesser extent, economic factors. Competitive factors
would include, but are not limited to, a significant increase of
competitor units added to the gaming floor of our largest charity
operation, players reward programs not offered on our player terminals and
location of our player terminals on the gaming
floor.
|
Gaming
Revenue – All Other
|
§
|
Class III
back-office fees decreased 2%, to $3.6 million in
fiscal 2008, from $3.7 million during the same period
of 2007.
|
|
§
|
Revenues
from the New York Lottery system increased 22%, to $7.0 million
in 2008, from $5.8 million in 2007. At
September 30, 2008, eight of the nine planned racetrack casinos
are operating, with approximately 13,000 total terminals. At the
current placement levels, we have obtained near break-even operations for
the New York Lottery system and expect to achieve profitable operations
after all of the facilities are
operating.
|
|
§
|
Revenues
from the Mexico bingo market increased $5.7 million to
$10.0 million in 2008, from $4.3 million in 2007.
As of September 30, 2008, we had installed 5,133 player
terminals at 22 parlors in Mexico compared to 2,515 terminals at
nine parlors at September 30, 2007. Our revenue share
arrangements in Mexico are comparable with our Oklahoma market revenue
share arrangements.
|
Gaming
Equipment, System Sale and Lease Revenue and Cost of Sales
|
§
|
Gaming
equipment, system sale and lease revenue increased $7.1 million,
or 247% to $10.0 million for 2008,
from $2.9 million for the same period of 2007. Gaming
equipment and system sale revenue of
$8.8 million, for 2008, includes 569 player terminal
sales of $5.8 million and one system sale. Gaming equipment, system
sale and lease revenue of $1.1 million, for 2007, included two
system sales and no player terminals. In 2008 and 2007, gaming
equipment sale revenue included revenues of $182,000 and
$1.1 million, respectively, related to a certain equipment sale being
recognized ratably over the term of the agreement. License revenues
for 2008 were $1.1 million, compared
to $689,000 for 2007, an increase of $427,000,
or 62%, due primarily to the player terminal sales discussed above.
Total cost of sales, which includes cost of royalty fees,
increased $2.8 million, to $5.0 million in 2008,
from $2.2 million in 2007 due to the large gaming equipment
sale discussed above.
|
Other
Revenue
|
§
|
Other
revenues decreased $395,000 or 19% to $1.7 million for
fiscal 2008, from $2.1 million during fiscal 2007. The
decrease is primarily due to the discontinuation of the promotional
sweepstakes system in
January 2007.
|
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
|
§
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses increased $6.1 million,
or 9%, to $72.2 million in 2008, from $66.1 million
in 2007. This increase was primarily a result of (i) an increase
in third party game licenses, projects, and patents write offs and
reserves of $3.2 million; ii) an increase in property and
equipment reserves, repairs and maintenance, transportation and related
costs of $2.6 million; (iii) an increase in salaries and wages
and the related employee benefits of approximately $2.0 million,
primarily related to costs of $675,000 associated with the
resignation of our former Chief Executive Officer, along with headcount
increases (at September 30, 2008, we employed 484 full-time
and part-time employees, compared to 427 at
September 30, 2007); and (iv) an increase in travel
expenses of approximately $648,000; offsetting these increases was a
decrease in legal and professional fees of approximately
$2.9 million, due to the resolution of several legal matters during
fiscal 2008.
|
Amortization
and Depreciation
|
§
|
Amortization
expense decreased $1.6 million, or 26%, to $4.7 million
in 2008, compared to $6.3 million in 2007. Depreciation
expense decreased $3.8 million, or 7%, to
$48.0 million in 2007, from $51.8 million in 2007,
primarily as a result of player terminals continuing in service beyond
their estimated useful life.
|
Other
Income and Expense
|
§
|
Interest
income increased 10%, to $5.0 million in 2008, from
$4.6 million in 2007, due to imputed interest resulting from
advances under certain development agreements. We entered into development
agreements with a customer under which approximately $72.7 million
has been advanced and is outstanding at September 30, 2008, and
for which we impute interest on these interest-free loans. During
fiscal 2008, we recorded imputed interest of $4.3 million
relating to development agreements with an imputed interest rate range
of 6.00% to 9.00% compared to $2.6 million in
fiscal 2007.
|
|
§
|
Interest
expense increased $3.7 million, or 74%,
to $8.7 million for 2008, from $5.0 million
for 2007, due primarily to an increase in amounts outstanding under
our Credit Facility. During April 2007, we entered into a
$150 million Revolving Credit Facility which replaced our previous
Credit Facility in its entirety. On October 26, 2007 we amended
the Revolving Credit Facility, transferring $75 million of the
revolving credit commitment to a fully funded $75 million term loan.
We entered into a second amendment to the Revolving Credit Facility on
December 20, 2007. The second amendment (i) extended the
hedging arrangement date related to a portion of the term loan to
June 1, 2008; and (ii) modified the interest rate margin
applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility and the term
loan.
|
|
§
|
Other
income was $3.1 million for the year ended
September 30, 2008, compared to $3.1 million for the year
ended September 30, 2007. Other income consisted primarily of
distributions from a partnership interest accounted for on the cost basis
method in
fiscal 2008. Fiscal 2007 included this distribution as well as the
extinguishment of an intangible asset and related liablility due to the
termination of a non compete agreement with our former Chief Executive
Officer as of
April 27, 2007.
|
Income
tax expense increased to $302,000 for 2008, compared to an income tax
benefit of $1.2 million in 2007. These figures represent effective tax
rates of 44.4% and 61.3% for fiscal 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The effective tax rate has been impacted by the tax treatment of
stock compensation expense. To the extent that we experience volatility in stock
compensation expense, there will remain volatility in the effective tax
rate.
On
July 13, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB,
issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, or FIN 48, “Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” an interpretation of SFAS No. 109,
“Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for
uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements
in accordance with SFAS No. 109. FIN 48 also prescribes a
recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement
recognition, and for the measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be
taken in a tax return. The new FASB standard also provides guidance on
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim
periods, disclosure, and transition. We adopted FIN 48 in the first quarter
of fiscal 2008 and recorded a liability of $295,000 (in the first
quarter of fiscal 2008) related to uncertain tax positions. This reserve
was charged to Retained Earnings.
