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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

4.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        The Company considers all cash balances and highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

Concentration of Credit Risk

        Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, corporate debt securities, interest rate swap contracts and accounts receivable.

        The Company's policy is to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution, and place investments with financial institutions evaluated as being creditworthy, or in short-term money market and tax-free bond funds which are exposed to minimal interest rate and credit risk. The Company has bank deposits and overnight repurchase agreements that exceed federally-insured limits.

        Concentration of credit risk, with respect to casino receivables, is limited through the Company's credit evaluation process. The Company issues markers to approved casino customers only following credit checks and investigations of creditworthiness. Marker balances issued to approved casino customers were $6.7 million at December 31, 2012, compared to $7.6 million at December 31, 2011.

        The Company's receivables of $53.7 million and $55.5 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily consist of $5.1 million and $10.9 million, respectively, due from the West Virginia Lottery for gaming revenue settlements and capital reinvestment projects at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, $11.8 million and $11.2 million, respectively, for reimbursement of expenses paid on behalf of Casino Rama, $4.0 million and $3.6 million, respectively, for racing settlements due from simulcasting at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, $3.8 million and $1.1 million, respectively, for reimbursement of payroll expenses paid on behalf of the Company's joint venture in Kansas, and markers issued to customers mentioned above.

        Accounts are written off when management determines that an account is uncollectible. Recoveries of accounts previously written off are recorded when received. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined to reduce the Company's receivables to their carrying value, which approximates fair value. The allowance is estimated based on historical collection experience, specific review of individual customer accounts, and current economic and business conditions. Historically, the Company has not incurred any significant credit-related losses.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

        The following methods and assumptions are used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate:

  • Cash and Cash Equivalents

        The fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents approximates the carrying value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, due to the short maturity of the cash equivalents.

  • Investment in Corporate Debt Securities

        The fair value of the investment in corporate debt securities is estimated based on a third party broker quote. The investment in corporate debt securities is measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

  • Long-term Debt

        The fair value of the Company's Term Loan B component of the senior secured credit facility and senior subordinated notes is estimated based on quoted prices in active markets and as such is a Level 1 measurement (see Note 19). The fair value of the remainder of the Company's senior secured credit facility approximates its carrying value as it is variable rate debt. The fair value of the Company's other long-term obligations approximates its carrying value.

        The estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments are as follows (in thousands):

 
  2012   2011  
December 31,
  Carrying
Amount
  Fair
Value
  Carrying
Amount
  Fair
Value
 

Financial assets:

                         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 260,467   $ 260,467   $ 238,440   $ 238,440  

Investment in corporate debt securities

    6,790     6,790     6,790     6,790  

Financial liabilities:

                         

Long-term debt

                         

Senior secured credit facility

    2,393,459     2,401,225     1,714,001     1,716,720  

Senior subordinated notes

    325,000     368,875     325,000     353,438  

Other long-term obligations

    10,000     10,000     1,949     1,949  

        See Note 19 for further information regarding the Company's assessment of the inputs used to measure the fair value for the investment in corporate debt securities.

Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Maintenance and repairs that neither add materially to the value of the asset nor appreciably prolong its useful life are charged to expense as incurred. Gains or losses on the disposal of property and equipment are included in the determination of income.

        Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:

Land improvements

  5 to 15 years

Building and improvements

  5 to 40 years

Furniture, fixtures, and equipment

  3 to 31 years

        Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the related lease term.

        The estimated useful lives are determined based on the nature of the assets as well as the Company's current operating strategy.

        The Company reviews the carrying value of its property and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. The factors considered by the Company in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors. In estimating expected future cash flows for determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the individual property level. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of property and equipment, the Company must make assumptions regarding future cash flows and other factors. If these estimates or the related assumptions change in the future, the Company may be required to record an impairment loss for these assets. Such an impairment loss would be recognized as a non-cash component of operating income.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        At December 31, 2012, the Company had $1,380.7 million in goodwill and $706.5 million in other intangible assets within its consolidated balance sheet, representing 24.5% and 12.5% of total assets, respectively, resulting from the Company's acquisition of other businesses and payment for gaming licenses and racing permits. Two issues arise with respect to these assets that require significant management estimates and judgment: (i) the valuation in connection with the initial purchase price allocation; and (ii) the ongoing evaluation for impairment.

