Note 2 - Accounting Standards and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Notes to Financial Statements

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2.    ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Revenue Recognition – The Company’s primary revenues with customers consist of Card Casino operations, pari-mutuel wagering on simulcast and live horse races, and food and beverage transactions. We determine revenue recognition through the following steps:

● Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer

● Identification of the performance obligations in the contract

● Determination of the transaction price

● Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligation in the contract

● Recognition of revenue when, or as, we satisfy a performance obligation

The transaction price for a Card Casino contract is a set percentage of wagers and is recognized at the time that the wagering process is complete. The transaction price for pari-mutuel wagering is the commission received on a wager, exclusive of any track fees and is recognized upon occurrence of the live race that is presented for wagering and after that live race is made official by the respective state’s racing regulatory body. The transaction price for food and beverage contracts is the net amount collected from the customer for these goods. Food and beverage services have been determined to be separate, stand-alone performance obligations and the transaction price is recorded as revenue as the good is transferred to the customer when delivery is made.

Contracts for Card Casino operations and pari-mutuel wagering involve two performance obligations for those customers earning points under the Company’s loyalty program and a single performance obligation for customers who do not participate in the program. The Company applies a practical expedient by accounting for its gaming contracts on a portfolio basis as these wagers have similar characteristics and the Company reasonably expects the effects on the financial statements of applying the revenue recognition guidance to the portfolio will not differ materially from that which would result if applying the guidance to an individual wagering contract. For purposes of allocating the transaction price in a wagering contract between the wagering performance obligation and the obligation associated with the loyalty points earned, the Company allocates an amount to the loyalty point contract liability based on the stand-alone redemption value of the points earned, which is determined by the value of a point that can be redeemed for a cash voucher, food and beverage voucher, racing admission, valet parking, or racing forms. Based on past experience, the majority of customers redeem their points for cash vouchers.

We have two general types of liabilities related to Card Casino contracts with customers: (1) our MVP Loyalty Program and (2) outstanding chip liability. These are included in the line item Card Casino accruals on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We defer the full retail value of these complimentary reward items until the future revenue transaction occurs.

The Company offers certain promotional allowances at no charge to patrons who participate in its player rewards program. The retail value of these promotional items is included as a deduction from pari-mutuel revenues.

We evaluate our on-track revenue (live racing), export revenue (simulcast), and import revenue (guest fees) contracts to determine whether we are acting as the principal or as the agent when providing services, which we consider in determining if revenue should be reported gross or net. An entity is a principal if it controls the specified service before that service is transferred to a customer.

The revenue we recognize for on-track revenue and import revenue is the commission we are entitled to retain for providing a wagering service to our customers. For these arrangements, we are the principal as we control the wagering service; therefore, any charges, including simulcast fees, we incur for delivering the wagering service are presented as operating expenses.

For export revenue, our customer is the third party wagering site such as a race track, OTB, or advance deposit wagering provider. Therefore, the revenue we recognize for export revenue is the simulcast host fee we earn for exporting our racing signal to the third party wagering site.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents include all investments with original maturities of three months or less or which are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and are not legally restricted. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash – Restricted cash represents refundable deposits and amounts due to horsemen for purses, stakes and awards, and amounts accumulated in card game progressive jackpot pools, the player pool, and poker promotional fund to be used to repay card players in the form of promotions, giveaways, prizes, or by other means.

Employee Retention Credit ("ERC") – The Company qualified for federal government assistance through ERC provisions of the CARES Act passed in 2020, for the 2020 second, third, and fourth quarters, as well as the 2021 first and second quarters. The purpose of the ERC is to encourage employers to keep employees on the payroll, even if they are not working during the covered period because of the coronavirus outbreak. We recognize government grants for which there is a reasonable assurance of compliance with grant conditions and receipt of credits. As of December 31, 2021, the Company's expected one-time refunds totaling $6,314,468, are included on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as an employee retention credit receivable, as well as on the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a credit to salaries and benefits expense. 

Accounts Receivable – Accounts receivable are initially recorded for amounts due from other tracks for simulcast revenue, net of amounts due to other tracks, and for amounts due from customers related to catering and events. Credit is granted in the normal course of business without collateral. Accounts receivable are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts, which represent estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make the required payments. Accounts that are outstanding longer than the contractual terms are considered past due. When determining the allowances for doubtful accounts, the Company takes several factors into consideration including the overall composition of the accounts receivable aging, its prior history of accounts receivable write-offs, the type of customers and its day-to-day knowledge of specific customers. The Company writes off accounts receivable when they become uncollectible. Changes in the allowances for doubtful accounts are recorded as bad debt expense and are included in other operating expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Property Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Receivable – In connection with the Contract for Private Redevelopment (“Redevelopment Agreement”) and First Amendment to the Contract for Private Redevelopment (the "First Amendment") between the City of Shakopee Economic Development Authority and Canterbury Development LLC signed in August 2018 and amended in September 2021, the City of Shakopee has agreed that a portion of the tax increment revenue generated from the developed property will be paid to the Company to reimburse it for expenses in constructing public infrastructure improvements. The interest rate on the TIF Receivable is 6%.