Fiscal 2007
Compared to Fiscal 2006
Total
revenues for 2007 were $121.9 million, compared to $145.1 million
in 2006, a $23.2 million, or 16% decrease.
Gaming
Revenue – Class II
|
§
|
Class II
gaming revenue decreased by $41.2 million, or 46%, from
$89.2 million in 2006 to $48.0 million in 2007. We
expect the number of Class II terminals to continue to decrease as
they are replaced with higher-earning Oklahoma compact player
terminals.
|
|
§
|
Legacy
revenue decreased $164,000, or 5%, to $2.9 million
in 2007, from $3.0 million in 2006. The average installed
base of Legacy player terminals decreased 8%, which was partially offset
by a 3% increase in hold per
day.
|
|
§
|
Reel
Time Bingo revenue was $45.1 million in 2007, compared to
$86.2 million in 2006, a $41.1 million, or 48%
decrease. The average installed base of player terminals and the average
hold per day decreased 37% and 11%, respectively. Accretion of
contract rights related to development agreements, which is recorded as a
reduction of revenue, decreased $1.7 million, or 40% to
$2.6 million in 2007, compared to $4.3 million
in 2006. The reduction in accretion of contract rights is the result
of allocating the total accretion rights across all product lines with the
majority being allocated to Oklahoma Compact. During 2007, we
continued to convert Reel Time Bingo player terminals to games played
under the compact, which are included in “Gaming revenue - Oklahoma
compact,” and we expect this trend to continue in the future as Reel Time
Bingo competes with the higher hold per day of compact games. In addition,
as a result of the conversion from Reel Time Bingo to games played under
the compact, our revenue share percentage will decrease to the market rate
for compact games.
|
Gaming
Revenue – Oklahoma Compact
|
§
|
In
March 2005, we began converting Reel Time Bingo player terminals to
games that could be played under the Oklahoma compact. These games
generated revenue of $37.1 million in 2007, compared
to $10.6 million in 2006, an increase of
$26.5 million. The average installed base increased 155% as the
conversion of Class II player terminals to compact games continues.
Hold per day increased 38%, primarily as a result of the higher
installed base of the stand-alone units, which have a higher hold per day.
Accretion of contract rights related to development agreements, which is
recorded as a reduction of revenue, increased to $2.9 million
in 2007, compared to no accretion
in 2006.
|
Gaming
Revenue – Charity
|
§
|
Charity
gaming revenues decreased 2%, to $18.0 million for 2007,
compared to $18.4 million for the same period of 2006. The
average installed player terminal base and average hold per day remained
consistent across 2007
and 2006.
|
Gaming
Revenue – All Other
|
§
|
Class III
rental and back-office fees in Washington State decreased 19%, to
$3.7 million in 2007, from $4.6 million during the same period
of 2006. As of January 2006, we no longer have any rental
customers. We continue to receive a small back-office fee from each of the
twelve gaming facilities in the state of Washington where we are
located.
|
|
§
|
Revenues
from the New York Lottery system increased 118%, to $5.8 million
in 2007, from $2.6 million in 2006. At
September 30, 2007, eight of the nine planned racetrack casinos
are operating, with approximately 13,100 total terminals. To date, we
have realized substantially less revenue than anticipated from our New
York Lottery operations, in significant part due to delays in the opening
of planned racetrack casino operations at several racetracks. At the
current placement levels, we have obtained near break-even operations for
the New York Lottery system and expect to achieve profitable operations
after all of the facilities are
operating.
|
|
§
|
The
Iowa Lottery system operated between January and May 2006, and
generated revenues of $616,000 during that time period. Pursuant to
legislative actions, these units were disconnected from our central
determinant system in May 2006. Revenue from providing player
terminals was recorded in “Gaming equipment, system sale and lease
revenue.”
|
|
§
|
Revenues
from the Mexico bingo market increased $3.7 million to
$4.3 million in 2007, from $604,000 in 2006. As of
September 30, 2007, we had installed 2,515 player terminals
at nine sites in Mexico compared to 600 terminals at four sites
installed at four sites at September 30, 2006. To date, there
are not as many permanent facilities opened as we originally projected,
and the hold per day is below our original expectations. Our revenue share
arrangements in Mexico are comparable with our Oklahoma market revenue
share arrangements.
|
Gaming
Equipment, System Sale and Lease Revenue and Cost of Sales
|
§
|
Gaming
equipment, system sale and lease revenue
decreased $11.1 million, or 79% to $2.9 million
for 2007, from $13.9 million for the same period
of 2006. Gaming equipment and system sale revenue of
$1.1 million, for 2007, includes two system sales and no
player terminals. Gaming equipment, system sale and lease revenue of
$11.7 million, for 2006, included one system sale of
$8.0 million, 416 player terminals sales of $3.0 million,
and Iowa Lottery lease revenue of $681,000. In
2007 and 2006, gaming equipment sale revenue included revenues
of $1.1 million for both periods, related to a certain equipment sale
being recognized ratably over the term of the agreement. License revenues
for 2007 were $689,000, compared to $1.1 million
for 2006, a decrease of $434,000, or 39%, due
primarily to the decline in player terminal sales discussed above. Total
cost of sales, which includes cost of royalty fees,
decreased $9.5 million, or 81% to $2.2 million
in 2007, from $11.8 million in 2006 due to the
decreased sales discussed above.
|
Other
Revenue
|
§
|
Other
revenues decreased $2.4 million or 54%
to $2.1 million for fiscal 2007,
from $4.5 million during fiscal 2006. The decrease is
primarily due to discontinuation of the promotional sweepstakes system in
January 2007.
