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Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

Encore Boston Harbor Development

On April 28, 2017, Wynn MA, LLC ("Wynn MA"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an agreement concerning the construction of Encore Boston Harbor, which, among other things, confirmed the guaranteed maximum price for the construction work undertaken by the general contractor. The general contractor is obligated to substantially complete the project by June 24, 2019 for a guaranteed maximum price of $1.32 billion. Both the contract time and guaranteed maximum price are subject to further adjustment under certain conditions. The performance of the general contractor is backed by a payment and performance bond in the amount of $350.0 million. 

Wynn Las Vegas Meeting and Convention Expansion

Wynn Golf, LLC, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an agreement concerning the construction of approximately 430,000 square feet of additional meeting and convention space at Wynn Las Vegas, which, among other things, confirmed the guaranteed maximum price for the construction work undertaken by the general contractor. The general contractor is obligated to substantially complete the project by December 19, 2019 for a guaranteed maximum price of $286.8 million. Both the contract time and guaranteed maximum price are subject to further adjustment under certain conditions.
Leases

Lessor Arrangements

The Company is the lessor under leases for retail space at its resorts. The lease agreements include minimum base rents with contingent rental clauses primarily based on percentage of net sales exceeding minimum base rents.

The following table presents the future minimum rentals to be received under the operating leases (in thousands):
Years Ending December 31,
 
2019
$
132,249

2020
130,731

2021
69,272

2022
48,024

2023
29,784

Thereafter
79,868

Total future minimum rentals
$
489,928



The total future minimum rentals do not include contingent rentals. Contingent rentals were $53.8 million, $38.6 million and $34.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Lessee Arrangements

The Company is the lessee under leases for office space, warehouse facilities, certain office equipment and various parcels of land, including the land that Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace are built on. As of December 31, 2018, capital leases reflected in property and equipment, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheet were $16.5 million. The future minimum lease payments for capital leases are discounted to their present value in the table below and are included in other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company was obligated under non-cancelable leases to make future minimum lease payments as follows (in thousands):
Years Ending December 31,
Operating Leases
 
Capital Leases
2019
$
29,126

 
$
989

2020
20,153

 
989

2021
17,226

 
989

2022
16,466

 
989

2023
15,868

 
989

Thereafter
464,838

 
66,743

Total minimum lease payments
563,677

 
71,688

Less: Amount representing interest
—

 
(55,140
)
 
$
563,677

 
$
16,548



Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $27.1 million, $18.3 million and $17.9 million, respectively.

Employment Agreements

The Company has entered into employment agreements with several executive officers, other members of management and certain key employees. These agreements generally have three to five year terms and typically indicate a base salary and often contain provisions for discretionary bonuses. Certain of the executives are also entitled to a separation payment if terminated without "cause" or upon voluntary termination of employment for "good reason" following a "change of control" (as these terms are defined in the employment contracts). As of December 31, 2018, the Company was obligated to make future payments of $72.9 million, $49.0 million, $19.1 million, $2.9 million and $0.5 million during the years ending December 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Other Commitments

The Company has additional commitments for gaming tax payments in Macau and performance and other miscellaneous contracts. As of December 31, 2018, the Company was obligated under these arrangements, to make future minimum payments as follows (in thousands):
Years Ending December 31,
 
2019
$
168,646

2020
80,548

2021
56,393

2022
27,088

2023
4,980

Thereafter
—

Total minimum payments
$
337,655



The above table does not include community payments associated with the continuing operations of Encore Boston Harbor, which commence upon the opening of the resort. These amounts are approximately $10.6 million per year with minimal annual increases.

Letters of Credit

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had outstanding letters of credit of $17.7 million.

Litigation

In addition to the actions noted below, the Company and its affiliates are involved in litigation arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, such litigation is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Determination of Unsuitability and Redemption of Aruze and Affiliates

On February 18, 2012, Wynn Resorts' Gaming Compliance Committee received an independent report by Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP (the "Freeh Report") detailing a pattern of misconduct by the Okada Parties. Based on the findings in the Freeh Report, the Board of Directors of Wynn Resorts determined that the Okada Parties were "unsuitable persons" under Article VII of the Company's articles of incorporation. On that same day, Wynn Resorts redeemed and canceled Aruze's 24,549,222 shares of Wynn Resorts' common stock, and, pursuant to its articles of incorporation, Wynn Resorts issued the Redemption Note to Aruze in redemption of the shares.