        In connection with the Company's acquisitions, valuations are completed to determine the allocation of the purchase prices. The factors considered in the valuations include data gathered as a result of the Company's due diligence in connection with the acquisitions, projections for future operations, and data obtained from third-party valuation specialists as deemed appropriate. Goodwill is tested annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, for impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting units to their carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value in step 1 of the impairment test, then step 2 of the impairment test is performed to determine the implied value of goodwill for that reporting unit. If the implied value of goodwill is less than the goodwill allocated for that reporting unit, an impairment loss is recognized.

        In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 350, "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other," the Company considers its gaming licenses, racing permits and the majority of its trademark intangible assets as indefinite-life intangible assets that do not require amortization based on the Company's future expectations to operate its gaming facilities indefinitely (not withstanding the recent events in Iowa which the Company concluded was an isolated incident and the first time in the Company's history a gaming regulator has taken an action which could cause the Company to lose its gaming license) as well as its historical experience in renewing these intangible assets at minimal cost with various state gaming and racing commissions. Rather, these intangible assets are tested annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, for impairment by comparing the fair value of the recorded assets to their carrying amount. If the carrying amounts of the indefinite-life intangible assets exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized.

        The evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets requires the use of estimates about future operating results of each reporting unit to determine their estimated fair value. The Company uses a market approach model, which includes the use of forecasted adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, charges for stock compensation, depreciation and amortization, gain or loss on disposal of assets, and certain other income and expenses, and inclusive of gain or loss from unconsolidated affiliates) and adjusted EBITDA multiples, as the Company believes that adjusted EBITDA is a widely-used measure of performance in the gaming industry and as the Company uses adjusted EBITDA as the primary measurement of the operating performance of its properties (including the evaluation of operating personnel). In addition, the Company believes that an adjusted EBITDA multiple is the principal basis for the valuation of gaming companies. Changes in the estimated adjusted EBITDA multiples or forecasted operations can materially affect these estimates.

        Forecasted adjusted EBITDA levels (based on the Company's annual operating plan as determined in the fourth quarter) can be significantly impacted by the local economy in which the Company's reporting units operate. For example, increases in unemployment rates can result in decreased customer visitations and/or lower customer spend per visit. In addition, the impact of new legislation which approves gaming in nearby jurisdictions or further expands gaming in jurisdictions where the Company's reporting units currently operate can result in opportunities for the Company to expand its operations. However, it also has the impact of increasing competition for the Company's established properties which generally will have a negative effect on those locations' profitability once competitors become established as a certain level of cannibalization occurs absent an overall increase in customer visitations. Lastly, increases in gaming taxes approved by state regulatory bodies can negatively impact forecasted adjusted EBITDA.

        The adjusted EBITDA multiple utilized by the Company in its goodwill impairment valuation methodology is determined based on the Company's current enterprise value, increased for a control premium. The control premium assumption is based on acquisitions of precedent transactions of comparable businesses. In evaluating the estimates derived by the market based approach, management assesses the relevance and reliability of the multiples by considering factors unique to its reporting units, including recent operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows, and other market data. These considerations can lead the Company to modify its individual reporting units adjusted EBITDA multiple. EBITDA multiples can be significantly impacted by various factors, such as a company's present and future cost of capital, the future growth opportunities for the industry as well as for the company's reporting units, general market sentiment, investors' perceptions of senior management's effectiveness at deploying capital and managing overall operations, as well as pending or recently completed merger transactions.

        Assumptions and estimates about future adjusted EBITDA levels and multiples by individual reporting units are complex and subjective. They are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions and can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors, such as industry, geopolitical and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in the Company's business strategy, which may reallocate capital and resources to different or new opportunities which management believes will enhance the Company's overall value but may be to the detriment of an individual reporting unit.

