Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and entities the Company identifies as a variable interest entity ("VIE") and of which the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary. For information on the Company's VIEs, see Note 14, "Retail Joint Venture." All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements for the previous years have been reclassified to be consistent with current year presentation, including reclassifications related to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash (Topic 230), as further discussed in Recently Adopted Accounting Standards. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and include both U.S. dollar-denominated and foreign currency-denominated securities. Cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash consisted of the following (in thousands):



	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash (1)	$	1,455,744	$	2,354,244
Cash equivalents (2)	759,257		450,230
Total cash and cash equivalents	2,215,001		2,804,474
Restricted cash (3)	4,322		2,160
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	2,219,323	$	2,806,634

(1) Cash consists of cash on hand and bank deposits.

(2) Cash equivalents consist of bank time deposits and money market funds.

(3) Restricted cash consists of cash collateral associated with an obligation and cash held in a trust in accordance with WML's share award plan.

Investment Securities

Investment securities consist of domestic and foreign short-term and long-term investments in corporate bonds, commercial paper and U.S. government agency bonds reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported in other comprehensive income (loss). Short-term investments have a maturity date of less than one year and long-term investments are those with a maturity date greater than one year. The Company limits the amount of exposure to any one issuer with the objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. Management determines the appropriate classification of its securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. Adjustments are made for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity computed under the effective interest method. Such amortization is included in interest income together with realized gains and losses and the stated interest on such securities.

The Company obtains pricing information in determining the fair value of its available-for-sale securities from independent pricing vendors. Based on management's inquiries, the pricing vendors use various pricing models consistent with what other market participants would use. The assumptions and inputs used by the pricing vendors are derived from market observable sources including: reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark curves, bids, offers and other market-related data. The Company has not made adjustments to such prices. Each quarter, the Company validates the fair value pricing methodology to determine if the fair value is consistent with applicable accounting guidance and to confirm that the securities are classified properly in the fair value hierarchy. The Company compares the pricing received from its vendors to independent sources for the same or similar securities.

Accounts Receivable and Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of casino accounts receivable. The Company issues credit in the form of "markers" to approved casino customers following investigations of creditworthiness. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, approximately 85.0% and 81.7%, respectively, of the Company's markers were due from customers residing outside the United States, primarily in Asia. Business or economic conditions or other significant events in these countries could affect the collectability of such receivables.

Accounts receivable, including casino and hotel receivables, are typically non-interest bearing and are initially recorded at cost. An estimated allowance for doubtful accounts is maintained to reduce the Company's receivables to their carrying amount, which approximates fair value. The allowance estimate reflects specific review of customer accounts and outstanding gaming promoter accounts as well as management's experience with historical and current collection trends and current economic and business conditions. Accounts are written off when management deems them to be uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts previously written off are recorded when received.

Inventories

Inventories consist of retail merchandise and food and beverage items, which are stated at the lower of cost or market value and certain operating supplies. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out, weighted average and specific identification methods.

Property and Equipment

Purchases of property and equipment are stated at cost, and when placed into service, are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method as follows:



	Estimated Useful Life in Years
Buildings and improvements	10 - 45
Land improvements	10 - 45
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	3 - 20
Leasehold interest in land	25
Airplanes	20

Costs related to improvements are capitalized, while costs of repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The cost and accumulated depreciation of property and equipment retired or otherwise disposed of are eliminated from the respective accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in property charges and other.

Capitalized Interest

The interest cost associated with major development and construction projects is capitalized and included in the cost of the project. Interest capitalization ceases once a project is substantially complete or no longer undergoing construction activities to prepare it for its intended use. When no debt is specifically identified as being incurred in connection with a construction project, the Company capitalizes interest on amounts expended on the project using the weighted average cost of the Company's outstanding borrowings.

Intangible Assets

The Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of water rights acquired as part of the original purchase price of the property on which Wynn Las Vegas is located, and trademarks. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but are reviewed for impairment annually. The Company's finite-lived intangible assets consist primarily of its Macau gaming concession, Massachusetts gaming license and an intangible asset associated with its undeveloped land in Las Vegas. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over the shorter of their contractual terms or estimated useful lives.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets, which are to be held and used, including intangible assets and property and equipment, are periodically reviewed by management for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. If an indicator of impairment exists, the Company compares the estimated future cash flows of the asset, on an undiscounted basis, to the carrying value of the asset. If the undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is indicated. If the undiscounted cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, then impairment is measured as the difference between fair value and carrying value, with fair value typically based on a discounted cash flow model. If an asset is still under development, future cash flows include remaining construction costs.

Debt Issuance Costs

Direct and incremental costs and original issue discounts and premiums incurred in connection with the issuance of long-term debt are deferred and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method or, if the amounts approximate the effective interest method, on a straight-line basis. Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the issuance of the Company's revolving credit facilities are presented in noncurrent assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All other debt issuance costs are presented as a direct reduction of long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Redemption Price Promissory Note

On February 18, 2012, pursuant to its articles of incorporation, the Company redeemed and canceled all Aruze USA, Inc.’s ("Aruze") 24,549,222 shares of Wynn Resorts’ common stock. In connection with the redemption of the shares, the Company issued a promissory note (the "Redemption Note") with a principal amount of $1.94 billion, a maturity date of February 18, 2022 and an interest rate of 2% per annum, payable annually in arrears on each anniversary of the date of the Redemption Note. The Redemption Note was recorded at fair value in accordance with applicable accounting guidance. The Company repaid the principal amount in full on March 30, 2018. As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the Redemption Note was $1.88 billion.