Redemption Action and Counterclaim

On February 19, 2012, Wynn Resorts filed a complaint in the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada against the Okada Parties, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and related claims (the "Redemption Action") arising from the activities addressed in the Freeh Report. The Company sought compensatory and special damages as well as a declaration that it acted lawfully and in full compliance with its articles of incorporation, bylaws and other governing documents in redeeming and canceling the shares of Aruze.

On March 12, 2012, the Okada Parties filed an answer denying the claims and a counterclaim purporting to assert claims against the Company, certain individuals who were members of the Company's Board of Directors (other than Mr. Okada) and Wynn Resorts' former General Counsel, Kimmarie Sinatra ("Ms. Sinatra"), related to the redemption, the determination of fair value of the redeemed shares and rescission of the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2010, by and among Aruze, Mr. Wynn, and Elaine P. Wynn (the "Stockholders Agreement").

On March 8, 2018, the Company entered into the Settlement Agreement by and between the Company, Mr. Wynn, Linda Chen, Russell Goldsmith, Ray R. Irani, Robert J. Miller, John A. Moran, Marc D. Schorr, Alvin V. Shoemaker, D. Boone Wayson, Allan Zeman, and Ms. Sinatra (collectively, the "Wynn Parties"), and Universal Entertainment Corp. and Aruze (collectively with Universal Entertainment Corp., the "Universal Parties"). The Settlement Agreement resolved legal proceedings pending between the settling parties in the Redemption Action as well as other claims. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company paid the principal amount of the $1.94 billion Redemption Note on March 30, 2018. On March 30, 2018, the Company also paid an additional $463.6 million with respect to the Universal Parties’ claims related to the allegedly below-market interest rate of the Redemption Note and stipulated to the release to Aruze of $232.4 million in accrued interest held in escrow. The Company recorded the $463.6 million as a litigation settlement expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Under the Settlement Agreement, the Wynn Parties and the Universal Parties mutually agreed to unconditionally release all claims against each other relating to or arising out of the Redemption Action, as well as any claims which relate to or arise out of any other litigation or claims in any other jurisdiction. As a result, the Universal Parties will not claim that Aruze remains a party to the Stockholders Agreement. The Universal Parties further released any claims against the Wynn Parties and their affiliates in any other jurisdiction, including but not limited to the proceeding pending in Macau against Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A. and certain related individuals ("Macau Litigation"). As a result of the Settlement Agreement, the parties to the agreement dismissed all litigation between the Universal Parties and the Company and its then-directors and executives with respect to the redemption, including the Redemption Action and the Macau Litigation, but the Settlement Agreement did not release claims against any parties to such litigation who are not parties to the Settlement Agreement, including but not limited to Kazuo Okada and Elaine P. Wynn.

On March 12, 2018, the Company voluntarily dismissed its claim for breach of fiduciary duty against Kazuo Okada, which was the last and only remaining claim between Wynn Resorts, Kazuo Okada, and the Universal Parties in the Redemption Action.

On June 19, 2012, Elaine P. Wynn asserted in the Redemption Action a cross claim against Mr. Wynn and a counterclaim against Aruze seeking a declaration that, among other things, the Stockholders Agreement should be rescinded given the redemption of Aruze’s shares. On March 28, 2016, Elaine P Wynn filed an amended cross claim against Mr. Wynn, as well as Wynn Resorts and Wynn Resorts' former General Counsel (together with Mr. Wynn, the "Wynn Cross Defendants") as cross defendants, which repeated her earlier allegations and further alleged that Mr. Wynn engaged in acts of misconduct that, with the Wynn Cross Defendants, resulted in Mr. Wynn allegedly breaching the Stockholders Agreement and violating alleged duties under the Stockholders Agreement by preventing Elaine P. Wynn from being nominated and elected to serve as one of Wynn Resorts' directors.