        Once an impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-life intangible assets has been recorded, it cannot be reversed. Because the Company's goodwill and indefinite-life intangible assets are not amortized, there may be volatility in reported income because impairment losses, if any, are likely to occur irregularly and in varying amounts. Intangible assets that have a definite-life are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives or related service contract. The Company reviews the carrying value of its intangible assets that have a definite-life for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the intangible assets that have a definite-life exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized.

Debt Issuance Costs

        Debt issuance costs that are incurred by the Company in connection with the issuance of debt are deferred and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the contractual term of the underlying indebtedness.

Comprehensive Income

        The Company accounts for comprehensive income in accordance with ASC 220, "Comprehensive Income," which establishes standards for the reporting and presentation of comprehensive income in the consolidated financial statements. The Company presents comprehensive income in two separate but consecutive statements.

Income Taxes

        The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, "Income Taxes" ("ASC 740"). Under ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and are measured at the prevailing enacted tax rates that will be in effect when these differences are settled or realized. ASC 740 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

        The realizability of the deferred tax assets is evaluated quarterly by assessing the valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of the allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are the forecast of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. The Company has used tax-planning strategies to realize or renew net deferred tax assets in order to avoid the potential loss of future tax benefits.

        ASC 740 also creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions, and clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. It also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits is included in noncurrent tax liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities

        The Company has historically utilized fixed and variable-rate debt to finance its operations. Both funding sources have associated risks and opportunities, such as interest rate exposure, and the Company's risk management policy permits the use of derivatives to manage this exposure. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Thus, uses of derivatives are strictly limited to hedging and risk management purposes in connection with managing interest rate exposure. Acceptable derivatives for this purpose include interest rate swap contracts, futures, options, caps, and similar instruments.

        When using derivatives, the Company has historically desired to obtain hedge accounting, which is conditional upon satisfying specific documentation and performance criteria. In particular, the underlying hedged item must expose the Company to risks associated with market fluctuations and the instrument used as the hedging derivative must generate offsetting effects in prescribed magnitudes. If these criteria are not met, a change in the market value of the financial instrument and all associated settlements would be recognized as gains or losses in the period of change.

        Under cash flow hedge accounting, effective derivative results are initially recorded in other comprehensive income ("OCI") and later reclassified to earnings, coinciding with the income recognition relating to the variable interest payments being hedged (i.e., when the interest expense on the variable-rate liability is recorded in earnings). Any hedge ineffectiveness (which represents the amount by which hedge results exceed the variability in the cash flows of the forecasted transaction due to the risk being hedged) is recorded in current period earnings. Under cash flow hedge accounting, derivatives are included in the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value.

        Previously, the Company had a number of interest rate swap contracts in place. These contracts served to mitigate income volatility for a portion of the Company's variable-rate funding. In effect, these interest rate swap contracts synthetically converted the portion of variable-rate debt being hedged to the equivalent of fixed-rate funding. Under the terms of the swap contracts, the Company received cash flows from the swap contract counterparties to offset the benchmark interest rate component of variable interest payments on the hedged financings, in exchange for paying cash flows based on the swap contracts' fixed rates. These two respective obligations were net-settled periodically. The fair value of the Company's interest rate swap contracts was measured at the present value of all expected future cash flows based on the LIBOR-based swap yield curve as of the date of the valuation, subject to a credit adjustment to the LIBOR-based yield curve's implied discount rates. The credit adjustment reflected the Company's best estimate as to the Company's credit quality. There were no outstanding interest rate swap contracts as of December 31, 2012 and 2011.

        Effective July 1, 2011, the Company de-designated its interest rate swap contracts that historically qualified for cash flow hedge accounting. This was due to the senior secured credit facility that the Company entered into in July 2011. As a result, the loss in OCI related to these swaps of $4.7 million was amortized to interest expense over the swaps remaining lives. The total notional value of these swaps was $440 million, with $200 million expiring in October 2011 and the remainder maturing in December 2011. Subsequent to the de-designation date of July 1, 2011, the Company had accounted for changes in the fair value of these derivatives in earnings as a component of interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the Company had certain other derivative instruments that were not designated to qualify for hedge accounting, which expired in May 2011. The periodic change in the mark-to-market of these derivative instruments had been recorded in current period earnings in interest expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

        Credit risk relating to derivative counterparties is mitigated by using multiple, highly rated counterparties, and the credit quality of each is monitored on an ongoing basis.