Inventory – Inventory consists primarily of food and beverages, small wares and supplies and retail goods and is recorded at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value.

Unredeemed Pari-mutuel Tickets – The Company records a liability for winning tickets and vouchers upon the completion of a race and when a voucher is printed, respectively. As uncashed winning tickets and vouchers are redeemed, this liability is reduced for the respective cash payment. The Company recognizes revenue associated with the uncashed winning tickets and vouchers when the likelihood of redemption, based on historical experience, is remote. While the Company continues to honor all winning tickets and vouchers presented for payment, management may determine the likelihood of redemption to be remote due to the length of time that has elapsed since the ticket was issued. In these circumstances, if management also determines there is no requirement for remitting balances to government agencies under unclaimed property laws, uncashed winning tickets and vouchers may then be recognized as revenue in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Deferred Revenue – Deferred revenue includes advance sales related to racing, events and corporate partnerships. Revenue from these advance billings is recognized when the related event occurs or services have been performed. Deferred revenue also includes advanced Cooperative Marketing Agreement (“CMA”) promotional funds, and revenue is recognized when expenses are incurred.

Due to Minnesota Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Inc. (“MHBPA”) – The Minnesota Pari-mutuel Horse Racing Act specifies that the Company is required to segregate a portion of funds (recorded as purse expense in the statements of operations), received from Card Casino operations and wagering on simulcast and live horse races, for future payment as purses for live horse races or other uses of the horsepersons’ associations. Pursuant to an agreement with the MHBPA, the Company transferred into a trust account or paid directly to the MHBPA, approximately $8,903,000 and $2,885,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to thoroughbred races. Minnesota Statutes specify that amounts transferred into the trust account are the property of the trust and not of the Company.

Checks Written in Excess of Cash Balance - For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company included approximately $970,000 of checks written in excess of cash balance within accounts payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. There were no checks written in excess of cash balance as of December 31, 2021.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets – The Company reviews its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of any long-lived assets may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability would be performed. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the asset or group of assets. During 2021 and 2020, the Company determined that no evaluations of recoverability were necessary.

Advertising and Marketing – Advertising and marketing costs are charged to expense as incurred. The related amounts are presented separately in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Land, Buildings, and Equipment – Land, buildings, equipment, and building improvements are capitalized at a level of $2,000 or greater and are recorded at cost. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to operations when incurred. Furniture, fixtures, and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 5 – 7 years, while buildings are depreciated over 15 – 39 years. Building improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the useful life of the assets.

Pre-development costs are incurred prior to vertical construction and for certain land held for development during the due diligence phase. This includes legal, engineering, architecture, and other professional fees incurred in pursuit of new development opportunities for which we believe future development is probable. Future development is dependent upon various factors, including zoning and regulatory approval, rental market conditions, construction costs and availability of capital. Pre-development costs incurred for which future development is not yet considered probable are expensed as incurred.

The Company capitalizes property taxes incurred on its land held for development during periods in which activities necessary to get the property ready for its intended use are in progress. Costs incurred after the property is substantially complete and ready for its intended use are charged to expense as incurred.

Land Held for Development – Land held for development consists of land owned for potential real estate development. 

Card Casino Accruals – Minnesota law allows the Company to collect amounts from patrons to fund progressive jackpot pools in the Card Casino. These amounts, along with amounts earned by the player pool, promotional pools, and the outstanding chip liability, are accrued as short-term liabilities at each balance sheet date.

Income Taxes – Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse.

The Company recognizes the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority.

Interest and penalties associated with uncertain income tax positions are presented in income tax expense. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did not recognize any expense related to interest and penalties.

Net Income Per Share – Basic net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each year. Diluted net income per common share takes into effect the dilutive effect of potential common shares outstanding. The Company’s only potential common shares outstanding are stock options and unvested deferred stock awards. 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments – Due to the current classification of all financial instruments and given the short-term nature of the related account balances, carrying amounts reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximate fair value.

Stock-Based Employee Compensation – The Company accounts for share-based compensation awards on a fair value basis. The estimated grant date fair value of each stock-based award is recognized as expense over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period). The estimated fair value of each option is calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. For more information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, see Note 5.