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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Apr. 29, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Basis of Presentation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. We view each property as an operating segment and all operating segments have been aggregated into one reporting segment.

        Discontinued operations includes our; Biloxi, Mississippi property; our former casinos; in Dudley and Wolverhampton, England sold in November 2009; and in Freeport; Grand Bahamas exited in November 2009. Assets and liabilities related to our Biloxi operations expected to be sold during fiscal year 2013 are classified as assets held for sale and liabilities related to assets held for sale in our consolidated balance sheet as of April 29, 2012.

        Fiscal Year-End—Our fiscal year ends on the last Sunday in April. Periodically, this system necessitates a 53-week year. Fiscal year 2012 is a 53-week year, which commenced on April 25, 2011, with the fourth quarter having 14 weeks. Fiscal years 2011 and 2010 are 52-week years, which commenced on April 26, 2010 and April 27, 2009, respectively. Fiscal 2013 will be a 52-week year.

        Reclassifications—Certain reclassifications of prior year presentations have been made to conform to the fiscal 2012 presentation.

        Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

        Cash and Cash Equivalents—We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less as cash equivalents. Cash also includes the minimum operating cash balances required by state regulatory bodies, which totaled $24,778 and $24,230 at April 29, 2012 and April 24, 2011, respectively.

        Marketable Securities—Marketable securities consist primarily of trading securities held by our captive insurance subsidiary. The trading securities are primarily debt and equity securities that are purchased with the intention to resell in the near term. The trading securities are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current period income in the accompanying statements of operations.

        Inventories—Inventories are stated at the lower of weighted average cost or market value.

        Property and Equipment—Property and equipment are stated at cost or if purchased through a business acquisition, the value determined under purchase accounting. We capitalize the cost of purchased property and equipment and capitalize the cost of improvements to property and equipment that increases the value or extends the useful lives of the assets. Costs of normal repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.

        Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives of the assets:

 
  Years

Slot machines, software and computers

  3 - 5

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

  5 - 10

Leasehold improvements

  Lesser of life of lease or
estimated useful life

Buildings and improvements

  7 - 39.5

        Certain property currently leased in Bettendorf, Iowa is accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 840, Leases ("ASC 840").

        We periodically evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used in accordance with ASC Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment ("ASC 360") which requires impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amounts. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair market value of the long-lived assets.

        Capitalized Interest—The interest cost associated with major development and construction projects is capitalized and included in the cost of the project. When no debt is incurred specifically for a project, interest is capitalized on amounts expended on the project using the weighted-average cost of our borrowings. Capitalization of interest ceases when the project is substantially complete or development activity is suspended. Capitalized interest was $1,105, $125, and $75 for fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        Restricted Cash and Investments—We classify cash and investments which are either statutorily or contractually restricted as to its withdrawal or usage as restricted cash short-term, included in prepaid expenses and other assets, or restricted cash and investments long-term based on the duration of the underlying restriction. Restricted cash primarily includes amounts related to state tax bonds and other gaming bonds, and amounts held in escrow related to leases. Restricted investments relate to trading securities pledged as insurance reserves by our captive insurance company.

        Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets of acquired businesses and is stated at cost, net of impairments, if any. Other intangible assets include values attributable to acquired gaming licenses, customer lists, and trademarks. ASC Topic 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other ("ASC 350") requires these assets be reviewed for impairment at least annually or on an interim basis if indicators of impairment exist. We perform our annual impairment test during our fourth quarter. If necessary, goodwill for relevant reporting units is tested for impairment using; 1) a discounted cash flow analysis based on forecasted future results discounted at the weighted average cost of capital and, 2) by using a market approach based upon valuation multiples for similar companies. For intangible assets with indefinite lives not subject to amortization, we review, at least annually, the continued use of an indefinite useful life. If these intangible assets are determined to have a finite useful life, they are amortized over their estimated remaining useful lives.

        Deferred Financing Costs—The costs of issuing long-term debt are capitalized and amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the related debt.

        Self-Insurance—We are self-funded up to a maximum amount per claim for employee-related health care benefits, workers' compensation and general liabilities. Claims in excess of this maximum are fully insured through stop-loss insurance policies. We accrue for workers' compensation and general liabilities on a discounted basis based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates have been discounted at 1.1% and 2.0% at April 29, 2012 and April 24, 2011, respectively, or a discount of $949 and $1,758, respectively. We utilize independent consultants to assist management in its determination of estimated insurance liabilities. As of April 29, 2012 and April 24, 2011, we have accrued $33,514 and $33,046, respectively, for employee-related health care, workers' compensation and general liability claims. Accruals for employee health care and workers compensation are included in accrued liabilities—payroll and accruals for general liabilities are included in accrued liabilities—other in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. While the total cost of claims incurred depends on future developments, in management's opinion, recorded reserves are adequate to cover future claims payments.

        Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815") requires we recognize all of our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet at fair value and disclose certain qualitative and quantitative information. We utilize derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk associated with a portion of our variable rate borrowings. Derivative financial instruments are intended to reduce our exposure to interest rate volatility. We account for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument depending on the intended use of the derivative and if the derivative has been designated as effective or ineffective, which is established at the inception of a derivative. ASC 815 requires that a company formally document, at the inception of a hedge, the hedging relationship and the entity's risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge, including identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item or transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged, the method used to assess effectiveness and the method that will be used to measure hedge ineffectiveness of derivative instruments that receive hedge accounting treatment. For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, changes in fair value, to the extent the hedge is effective, are recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings, and ineffective hedges are recognized as other income or loss below operating income. Hedge effectiveness is assessed quarterly.