|
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
|
§
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses decreased $2.5 million,
or 4%, to $66.1 million in 2007, from $68.6 million
in 2006. This decrease was primarily a result of i) a decrease
in salaries and wages and the related employee benefits of approximately
$2.6 million relating to the reduction in staff in February 2007
(at September 30, 2007, we employed 427 full-time and
part-time employees, compared to 503 at
September 30, 2006); ii) a decrease in share-based
compensation of $1.5 million for 2007 due to a decrease in the
number of unvested outstanding options; and iii) a decrease in travel
costs of approximately $1.3 million due to the ramp up in 2006
for new markets, primarily Mexico. Partially offsetting these decreases
were a) increases in consulting and contract labor of approximately
$1.3 million, primarily related to the design of new gaming cabinets;
b) an increase in other taxes and license fees of $847,000,
primarily related to an annual license renewal for third-party licenses
and an estimated settlement for use tax; and c) an increase in
repairs and maintenance, transportation and related costs
of $752,000, primarily due to units being refurbished for deployment
in Mexico.
|
Amortization
and Depreciation
|
§
|
Amortization
expense decreased $194,000, or 3%, to $6.3 million
in 2007, compared to $6.5 million in 2006. Depreciation
expense increased $1.1 million, or 2%, to
$51.8 million in 2007, from $50.7 million in 2006 due
to the placement of new player terminals as the conversion of
Class II player terminals to Oklahoma compact games
continues.
|
Other
Income and Expense
|
§
|
Interest
income increased 51%, to $4.6 million in 2007, from
$3.0 million in 2006, due to imputed interest resulting from
advances under certain development agreements. We entered into development
agreements with a customer under which approximately $110.4 million
has been committed under interest-free loans in which we will impute
interest. During fiscal 2007, we recorded imputed interest of
$2.6 million relating to development agreements with an imputed
interest rate range
of 6% to 8.25%.
|
|
§
|
Interest
expense increased $518,000, or 12%, to $5.0 million
for 2007, from $4.5 million for 2006, due primarily to
an increase in amounts outstanding under our previous Credit Facility. Our
previous Credit Facility provided us with a $20.0 million term
loan facility, or the Term Loan, a $25.0 million revolving line
of credit, or the Revolver, and $35.0 million and
$9.5 million in reducing revolving lines of credit, or the Reducing
Revolvers. During April 2007, we entered into a $150 million
Revolving Credit Facility, which replaced our previous Credit Facility in
its entirety. We subsequently amended the Revolving Credit Facility on
October 26, 2007 to transfer $75 million of the
revolving credit commitment to a fully funded $75 million term
loan.
|
|
§
|
Other
income was $3.1 million for the year ended
September 30, 2007, with no such income in fiscal 2006.
Other income consisted of a distribution from a partnership interest,
accounted for on the cost basis that we received during 2007. In
addition, we had the extinguishment of an intangible asset and related
liability due to the termination of a non compete agreement with our
former Chief Executive Officer as of
April 27, 2007.
|
Income
tax expense decreased to a benefit of $1.2 million for 2007, compared
to an income tax expense of $2.5 million in 2006. These figures
represent effective tax rates of 61.3% and 41.6% for fiscal 2007
and 2006, respectively. SFAS No. 123(R) is a revision of
SFAS No. 123, and includes several modifications to the way that
income taxes are recorded in the financial statements. The expense for incentive
stock option grants is ratably expensed for financial reporting but is only
deductible for income tax purposes at the time that customer taxable events
takes place, if ever, which could cause variability in our effective tax rates
recorded throughout our fiscal year. The higher effective tax rate for 2006
was primarily a result of the timing of such deductibility of stock
options.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements Issued
In
March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, or SFAS No 161,
“Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—An Amendment of
FASB Statement No. 133.” SFAS No. 161 enhances required disclosures
regarding derivatives and hedging activities, including enhanced disclosures
regarding how: (a) an entity uses derivative instruments;
(b) derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under
SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities;
and (c) derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity's
financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is
effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years,
beginning after November 15, 2008, though earlier application is
encouraged. Accordingly, we expect to adopt SFAS No. 161 beginning in
fiscal 2010. We expect that SFAS No. 161 will have an impact on
accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activities once adopted, but
the significance of the effect is dependent upon entering into these related
transactions, if any, at that time.
In
July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued FASB
Interpretation No. 48, or FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes,” an interpretation of SFAS, No. 109, “Accounting for Income
Taxes.” FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes
recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with
SFAS No. 109. FIN 48 also prescribes a recognition threshold and
measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition, and for the
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The
new FASB standard also provides guidance on derecognition, classification,
interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and
transition. The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2006. We adopted FIN 48 in the first quarter of
fiscal 2008 and recorded a liability of $295,000 related to uncertain
tax positions in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. There have been no
additional reserves booked in fiscal 2008 related to
FIN 48.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements,” which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring
fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures
about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 will be applied prospectively and
will be effective for us beginning in October 2008. We are currently
evaluating the effect, if any, of SFAS 157 on our consolidated financial
statements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option
for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115 (Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities),” which permits entities to choose to measure many financial
instruments and certain other items at fair value with the opportunity to
mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and
liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting
provisions. This Statement became effective for us beginning in
October 2008. We are currently evaluating the effect, if any, of
SFAS 159 on our consolidated financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised), “Business
Combinations.” SFAS No. 141(R) changes the accounting for business
combinations including the measurement of acquirer shares issued in
consideration for a business combination, the recognition of contingent
consideration, the accounting for preacquisition gain and loss contingencies,
the recognition of capitalized in-process research and development, the
accounting for acquisition-related restructuring cost accruals, the treatment of
acquisition related transaction costs and the recognition of changes in the
acquirer’s income tax valuation allowance. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, with early adoption
prohibited. We will be required to adopt SFAS No. 141(R) in the first
quarter of fiscal year 2009.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non Controlling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of Accounting
Research Bulletin, or ARB No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements.” SFAS
No. 160 changes the accounting for non controlling (minority) interests in
consolidated financial statements including the requirements to classify non
controlling interests as a component of consolidated stockholders’ equity, and
the elimination of “minority interest” accounting in results of operations with
earnings attributable to non controlling interests reported as part of
consolidated earnings. Additionally, SFAS No. 160 revises the accounting
for both increases and decreases in a parent’s controlling ownership interest.
SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2008, with early adoption prohibited. We will be required
to adopt SFAS No. 160 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009.
We do not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 160 to have a material effect on
our operations or financial position.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
September 30, 2008, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of
$6.3 million, compared to $5.8 million at
September 30, 2007. Our working capital as of
September 30, 2008 increased to $34.1 million, compared to
working capital of $22.6 million for 2007. The increase in working
capital was primarily the result of increases in accounts receivable and notes
payable. During 2008, we used $46.0 million for capital expenditures
of property and equipment, and collected $27.3 million on development
agreements, with $41.7 million advanced under development agreements. Under
the Credit Facility, our availability as of September 30, 2008, is
$55.3 million, subject to covenant restrictions.
As of
September 30, 2008, our total contractual cash obligations were as
follows (in thousands):
|
|
Less than
1 year
|
|
|
1-3 years
|
|
|
3-5 years
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Revolving
Credit Facility(1)
|
|
$ |
1,102 |
|
|
$ |
2,484 |
|
|
$ |
20,023 |
|
|
$ |
23,609 |
|
Credit
Facility Term Loan(2)
|
|
|
4,494 |
|
|
|
10,827 |
|
|
|
69,154 |
|
|
|
84,475 |
|
Operating
leases(3)
|
|
|
2,706 |
|
|
|
2,255 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
4,973 |
|
Purchase
commitments(4)
|
|
|
13,223 |
|
|
|
6,750 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
19,973 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
21,525 |
|
|
$ |
22,316 |
|
|
$ |
89,189 |
|
|
$ |
133,030 |
|
There
were no contractual obligations beyond 5 years as of
September 30, 2008.
|
(1)
|
Relating
to the Revolving Credit Facility, bearing interest at the Eurodollar rate
plus the applicable spread (6.24% as of
September 30, 2008).
|
|
(2)
|
Consists
of amounts borrowed under our Credit Facility at the Eurodollar rate plus
the applicable spread (6.99% as of
September 30, 2008).
|
|
(3)
|
Consists
of operating leases for our facilities and office equipment that expire at
various times through 2011.
|
|
(4)
|
Consists
of commitments to order third-party gaming content licenses and for the
purchase of player terminals.
|
During
fiscal 2008, we generated cash from operations of $58.9 million,
compared to $34.1 million during 2007. This $24.8 million
increase in cash generated from operations over the prior period was primarily a
result of the increase in earnings compared to the previous year and the timing
of payments related to accounts payable and collections from accounts
receivable.
Cash used
in investing activities increased to $64.9 million in 2008, from
$33.6 million in 2007. The increase was primarily the result of a
$14.4 million increase in advances, net of reimbursements under development
agreements. During the year ended September 30, 2008, capital
expenditures consisted of the following:
|
|
Capital Expenditures
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
Gaming
equipment
|
|
$ |
38,265 |
|
Third-party
gaming content licenses
|
|
|
7,514 |
|
Other
|
|
|
218 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
45,997 |
|
Cash
provided by financing activities for 2008 was $6.4 million, compared
to $356,000 in 2007. The increase was primarily the result of a
$5.0 million increase in the net borrowings under the Credit
Facility.
Our
capital expenditures for the next twelve months will depend upon the number of
new player terminals that we are able to place into service at new or existing
facilities and the actual number of repairs and equipment upgrades to the player
terminals that are currently in the field. As a result of the earnings potential
of compact games in the Oklahoma market, it is our strategy to either place
compact games or to convert our Oklahoma Class II games to the compact
games. As part of our strategy, we will offer compact games developed by us, as
well as games from two other gaming suppliers. As a result, we have entered into
purchase commitments for future purchases of player stations and licenses
totaling $13.2 million.
We have
recently fulfilled a commitment to a significant, existing tribal customer to
provide approximately 43.8%, or $65.6 million, of the total funding
for a facility expansion. Because of our commitment to fund the expansion, we
secured the right to place an additional 1400 gaming units in the expanded
facility in southern Oklahoma. We recorded all advances as a note receivable and
imputed interest on the interest free loan. The discount (imputed interest) was
recorded as contract rights and will be amortized over the life of the
agreement. The repayment period of the note will be based on the performance of
the facility. As of September 30, 2008, we had installed approximately
700 of the additional 1,400 units that we will place in the expanded
facility. The remaining 700 units are expected to be installed by
December 31, 2008.
We
believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, cash provided from our
operations, and amounts available under our Credit Facility can sustain our
current operations; however, our performance and financial results are, to a
certain extent, subject to general conditions in or affecting the Native
American gaming industry, and to general economic, political, financial,
competitive and regulatory factors beyond our control. If our business does not
continue to generate cash flow at current levels, or if the level of funding
required in connection with our joint development agreements is greater or
proceeds at a pace faster than anticipated, or if we receive a material judgment
against the Company in one of the various lawsuits (See “Risk Factors – “The
ultimate outcome of pending litigation is uncertain,” and Commitments and
Contingencies), we may need to raise additional financing. Sources of additional
financing might include additional bank debt or the public or private sale of
equity or debt securities. However, sufficient funds may not be available, on
terms acceptable to us or at all, from these sources or any others to enable us
to make necessary capital expenditures and to make discretionary investments in
the future.
Off
Balance Sheet Arrangements
At
September 30, 2008, we had no off balance sheet arrangements.
Credit
Facility
On
April 27, 2007, we entered into a $150 million Revolving Credit
Facility which replaced our previous Credit Facility in its entirety. On
October 26, 2007, we amended the Revolving Credit Facility,
transferring $75 million of the revolving credit commitment to a fully
funded $75 million term loan due April 27, 2012. The Term Loan is
amortized at an annual amount of 1% per year, payable in equal quarterly
installments beginning January 1, 2008, with the remaining amount due
on the maturity date. We entered into a second amendment to the Revolving Credit
Facility on December 20, 2007. The second amendment (i) extended
the hedging arrangement date related to a portion of the term loan to
June 1, 2008; and (ii) modified the interest rate margin
applicable to the Revolving Credit Facility and the term loan.