In determining this fair value, the Company estimated the Redemption Note's present value using discounted cash flows with a probability weighted expected return for redemption assumptions and a discount rate, which included time value and non-performance risk adjustments commensurate with the risk of the Redemption Note.

In determining the appropriate discount rate to be used to calculate the estimated present value, the Company considered the Redemption Note's subordinated position and credit risk relative to all other debt in the Company's capital structure and credit ratings associated with the Company's traded debt. Observable inputs for the risk free rate were based on Federal Reserve rates for U.S. Treasury securities and the credit risk spread was based on a yield curve index of similarly rated debt.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate exposure. The fair value of derivative financial instruments is recognized as an asset or liability at each balance sheet date, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings as the Company's derivative financial instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting. The fair value approximates the amount the Company would pay if these contracts were settled at the respective valuation dates.

In accordance with the terms of the Retail Term Loan Agreement (as defined in Note 6, "Long-Term Debt"), the Retail Borrowers (as defined in Note 6, "Long-Term Debt") entered into a five-year interest rate collar with a notional value of $615 million for a cash payment of $3.9 million in July 2018. The interest rate collar establishes a range whereby the Retail Borrowers will pay the counterparty if one-month LIBOR falls below the established floor rate of 1.00%, and the counterparty will pay the Retail Borrowers if one-month LIBOR exceeds the ceiling rate of 3.75%. The interest rate collar settles monthly commencing in August 2019 through the termination date in August 2024. No payments or receipts are exchanged on interest rate collar contracts unless interest rates rise above or fall below the pre-determined ceiling or floor rate, respectively. The Company measures the fair value of the interest rate collar at each balance sheet date based on a Black-Scholes option pricing model, which incorporates observable market inputs such as market volatility and interest rates, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. As of December 31, 2018, the fair value of the interest rate collar was a liability of $0.6 million and was recorded in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Gaming Taxes

The Company is subject to taxes based on gross gaming revenues in the jurisdictions in which it operates, subject to applicable jurisdictional adjustments. These gaming taxes are recorded as casino expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Advertising Costs

The cost of advertising is expensed as incurred, and totaled $40.6 million, $37.8 million and $37.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Pre-Opening Expenses

Pre-opening expenses represent personnel, advertising, and other costs incurred prior to the opening of new ventures and are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes

The Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions where it operates. Accounting standards require the recognition of deferred tax assets, net of applicable reserves, and liabilities for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on the income tax provision and deferred tax assets and liabilities generally is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. Accounting standards also require recognition of a future tax benefit to the extent that realization of such benefit is more likely than not; otherwise, a valuation allowance is applied.

The Company's income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and other tax authorities in the locations where it operates. The Company assesses potentially unfavorable outcomes of such examinations based on accounting standards for uncertain income taxes. The accounting standards prescribe a minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements.

Uncertain tax position accounting standards apply to all tax positions related to income taxes. These accounting standards utilize a two-step approach for evaluating tax positions. If a tax position, based on its technical merits, is deemed more likely than not to be sustained, then the tax benefit is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement.

As applicable, the Company will recognize accrued penalties and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes.

Foreign Currency

Gains or losses from foreign currency remeasurements are included in other income (expense) in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Balance sheet accounts are translated at the exchange rate in effect at each balance sheet date and income statement accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are charged or credited to other comprehensive income (loss).

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comprehensive income includes net income and all other non-stockholder changes in equity or other comprehensive income (loss). Components of the Company's comprehensive income are reported in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company measures certain of its financial assets and liabilities, at fair value on a recurring basis pursuant to accounting standards for fair value measurements. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. These accounting standards establish a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. These tiers include:


•	Level 1 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.


•	Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable.


•	Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income attributable to Wynn Resorts by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income attributable to Wynn Resorts by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potential dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with accounting standards, which require the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. The cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award using the Black-Scholes option pricing model for stock options, and based on the closing share price of the Company's stock on the grant date for nonvested share awards. The cost is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the employee's requisite service period (the vesting period of the award), and forfeitures are recognized as they occur. The Company's stock-based employee compensation arrangements are more fully discussed in Note 11, "Stock-Based Compensation."

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Revenue Recognition Standard

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which amends the existing revenue recognition guidance and creates a new topic for Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The guidance provides that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. This guidance also substantially revises required interim and annual disclosures. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018, which resulted in the following significant impacts on its Consolidated Financial Statements:


•	The promotional allowances line item was eliminated from the Consolidated Statements of Income with the majority of the amount being netted against casino revenues.


•	The estimated cost of providing complimentary goods or services will no longer be allocated primarily to casino expenses from other operating departments as the new guidance requires revenues and expenses associated with providing complimentary goods or services to be classified based on the goods or services provided.