On March 14, 2018, Mr. Wynn and Elaine P. Wynn entered into a stipulation declaring the Stockholders Agreement invalid and unenforceable, and on April 16, 2018, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release by and between the Company, Mr. Wynn, Elaine P. Wynn, and the Company’s former General Counsel, which, among other things, resolved and unconditionally released the parties from all claims and cross claims asserted among the parties in a legal proceeding involving the Stockholders Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Company’s former General Counsel made any payment under the terms of such settlement agreement.

Litigation Commenced by Kazuo Okada

On July 3, 2015, WML announced that the Okada Parties filed a complaint in the Court of First Instance of Macau ("Macau Court") against Wynn Macau SA and certain individuals who are or were directors of Wynn Macau SA and or WML (collectively, the "Wynn Macau Parties"). The principal allegations in the lawsuit are that the redemption of the Okada Parties' shares in Wynn Resorts was improper and undervalued, that the previously disclosed payment by Wynn Macau SA to an unrelated third party in consideration of relinquishment by that party of certain rights in and to any future development on the land in Cotai where Wynn Palace is located was unlawful and that the previously disclosed donation by Wynn Resorts to the University of Macau Development Foundation was unlawful. The plaintiffs sought dissolution of Wynn Macau SA and compensatory damages. On July 11, 2017, the Macau Court dismissed all claims by the Okada Parties as unfounded, fined the Okada Parties, and ordered the Okada Parties to pay for court costs and the Wynn Macau Parties' attorney's fees. On or about October 16, 2017, the Okada Parties filed formal appeal papers in Macau, which Wynn Macau SA received on November 21, 2017. Wynn Macau SA filed its response on December 21, 2017. In March 2018, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Universal Parties voluntarily withdrew from the Macau Litigation, leaving Mr. Okada as the sole claimant. On February 21, 2019, the Macau Appellate Panel rejected Mr. Okada's appeal.

Derivative Litigation Related to Redemption Action

Two state derivative actions were commenced against the Company and all members of its Board of Directors in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada. These state court actions brought by the following plaintiffs have been consolidated: (1) IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund and (2) Danny Hinson (collectively, the "Derivative Plaintiffs"). The Derivative Plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on July 20, 2012 asserting claims for (1) breach of fiduciary duty; (2) abuse of control; (3) gross mismanagement; and (4) unjust enrichment. The claims are against the Company and all Company directors during the applicable period, including Mr. Okada, as well as the Company's Chief Financial Officer who signed financial disclosures filed with the SEC during the applicable periods. The Derivative Plaintiffs claim that the individual defendants failed to disclose to the Company's stockholders the investigation into, and the dispute with director Okada as well as the alleged potential violations of the FCPA related to, the University of Macau Development Foundation donation. The Derivative Plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages (compensatory and punitive), disgorgement, reformation of corporate governance procedures, an order directing the Company to internally investigate the donation, as well as attorney's fees and costs. On June 18, 2014, the court entered a stipulation between the parties that provides for a stay of the action and directs the parties, within 45 days of the conclusion of the Redemption Action, to discuss how the derivative action should proceed and to file a joint report with the court. In May 2018, the parties (except Elaine P. Wynn) filed a joint report given the conclusion of the Redemption Action. On May 14, 2018, the court extended the stay of the case due to plaintiff Danny Hinson’s claim that he intended to send a demand letter to the Company.  On May 30, 2018, plaintiff Danny Hinson sent a demand letter to the Company requesting the Board to investigate the University of Macau Development Foundation donation, the removal of Mr. Okada from the Board and the terms of the Redemption Note. On January 3, 2019, the Company responded to Mr. Hinson, explaining that after investigating the allegations contained in his demand letter, which were previously investigated in response to a prior separate demand the Company received in December 2014, the Board determined that pursuing any such litigation would not be in the best interests of the Company or its shareholders.

Management has determined that based on proceedings to date, it is currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome of these actions or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any.