The
Credit Facility provides us with the ability to finance development agreements
and acquisitions and working capital for general corporate purposes. Amounts
under the $75 million revolving credit commitment and the $75 million
term loan mature in five years, and advances under the term loan and revolving
credit commitment bear interest at the Eurodollar rate plus the applicable
spread (6.24% and 6.99%, respectively, as of
September 30, 2008), tied to various levels of interest pricing
determined by total debt to EBITDA.
The
Credit Facility is collateralized by substantially all of our assets, and also
contains financial covenants as defined in the agreement. These covenants
include (i) a minimum fixed-charge coverage-ratio of not less
than 1.50 : 1.00; (ii) a maximum total debt to EBITDA ratio
of not more than 2.25 : 1.00 through June 30, 2008,
and 1.75 : 1.00 from September 30, 2008 thereafter; and
(iii) a minimum trailing twelve-month EBITDA of not less than
$57 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, and
$60 million for each quarter thereafter. As of
September 30, 2008, we are in compliance with the loan covenants. The
Credit Facility requires certain mandatory prepayments be made on the term loan
from the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and condemnation proceedings
(in each case to the extent not reinvested, within certain specified time
periods, in the replacement or acquisition of property to be used in our
businesses). In the second quarter of 2008, we made a mandatory prepayment
of the term loan in the amount of $4.5 million due to an early prepayment
of a development agreement note receivable. As of September 30, 2008,
the Credit Facility had availability of $55.3 million, subject to covenant
restrictions.
The
Credit Facility also required that we enter into hedging arrangements covering
at least $50 million of the term loan for a three-year period by
June 1, 2008; therefore, on May 29, 2008, we purchased,
for $390,000, an interest rate cap (5% cap rate) covering
$50 million of the term loan. We account for this hedge in accordance with
FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities,” which requires entities to recognize all derivative instruments as
either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet, at their respective fair
values. We record changes on a mark to market basis reflecting these changes
through interest expense in the statement of operations. The value of this hedge
was $296,552 at September 30, 2008.
Share
Repurchase
During
July 2007, we completed a modified “Dutch Auction” Tender Offer to purchase
up to $25.0 million of our common stock and the associated preferred share
purchase rights. We accepted, for purchase, an aggregate of 1,992,032
shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $12.74 per share,
for an aggregate share repurchase of approximately $25.0 million.
Additionally, we incurred costs of $387,457 related to the Tender Offer that was
recorded in treasury stock.
Stock
Repurchase Authorizations
During
fiscal 2008, we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock. During
fiscal 2007, we repurchased 1,992,032 shares, of our common stock, at
an average cost of $12.74.
Stock-Based
Compensation
At
September 30, 2008, we had approximately 6.7 million options
outstanding, with exercise prices ranging from $1.00 to $21.53 per
share. At September 30, 2008, approximately 3.9 million of the
outstanding options were exercisable.
During
fiscal 2008, options to purchase 2.7 million shares of common stock
were granted. During fiscal 2008, we issued 127,374 shares of common
stock as a result of stock option exercises with a weighted average exercise
price of $1.71.
Critical
Accounting Policies
We
prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States. As such, we are required to
make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that we believe are reasonable
based on the information available. These estimates and assumptions affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods
presented. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from
those estimates. We believe the following represent our most critical accounting
policies.
Management
considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:
§
|
It
requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the
estimate was made (Critical
Assumption #1), and
|
§
|
Changes
in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could
have a material impact on our consolidated results of operation or
financial condition (Critical
Assumption #2).
|
Revenue
Recognition. As further discussed in the discussion of our Revenue
Recognition policy in Note 1 of our consolidated financial statements,
revenue from the sale of software is accounted for under Statement of
Position 97-2, “Software Revenue Recognition,” or SOP 97-2, and its various
interpretations. If Vendor-Specific Objective Evidence, or VSOE, of fair value
does not exist, the revenue is deferred until such time that all elements have
been delivered or services have been performed. If any element is determined to
be essential to the function of the other, revenues are generally recognized
over the term of the services that are rendered. In those limited situations
where VSOE does not exist for any undelivered elements of a multiple element
arrangement, then the aggregate value of the arrangement, including the value of
products and services delivered or performed, is initially deferred until all
hardware and software is delivered, and then is recognized ratably over the
period of the last deliverable, generally the service period of the contract.
Depending upon the elements and the terms of the arrangement, we recognize
certain revenues under the residual method. Under the residual method, revenue
is recognized when VSOE of fair value exists for all of the undelivered
elements in the arrangement, but does not exist for one or more of the delivered
elements in the arrangement. Under the residual method, we defer the fair value
of undelivered elements, and the remainder of the arrangement fee is then
allocated to the delivered elements and is recognized as revenue, assuming the
other revenue recognition criteria are met.
Assumptions/Approach
Used: The
determination whether all elements of sale have VSOE is a subjective measure,
where we have made determinations about our ability to price certain aspects of
transactions.
Effect
if Different Assumptions Used: When we have determined
that VSOE does not exist for any undelivered elements of an arrangement, then
the aggregate value of the arrangement, including the value of products and
services delivered or performed, is initially deferred until all hardware and
software is delivered, and then is recognized ratably over the period of the
last deliverable, generally the service period of the contract. The deferral of
revenue under arrangements where we have determined that VSOE does not exist has
resulted in $8.8 million being recorded as deferred revenue at
September 30, 2008. If we had made alternative assessments as to the
existence of VSOE in these arrangements, some or all of these amounts could have
been recognized as revenue prior to September 30, 2008.
Share-Based
Compensation Expense. Effective October 1, 2005, we adopted the
fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123(R), using the modified prospective
transition method, and therefore have not restated prior periods’ results. Under
this method, we recognize compensation expense for all share-based payments
granted after October 1, 2005 and prior to but not yet vested as of
October 1, 2005, in accordance with SFAS 123(R). Under the fair
value recognition provisions of SFAS 123(R), we recognize share-based
compensation net of an estimated forfeiture rate, and only recognize
compensation cost for those shares expected to vest on a straight-line basis
over the service period of the award. Prior to SFAS 123(R) adoption, we
accounted for share-based payments under APB No. 25, and accordingly
generally recognized compensation expense only if options were granted to
outside consultants with a discounted exercise price.