        See Note 10 for additional information related to the Company's derivatives.

Revenue Recognition and Promotional Allowances

        Gaming revenue is the aggregate net difference between gaming wins and losses, with liabilities recognized for funds deposited by customers before gaming play occurs, for chips and "ticket-in, ticket-out" coupons in the customers' possession, and for accruals related to the anticipated payout of progressive jackpots. Progressive slot machines, which contain base jackpots that increase at a progressive rate based on the number of coins played, are charged to revenue as the amount of the jackpots increase.

        Food, beverage and other revenue, including racing revenue, is recognized as services are performed. Racing revenue includes the Company's share of pari-mutuel wagering on live races after payment of amounts returned as winning wagers, its share of wagering from import and export simulcasting, and its share of wagering from its off-track wagering facilities ("OTWs").

        Revenue from the management service contract for Casino Rama is based upon contracted terms and is recognized when services are performed.

        Revenues are recognized net of certain sales incentives in accordance with ASC 605-50, "Revenue Recognition—Customer Payments and Incentives." The Company records certain sales incentives and points earned in point-loyalty programs as a reduction of revenue.

        The retail value of accommodations, food and beverage, and other services furnished to guests without charge is included in gross revenues and then deducted as promotional allowances. The estimated cost of providing such promotional allowances is primarily included in food, beverage and other expense.

        The amounts included in promotional allowances for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

Year ended December 31,
  2012   2011   2010  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Rooms

  $ 26,612   $ 24,646   $ 23,980  

Food and beverage

    108,250     106,687     99,024  

Other

    9,878     10,483     10,398  
               

Total promotional allowances

  $ 144,740   $ 141,816   $ 133,402  
               

        The estimated cost of providing such complimentary services for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 are as follows:

Year ended December 31,
  2012   2011   2010  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Rooms

  $ 9,814   $ 9,149   $ 9,188  

Food and beverage

    74,263     76,357     75,180  

Other

    6,056     6,430     6,544  
               

Total cost of complimentary services

  $ 90,133   $ 91,936   $ 90,912  
               

Gaming and Racing Taxes

        The Company is subject to gaming and pari-mutuel taxes based on gross gaming revenue and pari-mutuel revenue in the jurisdictions in which it operates. The Company primarily recognizes gaming and pari-mutuel tax expense based on the statutorily required percentage of revenue that is required to be paid to state and local jurisdictions in the states where or in which wagering occurs. In certain states in which the Company operates, gaming taxes are based on graduated rates. The Company records gaming tax expense at the Company's estimated effective gaming tax rate for the year, considering estimated taxable gaming revenue and the applicable rates. Such estimates are adjusted each interim period. If gaming tax rates change during the year, such changes are applied prospectively in the determination of gaming tax expense in future interim periods. Finally, the Company recognizes purse expense based on the statutorily required percentage of revenue that is required to be paid out in the form of purses to the winning owners of horseraces run at the Company's racetracks in the period in which wagering occurs. For the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, these expenses, which are recorded primarily within gaming expense in the consolidated statements of operations, were $1.07 billion, $1.06 billion, and $975.7 million, respectively.

Earnings Per Share

        The Company calculates earnings per share ("EPS") in accordance with ASC 260, "Earnings Per Share" ("ASC 260"). Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock, excluding net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the additional dilution for all potentially-dilutive securities such as stock options and unvested restricted shares.

        At December 31, 2012, the Company had outstanding 12,275 shares of Series B Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"), which the Company determined qualified as a participating security as defined in ASC 260. Under ASC 260, a security is considered a participating security if the security may participate in undistributed earnings with common stock, whether that participation is conditioned upon the occurrence of a specified event or not. In accordance with ASC 260, a company is required to use the two-class method when computing EPS when a company has a security that qualifies as a "participating security." The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. A participating security is included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, basic EPS for the Company's common stock is computed by dividing net income attributable to the shareholders of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Subsidiaries applicable to common stock by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS for the Company's common stock is computed using the more dilutive of the two-class method or the if-converted method.

