Note 8 - Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Commitments Capital Spending and Development We continually perform on-going refurbishment and maintenance at our facilities to maintain our standards of quality. Certain of these maintenance costs are capitalized, if such improvement or refurbishment extends the life of the related asset, while other maintenance costs that do not so qualify are expensed as incurred. The commitment of capital and the related timing thereof are contingent upon, among other things, negotiation of final agreements and receipt of approvals from the appropriate regulatory bodies. We must also comply with covenants and restrictions set forth in our debt agreements. Kansas Management Contract As part of the Kansas Management Contract approved by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission on January 11, 2011, Kansas Star committed to donate $1.5 million each year to support education in the local area in which Kansas Star operates for the duration of the Kansas Management Contract. We have made all distributions under this commitment as scheduled and such related expenses are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. Mulvane Development Agreement On March 7, 2011, Kansas Star entered into a Development Agreement with the City of Mulvane ("Mulvane Development Agreement") related to the provision of water, sewer, and electrical utilities to the Kansas Star site. This agreement sets forth certain parameters governing the use of public financing for the provision of such utilities, through the issuance of general obligation bonds by the City of Mulvane, paid for through the imposition of a special tax assessment on the Kansas Star site payable over 15 years in an amount equal to the City’s full obligations under the general obligation bonds. All infrastructure improvements to the Kansas Star site under the Mulvane Development Agreement are complete and the City of Mulvane issued $19.7 million in general obligation bonds related to these infrastructure improvements. At both December 31, 2021 and 2020, under the Mulvane Development Agreement, Kansas Star recorded $1.6 million, which is included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and at December 31, 2021 and 2020, $5.0 million, net of a $1.6 million discount, and $5.9 million, net of a $2.0 million discount, respectively, which is recorded as a long-term obligation in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest costs are expensed as incurred and the discount will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the special tax assessment ending in 2028. Kansas Star's special tax assessment related to these bonds is approximately $1.6 million annually. Payments under the special tax assessment are secured by irrevocable letters of credit of $5.0 million issued by the Company in favor of the City of Mulvane, representing an amount equal to three times the annual special assessment tax imposed on Kansas Star. Contingent Payments In connection with securing the Kansas Management Contract, Kansas Star agreed to pay a former casino project promoter 1% of Kansas Star’s earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") each month for a period of 10 years, which ended December 20, 2021. Minimum Assessment Agreement In 2007, Diamond Jo Dubuque entered into a Minimum Assessment Agreement with the City of Dubuque (the "City"). Under the Minimum Assessment Agreement, Diamond Jo Dubuque and the City agreed to a minimum taxable value related to the new casino of $57.9 million. Diamond Jo Dubuque agreed to pay property taxes to the City based on the actual taxable value of the casino, but not less than the minimum taxable value. Scheduled payments of principal and interest on the City Bonds will be funded through Diamond Jo Dubuque's payment obligations under the Minimum Assessment Agreement. Diamond Jo Dubuque is also obligated to pay any shortfall should property taxes be insufficient to fund the principal and interest payments on the City Bonds. Interest costs under the Minimum Assessment Agreement obligation are expensed as incurred. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the remaining obligation under the Minimum Assessment Agreement was $1.9 million at each date, which was recorded in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and $12.2 million, net of a $2.0 million discount, and $12.7 million, net of a $2.2 million discount, respectively, which was recorded as a long-term obligation in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The discount will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the Minimum Assessment Agreement. Total minimum payments by Diamond Jo Dubuque under the Minimum Assessment Agreement are approximately $1.9 million per year through 2036. Public Parking Facility Agreement Diamond Jo Dubuque has an agreement with the City for use of the public parking facility adjacent to Diamond Jo Dubuque's casino and owned and operated by the City (the "Parking Facility Agreement"). The Parking Facility Agreement calls for: (i) the payment by the Company for the reasonable and necessary actual operating costs incurred by the City for the operation, security, repair and maintenance of the public parking facility; and (ii) the payment by the Company to the City of $80 per parking space in the public parking facility per year, subject to annual increases based on any increase in the Consumer Price Index, which funds will be deposited into a special sinking fund and used by the City for capital expenditures necessary to maintain the public parking facility. Operating costs of the parking facility incurred by Diamond Jo Dubuque are expensed as incurred. Deposits to the sinking fund are recorded as other assets. When the sinking fund is used for capital improvements, such amounts are capitalized and amortized over their remaining useful life. Iowa Qualified Sponsoring Organization Agreements Diamond Jo Dubuque and Diamond Jo Worth are required to pay their respective qualified sponsoring organization, who hold a joint gaming license with Diamond Jo Dubuque and Diamond Jo Worth, a certain percentage of the casino’s adjusted gross receipts on an ongoing basis. Diamond Jo Dubuque pays 4.50% on slot and table game revenues and 0.75% on sports wagering revenue. Diamond Jo Worth pays 5.76% on slot and table game revenues and 0.75% on sports wagering revenue. Diamond Jo Dubuque expensed $3.5 million, $2.3 million and $3.2 million, during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to its agreement. Diamond Jo Worth expensed $6.0 million, $3.8 million and $4.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to its agreement. The Diamond Jo Dubuque agreement expires on December 31, 2030. The Diamond Jo Worth agreement expires on March 31, 2025, and is subject to automatic ten-year renewal periods. Development Agreement In September 2011, the Company acquired the membership interests of a limited liability company (the "LLC") for a purchase price of $24.5 million. The primary asset of the LLC was a previously executed development agreement (the "Development Agreement") with Wilton Rancheria. The purchase price was allocated primarily to an intangible asset associated with the Company's rights under the agreement to assist Wilton Rancheria in the development and management of a gaming facility on Wilton Rancheria's land. In July 2012, the Company and Wilton Rancheria amended and replaced the agreement with a new development agreement and a management agreement (the "Agreements"). The Agreements obligate us to fund certain pre-development costs, which were estimated to be approximately $1 million to $2 million annually, to assist Wilton Rancheria in its development and oversight of the gaming facility construction. In the current year, as progress is being made with the development, pre-development costs were approximately $1.7 million. Upon opening, we will manage the gaming facility. The pre-development costs funded by us are reimbursable to us with future cash flows from the operations of the gaming facility under terms of a note receivable from Wilton Rancheria. In January 2017, the Company funded the acquisition of land that is the intended site of the Wilton Rancheria casino and, in February 2017, the land was placed into trust by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs for the benefit of Wilton Rancheria. The cost of the land is recorded as a receivable on our consolidated balance sheet, and we expect to be reimbursed for this cost. The Agreements provide that the Company will receive future revenue for its services to Wilton Rancheria contingent upon successful development of the gaming facility and based on future revenues at the gaming facility. In September 2017, the California State Legislature unanimously approved, and the Governor of California executed, a tribal-state gaming compact with Wilton Rancheria allowing the development of the casino. In October 2018, the National Indian Gaming Commission approved the Company's management contract with Wilton Rancheria. With the compact now in place and the design and project budget finalized, Wilton Rancheria has secured third-party financing to fund construction. Construction of Sky River Casino began in first quarter 2021, and it is expected to open in fourth quarter 2022. Master Lease Agreements A Boyd subsidiary, Boyd TCIV, entered into the Master Lease pursuant to which the landlord agreed to lease to Boyd TCIV the facilities associated with Ameristar Kansas City, Ameristar St. Charles, Belterra Resort and Ogle Haus, LLC, commencing on October 15, 2018 and ending on April 30, 2026 as the initial term, with options for renewal. The term of this Master Lease may be extended for five separate renewal terms of five years each. The monthly lease payment consists of the following, (i) the building base rent, as defined in the Master Lease agreement, plus (ii) the land base rent, as defined in the Master Lease agreement, plus (iii) the percentage rent, as defined in the Master Lease agreement. Each and every other lease year commencing with the third lease year, the percentage rent will reset based on a calculation defined in the Master Lease agreement. On May 6, 2020 we entered into an agreement with Gold Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of GLPI, for its acquisition of Boyd PropCo (the "Merger"), the entity that owns the Belterra Park real estate, with the Merger consummated and the transaction closed at the time of the execution of the merger agreement. That agreement provided that Gold Merger Sub would acquire Boyd PropCo via a merger, which would be treated for income tax purposes as a taxable asset acquisition consisting of the exchange of the real estate by us in satisfaction of the $57.7 million mortgage executed in connection with GLPI’s initial financing of our acquisition of the real estate in October 2018. Prior to the Merger, BP OpCo, which owns the business operations of Belterra Park, leased the real estate from Boyd PropCo pursuant to a master lease that is the same in all material respects as the Master Lease between Boyd TCIV, LLC and Gold Merger Sub (the "BP Master Lease" and "GLP Master Lease," respectively). Rent paid under the BP Master Lease to Boyd PropCo by BP OpCo was then paid by Boyd PropCo to Gold Merger Sub as interest on the Note. As a result of the Merger, Gold Merger Sub has become the Landlord under the BP Master Lease and now receives rent payable under the BP Master Lease (equal to, and in lieu of, the interest payments on the Note received prior to consummation of the Merger). As an additional step in connection with the Merger, we expect to add BP OpCo as a subtenant to the GLP Master Lease (in connection with the termination of the BP Master Lease), resulting in a single Master Lease with GLPI, subject to the prior receipt of all required governmental approvals. Contingencies *Legal Matters* We are parties to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe that all pending claims, if adversely decided, would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.