Assumptions/Approach
Used: Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the
fair value of share-based payment awards requires the input of highly subjective
assumptions, including the expected life of the share-based payment awards, and
stock price volatility. Management determined that volatility is based on
historical volatility trends. In addition, we are required to estimate the
expected forfeiture rate, and only recognize expense for those shares expected
to vest. If our actual forfeiture rate is materially different from our
estimate, the share-based compensation expense could be significantly different
from what we have recorded in the current period.
Effect
if Different Assumptions Used: The assumptions used in calculating the
fair value of share-based payment awards, along with the forfeiture rate
estimation, represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve
inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a
result, if factors change and we use different assumptions, our stock-based
compensation expense could be materially different in the future.
Property and
Equipment and Leased Gaming Equipment. Property and equipment and leased
gaming equipment is stated at cost. The cost of property and equipment and
leased gaming equipment is depreciated over their estimated useful lives,
generally using the straight-line method for financial reporting, and regulatory
acceptable methods for tax reporting purposes. Player terminals placed with
customers under participation arrangements are included in leased gaming
equipment. Leased gaming equipment includes a “pool” of rental terminals, i.e.,
the “rental pool.” Rental pool units are those units that have previously been
placed in the field under participation arrangements, but are currently back
with us being refurbished and/or awaiting redeployment. Routine maintenance of
property and equipment and leased gaming equipment is expensed in the period
incurred, while major component upgrades are capitalized and depreciated over
the estimated useful life (Critical Assumption #1) of the component. Sales and
retirements of depreciable property are recorded by removing the related cost
and accumulated depreciation from the accounts. Gains or losses on sales and
retirements of property are reflected in our results of operations.
Management
reviews long-lived asset classes for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable. (Critical Assumption #2)
Assumptions/Approach
used for Critical Assumption #1: The carrying value of the asset is
determined based upon management’s assumptions as to the useful life of the
asset, where the assets are depreciated over the estimated life on a straight
line basis, where the useful life of items in the rental pool has been
determined by management to be three years.
Effect
if different assumptions used for Critical Assumption #1: While we believe that the
useful lives that have been determined for our fixed assets are reasonable,
different assumptions could materially affect the carrying value of the assets,
as well as the depreciation expense recorded in each respective period related
to those assets. During the year ended September 30, 2008, a
significant portion of the $52.7 million of depreciation and amortization
expense related to assets in the rental pool. If the depreciable life of assets
in our rental pool were changed from three years to another period of time, we
could incur a materially different amount of depreciation expense during the
period.
Assumptions/Approach
used for Critical Assumption #2: Recoverability of assets to be held and
used is measured through considerations of the future undiscounted cash flows
expected to be generated by the assets as a group, as opposed to analysis by
individual asset, or assets in place at a specific location. If such assets are
considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount
by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Assets to
be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or the fair
value less costs of disposal. The carrying value of the asset is determined
based upon management’s assumptions as to the useful life of the asset, where
the assets are depreciated over the estimated life on a straight-line
basis.
Effect
if different assumptions used for Critical Assumption #2: Impairment
testing requires judgment, including estimations of useful lives of the assets,
estimated cash flows, and determinations of fair value. While we believe our
estimates of useful lives and cash flows are reasonable, different assumptions
could materially affect the measurement of useful lives, recoverability and fair
value. If actual cash flows fall below initial forecasts, we may need to record
additional amortization and/or impairment charges. Additionally, while we
believe that analysis of the recoverability of assets in our rental pool is
accurately assessed from a homogenous level due to the interchangeability of
player stations and parts, if these assets were to be reviewed for impairment
using another approach, there could be different outcomes to any impairment
analysis performed.
Development
Agreements. We enter into development agreements to provide financing for
new gaming facilities or for the expansion of existing facilities. In return,
the facility dedicates a percentage of its floor space to exclusive placement of
our player terminals, and we receive a fixed percentage of those player
terminals’ hold per day over the term of the agreement. Certain of the
agreements contain player terminal performance standards that could allow the
facility to reduce a portion of our guaranteed floor space. In addition, certain
development agreements allow the facilities to buy out floor space after
advances that are subject to repayment have been repaid. The agreements
typically provide for a portion of the amounts retained by the gaming facility
for their share of the hold to be used to repay some or all of the advances
recorded as notes receivable. Amounts advanced in excess of those to be
reimbursed by the customer for real property and land improvements are allocated
to intangible assets and are generally amortized over the life of the contract,
using the straight-line method of amortization (Critical Assumption #1),
which is recorded as a reduction of revenue generated from the gaming facility.
In the past and in the future, we may by mutual agreement and for consideration,
amend these contracts to reduce our floor space at the facilities. Any proceeds
received for the reduction of floor space is first applied against the
intangible asset for that particular development agreement, if any.
Management
reviews intangible assets related to development agreements for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
an asset may not be recoverable (Critical Assumption #2). For the year
ended September 30, 2008, there was no impairment to the assets’
carrying values.
Assumptions/Approach
used for Critical Assumption #1: Amounts advanced in excess
of those to be reimbursed by the customer for real property and land
improvements are allocated to intangible assets and are generally amortized over
the life of the contract, using the straight-line method of amortization, which
is recorded as a reduction of revenue generated from the gaming facility. We use
a straight-line amortization method, as a pattern of future benefits cannot be
readily determined.
Effect
if Different Assumptions used for Critical Assumption #1: While we believe that the
use of the straight-line method of amortization is the best way to account for
the costs associated with the costs of acquiring exclusive floor space rights at
our customers facilities, the use of an alternative method could have a material
effect on the amount recorded as a reduction to revenue in the current reporting
period.
Assumptions/Approach
used for Critical Assumption #2: We estimate cash flows directly
associated with the used of the intangible assets to test recoverability and
remaining useful lives based upon the forecasted utilization of the asset and
expected product revenues. In developing estimated cash flows, we incorporate
assumptions regarding future performance, including estimations of hold per day
and estimated units. When the carrying amount exceeds the undiscounted cash
flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset, we
then compare the carrying amount to its current fair value. We recognize an
impairment loss if the carrying amount is not recoverable and exceeds its fair
value.