Massachusetts Gaming License Related Actions

On September 17, 2014, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ("MGC") designated Wynn MA the award winner of the Greater Boston (Region A) gaming license. On November 7, 2014, the gaming license became effective.


Suffolk Action:

On September 17, 2018, Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, LLC, owner of the property proposed for location of a casino by an unsuccessful bidder for the Greater Boston (Region) A gaming license filed a complaint in the United States District Court, District of Massachusetts, against Wynn Resorts, Wynn MA, certain current and former officers of Wynn Resorts, FBT Everett Realty, LLC, former owner of the land on which Encore Boston Harbor is located (“FBT”) and Paul Lohnes, a member of FBT. The complaint alleges, among other things, the defendants engaged in conduct in violation of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), conspired to circumvent the application process for the Greater Boston (Region A) gaming license and violated Massachusetts law with respect to unfair methods of competition. The plaintiff seeks $1 billion in compensatory damages and treble damages pursuant to applicable law. All defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaint, and several separately filed special motions to dismiss pursuant to the Massachusetts Anti-SLAPP statute. In response to the various dispositive motions, on February 15, 2019, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint that substantially repeats its earlier allegations and adds new allegations in support of its existing claims against the defendants.

The Company will vigorously defend against the claims asserted. This action is in preliminary stages and management has determined that based on proceedings to date, it is currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome of this action or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any.

Revere Action:

On October 16, 2014, the City of Revere, the host community to the unsuccessful bidder for the same license, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 103 ("IBEW") filed a complaint against the MGC and each of the five gaming commissioners in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, Massachusetts (the "Revere Action"). The complaint challenges the MGC's decision and alleges that the MGC failed to follow statutory requirements outlined in the Gaming Act. The complaint (1) seeks to appeal the administrative decision, (2) asserts that certiorari provides a remedy to correct errors in proceedings by an agency such as the MGC, (3) challenges the constitutionality of that section of the gaming law which bars judicial review of the MGC's decision to deny an applicant a gaming license, and (4) alleges violations of the open meeting law requirements. The court allowed Mohegan Sun ("Mohegan"), the other applicant for the Greater Boston (Region A) gaming license, to intervene in the Revere Action, and on February 23, 2015, Mohegan filed its complaint. The Mohegan complaint challenges the license award to Wynn MA, seeks judicial review of the MGC's decision, and seeks to vacate the MGC's license award to Wynn MA.

On July 1, 2015, the MGC filed motions to dismiss Mohegan's and the City of Revere's complaints. On December 3, 2015, the court granted the motion to dismiss the claims asserted in the Revere Action. Also on December 3, 2015, the court granted the motion to dismiss three of the four counts asserted by Mohegan but denied the motion as to Mohegan's certiorari claim. The City of Revere and IBEW sought immediate appellate review of the dismissal of their claims and the MGC requested immediate appellate review of the court's denial of the MGC's motion to dismiss Mohegan's certiorari claim. All three petitions for interlocutory review were denied. The parties then appealed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ("SJC"). On March 10, 2017, the SJC affirmed the trial court's dismissal of the City of Revere's claims and IBEW's claims. The SJC affirmed the court's dismissal of Mohegan's claims except for the certiorari claim, which the SJC remanded to the Suffolk Superior Court. Mohegan filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings on November 3, 2017, and oral argument will be re-scheduled from its originally scheduled date of April 5, 2018.

 The SJC reversed the trial court's dismissal of the individual plaintiffs' open meeting law claim and remanded that claim to the Suffolk Superior Court. The parties are currently in the discovery phase. The MGC has filed a motion for summary judgment and oral argument is scheduled for March 29, 2019.

Wynn MA was not named in the Revere Action. The MGC retained private legal representation at its own nontaxpayer-funded expense.