•	The portion of junket commissions previously recorded as a casino expense is now recorded as a reduction of casino revenue.


•	Mandatory service charges on food and beverage are now recorded on a gross basis with the amount received from the customer recorded as food and beverage revenue and the corresponding amount paid to employees recorded as food and beverage expense.

Certain prior period amounts have been adjusted to reflect the full retrospective adoption of the guidance. There was no impact on the Company’s financial condition, operating income or net income.

The tables below provides a reconciliation of amounts previously reported and the resulting impacts from the adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance (in thousands):



	December 31, 2017
	As Previously Reported			Adoption of ASC 606			As Adjusted
Gross revenues	$	6,768,246		$	(698,086	)	$	6,070,160
Promotional allowances	(461,878		)	461,878			—
Operating revenues	6,306,368			(236,208		)	6,070,160
Operating expenses	5,250,803			(236,208		)	5,014,595
Operating income	$	1,055,565		$	—		$	1,055,565



	December 31, 2016
	As Previously Reported			Adoption of ASC 606			As Adjusted
Gross revenues	$	4,836,355		$	(490,558	)	$	4,345,797
Promotional allowances	(370,058		)	370,058			—
Operating revenues	4,466,297			(120,500		)	4,345,797
Operating expenses	3,944,635			(120,500		)	3,824,135
Operating income	$	521,662		$	—		$	521,662

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 824-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). The update also requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. This update eliminates the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet for public business entities. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018, which resulted in a $9.2 million cumulative unrealized loss, net of tax, being recorded to accumulated other comprehensive loss with a corresponding increase to retained earnings. The adjustment represents the portion of the cumulative change in the Redemption Note fair value resulting from the change in the instrument-specific credit risk previously included in other income (expense) on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Restricted Cash

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows - Restricted Cash (Topic 230), which amends the existing guidance relating to the disclosure of restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The ASU requires that amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis and the updated disclosures are reflected for the periods presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, $190.6 million of cash inflows and $190.8 million of cash outflows, respectively, were previously reported within cash flows from financing activities.

Income Taxes

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes - Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory (Topic 740), which requires the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs, rather than deferring such recognition until the asset is sold to an outside party. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2018, and this adoption did not have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (Topic 230), which clarifies the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. In particular, the new guidance clarifies the classification related to several types of cash flows, including items such as debt extinguishment costs and distributions received from equity method investees. The new guidance also provides a three-step approach for classifying cash receipts and payments that have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018, and this adoption did not have a material effect on its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), and subsequent amendments to the initial guidance: ASU No. 2017-13, ASU No. 2018-10, and ASU No. 2018-11 (collectively, "Topic 842"). Topic 842 amends the existing guidance relating to the definition of a lease, recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and the disclosure of key information about leasing activities. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet, measured on a discounted basis. Operating leases are currently not recognized on the balance sheet. Lessor accounting will remain largely unchanged, other than certain targeted improvements intended to align lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and with the updated revenue recognition guidance. Entities are required to adopt Topic 842 using a modified retrospective transition method at one of the following application dates: (1) the later of the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements and the lease commencement date or (2) on the effective date of adoption. The Company will adopt Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using the effective date transition approach, which will result in a balance sheet presentation that is not comparable to the prior period in the first year of adoption.

Topic 842 provides for transition relief by permitting the election of certain practical expedients. The Company is electing the reassessment package of practical expedients, which permits the Company not to reassess whether (1) any expired or existing contracts as of the adoption date are or contain a lease, (2) lease classification remains appropriate for any expired or existing leases as of the adoption date and (3) previously capitalized costs continue to qualify as initial direct costs on expired or existing leases as of the adoption date. The Company is not electing the hindsight practical expedient, which requires an entity to use hindsight in determining the lease term and in assessing impairment of right-of-use assets.

While the Company is currently assessing the quantitative impact the guidance will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures, the Company expects the most significant changes will be related to the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for operating leases on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet, with no material impact to net income or cash flows.

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) in 2016. The new guidance replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. For trade and other receivables, loans and other financial instruments, the Company will be required to use a forward-looking expected loss model rather than the incurred loss model for recognizing credit losses which reflects losses that are probable. The new guidance will be effective beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted beginning January 1, 2018. Application of the amendments is through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. The Company does not plan to early adopt this ASU, and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.

Cloud Computing Arrangement Implementation Costs

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. The ASU is intended to eliminate potential diversity in practice in accounting for costs incurred to implement cloud computing arrangements that are service contracts by requiring customers in such arrangements to follow internal-use software guidance with respect to such costs, with any resulting deferred implementation costs recognized over the term of the contract in the same income statement line item as the fees associated with the hosting element of the arrangement. The ASU will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing whether to early adopt and the impact the guidance will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements and related disclosures.

Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The new guidance amends the disclosure requirements for recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements by removing, modifying, and adding certain disclosures on fair value measurements in ASC 820. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The new guidance will be effective beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted upon issuance of this updated guidance. The Company does not plan to early adopt this ASU, and is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.