Effect
if Different Assumptions used for Critical Assumption #2: Impairment testing requires
judgment, including estimations of cash flows, and determinations of fair value.
While we believe our estimates of future revenues and cash flows are reasonable,
different assumptions could materially affect the measurement of useful lives,
recoverability and fair value. If actual cash flows fall below initial
forecasts, we may need to record additional amortization and/or impairment
charges.
Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts. We
maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts related to our accounts receivable
and notes receivable that have been deemed to have a high risk of
uncollectibility. Management reviews its accounts receivable and notes
receivable on a monthly basis to determine if any receivables will potentially
be uncollectible. Management analyzes historical collection trends and changes
in its customer payment patterns, customer concentration, and creditworthiness
when evaluating the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts. In our
overall allowance for doubtful accounts, we include any receivable balances
where uncertainty exists as to whether the account balance has become
uncollectible. Based on the information available, management believes the
allowance for doubtful accounts is adequate; however, actual write-offs might
exceed the recorded allowance.
Income
Taxes. In
accordance with SFAS, No. 109, we have recorded a deferred tax assets
and liabilities to account for the expected future tax benefits and consequences
of events that have been recognized in our financial statements and our tax
returns. There are several items that result in deferred tax asset and liability
impact to the balance sheet. If we conclude that it is more likely than not that
some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized under
accounting standards, it is reduced by a valuation allowance to remove the
benefit of recovering those deferred tax assets from our financial statements.
Additionally, in accordance with FIN 48, we have recorded a liability of
$295,000 associated with uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 prescribes a
recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement
recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a
tax return. We are required to determine whether it is more likely than not (a
likelihood of more than 50 percent) that a tax position will be sustained
upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation
processes, based on the technical merits of the position in order to record any
financial statement benefit. If that step is satisfied, then we must measure the
tax position to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial
statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that
is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate
settlement.
Assumptions/Approach
Used: Numerous
judgments and assumptions are inherent in the determination of future taxable
income and tax return filing positions that we take, including factors such as
future operating conditions.
Effect
if Different Assumptions Used: Management, along with
consultation from an independent public accounting firm used in tax
consultation, continually evaluate complicated tax law requirements and their
effect on our current and future tax liability and our tax filing positions.
Despite our attempt to make an accurate estimate, the ultimate utilization of
our deferred tax assets associated with the tax basis of our leased gaming
equipment and property and equipment of $16.0 million is largely dependent
upon our ability to generate taxable income in the future. Our liability for
uncertain tax positions is dependent upon our judgment on the amount of
financial statement benefit that an uncertain tax position will realize upon
ultimate settlement and on the probabilities of the outcomes that could be
realized upon ultimate settlement of an uncertain tax position using the facts,
circumstances and information available at the reporting date to establish the
appropriate amount of financial statement benefit. To the extent that a
valuation allowance or uncertain tax position is established or increased or
decreased during a period, we may be required to include an expense or benefit
within income tax expense in the income statement.
Inflation
and Other Cost Factors
Our
operations have not been nor are they expected to be materially affected by
inflation. However, our domestic and international operational expansion is
affected by the cost of hardware components, which are not considered to be
inflation sensitive, but rather, sensitive to changes in technology and
competition in the hardware markets. In addition, we expect to continue to incur
increased legal and other similar costs associated with regulatory compliance
requirements and the uncertainties present in the operating environment in which
we conduct our business. However, this expectation could change depending upon a
number of factors, including those described under “Item 1. Business – Risk
Factors.”
U.S.
GAAP Net Income to EBITDA Reconciliation
EBITDA is
defined as earnings before interest, taxes, amortization, depreciation, and
accretion of contract rights. Although EBITDA is not a measure of performance
calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we
believe the use of the non-GAAP financial measure EBITDA enhances an overall
understanding of our past financial performance, and provides useful information
to the investor because of its historical use by us as a performance measure,
and the use of EBITDA by companies in the gaming sector as a measure of
performance. However, investors should not consider this measure in isolation or
as a substitute for net income, operating income, or any other measure for
determining our operating performance that is calculated in accordance with
GAAP. In addition, because EBITDA is not calculated in accordance with GAAP, it
may not necessarily be comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other
companies. A reconciliation of EBITDA to the most comparable GAAP financial
measure, net income, follows:
|
|
U.S. GAAP Net Income (Loss) to
EBITDA Reconciliation
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$ |
378 |
|
|
$ |
(744 |
) |
|
$ |
3,532 |
|
|
$ |
17,643 |
|
|
$ |
32,772 |
|
Add
back:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization
and depreciation
|
|
|
52,717 |
|
|
|
58,179 |
|
|
|
57,227 |
|
|
|
57,105 |
|
|
|
37,255 |
|
Accretion
of contract rights
|
|
|
4,092 |
|
|
|
5,576 |
|
|
|
4,256 |
|
|
|
2,538 |
|
|
|
53 |
|
Interest
expense, net
|
|
|
3,687 |
|
|
|
421 |
|
|
|
1,454 |
|
|
|
722 |
|
|
|
374 |
|
Income
tax expense (benefit)
|
|
|
302 |
|
|
|
(1,179 |
) |
|
|
2,516 |
|
|
|
11,457 |
|
|
|
17,285 |
|
EBITDA
|
|
$ |
61,176 |
|
|
$ |
62,253 |
|
|
$ |
68,985 |
|
|
$ |
89,465 |
|
|
$ |
87,739 |
|
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures about Market Risk
We are
subject to market risks in the ordinary course of business, primarily associated
with interest rate fluctuations.
Our
Credit Facility provides us with additional liquidity to meet our short-term
financing needs, as further described under “PART II – Item 7. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations –
Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “PART IV – Item 15. Exhibits and
Financial Statement Schedules – Note 6. Credit Facility, Long-Term Debt and
Capital Leases.” Pursuant to our Credit Facility, we may currently borrow up to
a total of $150 million, and our availability as of
September 30, 2008, is $55.3 million, subject to covenant
restrictions.