        The following table sets forth the allocation of net income for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 under the two-class method:

Year ended December, 31
  2012   2011  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Net income

  $ 211,971   $ 242,351  

Net income applicable to preferred stock

    41,023     46,101  
           

Net income applicable to common stock

  $ 170,948   $ 196,250  
           

        The following table reconciles the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of basic EPS to the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the calculation of diluted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

Year ended December 31,
  2012   2011  
 
  (in thousands)
 

Determination of shares:

             

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

    76,345     77,991  

Assumed conversion of dilutive employee stock-based awards

    2,464     1,782  

Assumed conversion of preferred stock

    24,995     27,278  
           

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

    103,804     107,051  
           

        The Company is required to adjust its diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding for the purpose of calculating diluted EPS as follows: 1) when the average price of the Company's common stock at the end of the reporting period is less than $45, the diluted weighted- average common shares outstanding is increased by 27,277,778 shares (regardless of how much the stock price is below $45); 2) when the average price of the Company's common stock at the end of the reporting period is between $45 and $67, the diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding is increased by an amount which can be calculated by dividing $1.23 billion (face value) by the current price per share of the Company's common stock, which will result in an increase in the diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding of between 18,320,896 shares and 27,277,778 shares; and 3) when the average price of the Company's common stock at the end of the reporting period is above $67, the diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding is increased by 18,320,896 shares (regardless of how much the stock price exceeds $67). See Note 13 for discussion of the proposed Spin-Off transaction and its potential future impact on the calculation of diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding.

        The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the Company's common stock:

Year ended December 31,
  2012   2011  
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)
 

Calculation of basic EPS:

             

Net income applicable to common stock

  $ 170,948   $ 196,250  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

    76,345     77,991  

Basic EPS

  $ 2.24   $ 2.52  

Calculation of diluted EPS:

             

Net income

  $ 211,971   $ 242,351  

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

    103,804     107,051  

Diluted EPS

  $ 2.04   $ 2.26  

        Since the Company reported a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2010, it was required by ASC 260 to use basic weighted-average common shares outstanding, rather than diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding, when calculating diluted EPS. In addition, since the Company reported a loss from operations for the year ended December 31, 2010, the Preferred Stock was not deemed to be a participating security for the year ended December 31, 2010, pursuant to ASC 260. The basic weighted-average common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2010 were 78,078,602.

        Options to purchase 1,693,500 shares and 3,004,402 shares were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they were antidilutive. Options to purchase 10,834,444 shares were outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2010, but the shares outstanding during 2010 were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they were antidilutive since the Company reported a loss from operations for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Stock-Based Compensation

        The Company accounts for stock compensation under ASC 718, "Compensation—Stock Compensation," which requires the Company to expense the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. This expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period following the date of grant.

        The fair value for stock options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires management to make certain assumptions. The risk-free interest rate was based on the United States ("U.S.") Treasury spot rate with a term equal to the expected life assumed at the date of grant. Expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of the Company's stock price over a period of 6.64 years, in order to match the expected life of the options at the grant date. Historically, at the grant date, there has been no expected dividend yield assumption since the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common stock since its initial public offering in May 1994 and since the Company intends to retain all of its earnings to finance the development of its business for the foreseeable future. The weighted-average expected life was based on the contractual term of the stock option and expected employee exercise dates, which was based on the historical and expected exercise behavior of the Company's employees. Forfeitures are estimated at the date of grant based on historical experience.