        Revenue Recognition—In accordance with gaming industry practice, we recognize casino revenues as the net win from gaming activities. Casino revenues are net of accruals for anticipated payouts of progressive slot jackpots and certain table games wherein incremental jackpot amounts owed are accrued for games in which certain wagers add to the jackpot total. Revenues from rooms, food, beverage, entertainment and the gift shop are recognized at the time the related service or sale is performed or realized.

        Promotional Allowances—The retail value of rooms, food and beverage and other services furnished to guests without charge or at a discount is included in gross revenues and then deducted as promotional allowances to arrive at net revenues included in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. We also record the redemption of coupons and points for cash as promotional allowances. The estimated cost of providing such complimentary services from continuing operations are included in casino expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as follows:

 
  Fiscal Year Ended  
 
  April 29,
2012
  April 24,
2011
  April 25,
2010
 

Rooms

  $ 8,603   $ 8,043   $ 7,642  

Food and beverage

    60,252     52,905     50,875  

Other

    987     991     676  
               

Total cost of complimentary services

  $ 69,842   $ 61,939   $ 59,193  
               

        Players Club Awards—We provide patrons with rewards based on the amounts wagered on casino games. A liability has been established based on the estimated value of these outstanding rewards, considering the age of the points and prior redemption history.

        Advertising—Advertising costs are expensed the first time the related advertisement appears. Total advertising costs from continuing operations were $33,207, $32,033, and $28,444 in fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        Operating Leases—We recognize rent expense for each lease on the straight line basis, aggregating all future minimum rent payments including any predetermined fixed escalations of the minimum rentals. Our liabilities include the aggregate difference between rent expense recorded on the straight-line basis and amounts paid under the leases.

        Development Costs—We pursue development opportunities for new gaming facilities in an ongoing effort to expand our business. In accordance with ASC Topic 720, Other Expenses ("ASC 720), costs related to projects in the development stage are recorded as a development expense, except for those costs capitalized in accordance with the guidance of ASC 720. Capitalized development costs are expensed when the development is deemed less than probable. Total development costs expensed from continuing operations were recorded in the consolidated statements of operations in corporate and development expenses.

        Pre-Opening Costs—We expense pre-opening costs as incurred. Pre-opening costs include payroll, outside services, advertising, insurance, utilities, travel and various other expenses related to new operations prior to opening.

        Income Taxes—We account for income taxes in accordance ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes ("ASC 740"). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred income tax liabilities, deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowances related to net operating loss carry forwards and certain temporary differences. Recognizable future tax benefits are subject to a valuation reserve, unless such tax benefits are determined to be more likely than not realizable. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

        Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share—In accordance with the guidance of ASC 260, Earnings Per Share ("ASC 260"), basic earnings (loss) per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income (loss) applicable to common stock by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the additional dilution for all potentially dilutive securities such as stock options. Any potentially dilutive securities with an exercise price in excess of the average market price of our common stock during the periods presented are not considered when calculating the dilutive effect of stock options for diluted earnings per share calculations as they would be anti-dilutive.

        Stock Compensation—Our stock based compensation is accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). Stock compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards.

        Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—We reserve for receivables that may not be collected. Methodologies for estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts range from specific reserves to various percentages applied to aged receivables. Historical collection rates are considered, as are customer relationships, in determining specific reserves.

        Fair Value Measurements—We follow the guidance of ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820") for our financial assets and liabilities including marketable securities, restricted cash and investments and derivative instruments. ASC 820 provides a framework for measuring the fair value of financial assets and liabilities. A description of the valuation methodologies used to measure fair value, key inputs, and significant assumptions follows:

  •         Marketable securities— The estimated fair values of our marketable securities are based upon quoted prices available in active markets and represent the amounts we would expect to receive if we sold these marketable securities.

            Restricted cash and investments— The estimated fair values of our restricted cash and investments are based upon quoted prices available in active markets and represent the amounts we would expect to receive if we sold these restricted cash and investments.

            Derivative instruments— The estimated fair value of our derivative instruments is based on market prices obtained from dealer quotes, which are based on interest yield curves. Such quotes represent the estimated amounts we would receive or pay to terminate the contracts.

        Recently Issued Accounting Standards—In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, ("FASB") issued Update No. 2011-08, "Testing Goodwill for Impairment," which amends ASC 350 "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other." This update permits entities to make a qualitative assessment of whether a reporting unit's fair value is, more likely than not, less than its carrying amount. If an entity concludes it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, the entity is not required to perform the two-step impairment test for that reporting unit. The update is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. During fiscal 2012, we adopted this standard, which did not materially impact our consolidated financial statements.

        In June 2011, the FASB issued Update No. 2011-05, "Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income," which allows for the presentation of total comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In addition, the guidance eliminates the option of presenting the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. While the adoption will impact where we disclose the components of other comprehensive income in our consolidated financial statements, we do not expect the adoption to have a material impact on those consolidated financial statements.