Actions Related to Mr. Wynn

Investigations:

On January 26, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors formed a Special Committee comprised solely of independent directors to investigate allegations of inappropriate personal conduct by Mr. Wynn in the workplace. On February 12, 2018, the Special Committee amended and restated its charter to provide for a review of various governance issues regarding knowledge of the allegations and a comprehensive review of the Company's internal policies and procedures with the goal of employing best practices to maintain a safe and respectful workplace for all employees. On August 3, 2018, the Board received an oral final presentation from the Special Committee. The Special Committee provided a written memorialization of its investigation to the Company's gaming regulators in Massachusetts and Nevada, which have been investigating these matters, including suitability with respect to the Company and its related licensees, and the Company is cooperating with these regulatory reviews.

On January 25, 2019, the Nevada Gaming Control Board completed its investigation which commenced in 2018 and filed a complaint against the Company and its indirect subsidiary, Wynn Las Vegas, LLC (“NGCB Respondents”). Also on January 25, 2019, the NGCB Respondents entered into a Stipulation for Settlement with the Nevada Gaming Control Board in connection with its complaint, under which, among other things, the NGCB Respondents agreed to pay a fine in an amount to be determined by the Nevada Gaming Commission, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board agreed not to seek to revoke or limit the NGCB Respondents’ licenses, findings of suitability or any other approvals of the Nevada Gaming Commission. On February 26, 2019, the Nevada Gaming Commission approved the Stipulation for Settlement and fined the Company $20.0 million, which is included in other accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2018 on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

On January 31, 2018, the Investigations & Enforcement Bureau (“IEB”) of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission announced it had commenced an investigation into the Company’s ongoing suitability as a gaming licensee in that jurisdiction. The Company has fully cooperated with the IEB’s investigation, and is awaiting the completion of the IEB’s investigation and scheduling of an adjudicatory hearing before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Derivative Litigation:

A number of stockholder derivative actions have been filed purportedly on behalf of the Company in state and federal court located in Clark County, Nevada against certain current and former members of the Company’s Board of Directors and, in some cases, the Company’s current and former officers. Each of the complaints alleges, among other things, breach of fiduciary duties in failing to detect, prevent and remedy alleged inappropriate personal conduct by Mr. Wynn in the workplace. On September 19, 2018, the Board established a Special Litigation Committee (the “SLC”) to investigate the allegations in the State Derivative Case (as defined below).

The actions filed in the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada have been consolidated as In re Wynn Resorts, Ltd. Derivative Litigation (“State Derivative Case”). In September 2018, the court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss, and the Company filed a writ petition appealing the denial to the Nevada Supreme Court. In October 2018, the Nevada Supreme Court denied the Company’s writ petition. On October 26, 2018, the SLC filed a motion to intervene and stay the case pending completion of its investigation. On November 14, 2018, the court granted the SLC’s motion and stayed the case, with the exception of limited document requests, for a period of 120 days. The SLC’s investigation is ongoing.

The actions filed in the United States District Court, District of Nevada have been consolidated as In re Wynn Resorts, Ltd. Derivative Litigation (“Federal Derivative Case”), which also claim corporate waste and violation of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act. In June 2018, the Company filed a motion to dismiss and a motion to stay pending resolution of the Securities Action. The motions are fully-briefed and awaiting a decision from the court.

Each of the actions seeks to recover for the Company unspecified damages, including restitution and disgorgement of profits, and also seeks to recover attorneys’ fees, costs and related expenses for the plaintiff. Additional demands have been made to the Company that it commence similar actions and additional lawsuits may be filed in the future.

Securities Action:

On February 20, 2018, a putative securities class action was filed against the Company and certain current and former officers of the Company in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York (which was subsequently transferred to the United States District Court, District of Nevada) by John V. Ferris and Joann M. Ferris on behalf of all persons who purchased the Company's common stock between February 28, 2014 and January 25, 2018. The complaint alleges, among other things, certain violations of federal securities laws and seeks to recover unspecified damages as well as attorneys' fees, costs and related expenses for the plaintiffs. The Company is awaiting the lead plaintiffs’ filing of an amended complaint.

The defendants in these actions will vigorously defend against the claims pleaded against them. These actions are in preliminary stages and management has determined that based on proceedings to date, it is currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome of these actions or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any.