In
connection with the development agreements we enter into with many of our Native
American tribal customers, we are required to advance funds to the tribes for
the construction and development of tribal gaming facilities, some of which are
required to be repaid. As a result of our adjustable interest rate notes payable
and fixed interest rate notes receivable described above, we are subject to
market risk with respect to interest rate fluctuations. Any material increase in
prevailing interest rates could cause us to incur significantly higher interest
expense.
To the
extent that Libor rates do not exceed the 5% Cap that we purchased in
fiscal 2008, we estimate that a hypothetical increase
of 100 basis points in interest rates would increase our interest
expense by approximately $875,000, based on our variable debt outstanding
of $87.0 million as of September 30, 2008. The Credit Facility
also required that we enter into hedging arrangements covering at least
$50 million of the term loan for a three-year period. On
May 29, 2008, we purchased, for $390,000, an interest rate cap
(5% cap rate) covering $50 million of the term loan.
We
account for currency translation from our Mexico operations in accordance with
SFAS No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation.” Balance sheet accounts
are translated at the exchange rate in effect at each balance sheet date. Income
statement accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing
during the period. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are
charged or credited to other comprehensive income. We do not currently manage
this exposure with derivative financial instruments.
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data
The
financial statements and supplemental data required by this item are included in
PART IV, Item 15.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with
Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
ITEM 9A. Controls and
Procedures
Evaluation of
Disclosure Control and Procedures. As of the end of the period covered by
this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our
Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of
management’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) to ensure
information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms; and
(ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief
Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any
controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only
provide reasonable assurance of achieving desired control objectives, and
management is necessarily required to apply its judgment when evaluating the
cost-benefit relationship of potential controls and procedures. Based upon the
evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer
concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of September 30, 2008.
There
were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that
could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their
evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our management is
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our internal control over financial reporting
is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial
Officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of September 30, 2008. In making this assessment,
management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated
Framework. Based on our assessment and those criteria, we believe that we
maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of
September 30, 2008.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm, BDO Seidman, LLP, have issued an
attestation report dated December 15, 2008 on our internal control
over financial reporting. That report is included on page 52.
ITEM 9B. Other
Information
None.
PART
III
Certain
information required by PART III is omitted from this Form 10-K, because we
will file a definitive Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A, or Proxy
Statement, no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by
this Form 10-K, and certain information to be included therein is incorporated
herein by reference.
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and
Corporate Governance
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy
Statement under the headings “Proposal One – Election of Directors,” and
“Information Regarding Executive Officer Compensation – Executive Officers” and
“Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance.”
We have
adopted a code of ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer, Controller and other finance leaders, which is a “code of
ethics” as defined by applicable rules of the SEC. This code is publicly
available on our website at http://ir.multimediagames.com/downloads.cfm. If we
make any amendments to this code other than technical, administrative or other
non-substantive amendments, or grants any waivers, including implicit waivers,
from a provision of this code to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer or Controller, we will disclose the nature of the amendment or waiver,
its effective date and to whom it applies on our website or in a report on
Form 8-K filed with the SEC.
Information
required by this item relating to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors
is incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement under the heading “Corporate
Governance Board of Directors Meetings and Committees – Audit
Committee.”
ITEM 11. Executive
Compensation
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy
Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation” and “Corporate Governance –
Compensation Committee.”
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy
Statement under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management” and “Executive Compensation – Equity Compensation Plan
Information.”
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions and Director Independence
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy
Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation – Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance – Affirmative Determination
Regarding Director Independence and Other Matters.”
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and
Services
The
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the Proxy
Statement under the heading “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees”
and “Policy on Audit Committee Pre Approved Audit and Permissible Non Audit
Services of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
PART
IV
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement
Schedules
|
The
following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form
10-K:
|
Reports
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
|
51 |
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets, as of September 30, 2008
and 2007
|
|
|
52 |
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations, Years Ended
September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006
|
|
|
53 |
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive
Income (Loss), Years Ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006
|
|
|
54 |
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows, Years Ended
September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006
|
|
|
55 |
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
|
57 |
|
(2)
|
Financial
Statement Schedule
|
Schedule
II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
|
77
|
(3)
|
The
Exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index, which appears immediately following
the signature page and are incorporated herein by reference, and are filed
as part of this Annual Report on Form
10-K.
|
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Multimedia
Games, Inc.
Austin,
Texas
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Multimedia Games, or the
Company, Inc. as of September 30, 2008 and 2007 and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive
income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
September 30, 2008. We have also audited the schedule listed in the
accompanying index. These financial statements and schedule are the
responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our
audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements and schedule are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements and schedule, assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statements and schedule presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Multimedia Games, Inc. at
September 30, 2008 and 2007, and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for the each of the three years in the period ended
September 30, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
Also, in
our opinion, the schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the
information set forth therein.
As
discussed in Note 9 of the consolidated financial statements, effective
October 1, 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB
Interpretation No. 48, or FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes,” an interpretation of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for
Income Taxes.”
We also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), Multimedia Games, Inc. internal control over
financial reporting as of September 30, 2008, based on criteria established in
Internal Control – Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria) and our report dated
December 15, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion
thereon.
/s/ BDO
Seidman, LLP
Houston,
Texas
December 15, 2008
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Multimedia
Games, Inc.
Austin,
Texas
We have
audited Multimedia Games, Inc., or the Company’s, internal control over
financial reporting as of September 30, 2008, based on criteria
established in Internal
Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). The Company’s
management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over
financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Item 9A,
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over
financial reporting based on our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over
financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and
testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal
control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such
other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe
that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A
company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of
the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management
and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance
regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our
opinion, Multimedia Games, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective
internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2008, based on the
COSO criteria.
We also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Multimedia
Games, or the Company, Inc. as of September 30, 2008 and 2007 and
the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and
comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended September 30, 2008, and our report dated December 15,
2008 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ BDO
Seidman, LLP
Houston,
Texas
December 15, 2008