STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Summary of stock option activity

		Weighted Average
				Remaining		Aggregate
		Exercise		Contractual		Intrinsic
Stock Options	Shares	Price		Term		Value
Stock Option Shares outstanding at beginning of period	1,773,570	$	55.07	—			—
Stock Option Shares granted	401,634		75.46	—			—
Stock Option Shares exercised	(275,464)		41.00	—			—
Stock Option Shares forfeited	(118,000)		69.41	—			—
Stock Option Shares expired	—		—	—			—
Stock Option Shares outstanding at end of period	1,781,740		60.89	6.7	yrs.	$	31,699,676
Stock Option Shares exercisable at end of period	826,744	$	48.08	4.6	yrs.	$	25,482,628

Summary of status of nonvested shares

		Weighted-Average
		Grant Date Fair
Nonvested Stock Option Shares	Shares	Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2024	922,995	$	29.96
Granted	401,634		35.17
Vested	(251,633)		26.96
Forfeited	(118,000)		28.82
Nonvested at December 31, 2024	954,996	$	33.09

Schedule of stock options granted, vested and exercised

	Year ended December 31,
	2024			2023			2022
Weighted average expected volatility for options granted		48.92	%		49.08	%		48.54	%
Expected dividends		1.64	%		1.72			—
Expected life (in years)
Directors’ plan		5.91			5.18			4.15
Executives plan		6.00			5.63			5.63
Employees plan		4.29			4.26			4.22
Weighted average risk-free rate		4.29	%		4.08	%		3.62	%
Weighted average grant date fair value per share of options granted	$	35.17		$	31.60		$	31.86
Total fair value of shares vested	$	6,784		$	5,367		$	3,452
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$	10,011		$	3,113		$	28,156
Cash received for all stock option exercises	$	8,221		$	3,365		$	18,846
Tax benefit realized from stock awards exercised	$	2,102		$	654		$	5,913

Schedule of stock-based compensation expense

Reported stock-based compensation expense was classified as follows (in thousands) and it is included in the Operating expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income:

	For the Year ended December 31,
	2024		2023		2022
Casino	$	546	$	354	$	273
Food and beverage		172		163		142
Hotel		337		268		214
Selling, general and administrative		6,809		6,691		4,466
Total stock-based compensation, before taxes		7,864		7,476		5,095
Tax benefit		(1,651)		(1,570)		(1,070)
Total stock-based compensation, net of tax	$	6,213	$	5,906	$	4,025