        The following are the weighted-average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

Year ended December 31,
  2012   2011   2010  

Risk-free interest rate

    0.84 %   1.04 %   2.27 %

Expected volatility

    45.78 %   47.60 %   48.02 %

Dividend yield

             

Weighted-average expected life (years)

    6.64     5.82     5.73  

Forfeiture rate

    5.00 %   5.00 %   5.00 %

Segment Information

        In 2011, the Company realigned its reporting structure in connection with the hiring of a senior vice president of regional operations. The Company now has three senior vice presidents of regional operations who oversee various properties based primarily on their geographic locations and whom report directly to the Company's President and Chief Operating Officer. This event impacted how the Company's Chief Executive Officer, who is the Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") as that term is defined in ASC 280, "Segment Reporting" ("ASC 280"), measures and assesses the Company's business performance and has caused the Company to conclude that it now has reportable segments. Therefore, the Company has aggregated its properties into three reportable segments: (i) Midwest, (ii) East/West, and (iii) Southern Plains consistent with how the Company's CODM reviews and assesses the Company's financial performance.

        The Midwest reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg, Hollywood Casino Aurora, Hollywood Casino Joliet, Argosy Casino Alton, Hollywood Casino Toledo, which opened on May 29, 2012, and Hollywood Casino Columbus, which opened on October 8, 2012. It also includes the Company's Casino Rama management service contract and the Mahoning Valley and Dayton Raceway projects in Ohio which the Company anticipates completing in 2014.

        The East/West reportable segment consists of the following properties: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino Perryville, Hollywood Casino Bangor, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Zia Park Casino, and the M Resort.

        The Southern Plains reportable segment consists of the following properties: Argosy Casino Riverside, Argosy Casino Sioux City, Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge, Hollywood Casino Tunica, Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, Boomtown Biloxi, Hollywood Casino St. Louis (formerly Harrah's St. Louis which was acquired from Caesars Entertainment on November 2, 2012), and includes the Company's 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, which owns the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway that opened on February 3, 2012.

        The Other category consists of the Company's standalone racing operations, namely Beulah Park, Raceway Park, Rosecroft Raceway, Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, and the Company's joint venture interests in Sam Houston Race Park, Valley Race Park and Freehold Raceway. It also included the Company's joint venture interest in the Maryland Jockey Club which was sold in July 2011. If the Company is successful in obtaining gaming operations at these locations, they would be assigned to one of the Company's regional executives and reported in their respective reportable segment. The Other category also includes the Company's corporate overhead operations which does not meet the definition of an operating segment under ASC 280 and the Bullwhackers property.

        See Note 16 for further information with respect to the Company's segments.

Statements of Cash Flows

        The Company has presented the consolidated statements of cash flows using the indirect method, which involves the reconciliation of net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests to net cash flow from operating activities.

Acquisitions

        The Company accounts for its acquisitions in accordance with ASC 805, "Business Combinations." The results of operations of acquisitions are included in the consolidated financial statements from their respective dates of acquisition.

Certain Risks and Uncertainties

        The Company faces intense gaming competition in most of the markets where its properties operate. Various states are currently considering or implementing legislation to legalize or expand gaming. Such legislation presents potential opportunities for the Company to establish new properties; however, this also presents potential competitive threats to the Company's existing properties. For example, the Company's two largest properties in terms of net revenues will face or have faced new sources of significant competition in the near term. Namely, a casino scheduled to open in March 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio will compete in the same market as Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races faced increased competition in June 2012 from the opening of a significant casino complex at the Arundel Mills mall in Anne Arundel, Maryland. Although these openings will have a significant impact on the Company's operations, they have less significance on the Company's operations than in recent periods due to the 2012 openings of Hollywood Casino Toledo and Hollywood Casino Columbus in Ohio as well as the November 2012 acquisition of Harrah's St. Louis gaming and lodging facility.

        The Company's operations are dependent on its continued licensing by state gaming commissions. The loss of a license, in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates, could have a material adverse effect on future results of operations. See Note 11 for a discussion of the Company's status in regards to Argosy Casino Sioux City's gaming license, which expired in July 2012.

        The Company is dependent on each gaming property's local market for a significant number of its patrons and revenues. If economic conditions in these areas deteriorate or additional gaming licenses are awarded in these markets, the Company's results of operations could be adversely affected.

        The Company is dependent on the economy of the U.S. in general, and any deterioration in the national economic, energy, credit and capital markets could have a material adverse effect on future results of operations.

        The Company is dependent upon a stable gaming and admission tax structure in the locations that it operates in. Any change in the tax structure could have a material adverse affect on future results of operations.