Note 8 - Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

Capital Spending and Development

We continually perform on-going refurbishment and maintenance at our facilities to maintain our standards of quality. Certain of these maintenance costs are capitalized, if such improvement or refurbishment extends the life of the related asset, while other maintenance costs that do not so qualify are expensed as incurred. The commitment of capital and the related timing thereof are contingent upon, among other things, negotiation of final agreements and receipt of approvals from the appropriate regulatory bodies. We must also comply with covenants and restrictions set forth in our debt agreements.

Kansas Management Contract

As part of the Kansas Management Contract approved by the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission on January 11, 2011, Kansas Star committed to donate $1.5 million each year to support education in the local area in which Kansas Star operates for the duration of the Kansas Management Contract. We have made all distributions under this commitment as scheduled and such related expenses are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations.

Mulvane Development Agreement

On March 7, 2011, Kansas Star entered into a Development Agreement with the City of Mulvane ("Mulvane Development Agreement") related to the provision of water, sewer, and electrical utilities to the Kansas Star site. This agreement sets forth certain parameters governing the use of public financing for the provision of such utilities, through the issuance of general obligation bonds by the City of Mulvane, paid for through the imposition of a special tax assessment on the Kansas Star site payable over 15 years in an amount equal to the City’s full obligations under the general obligation bonds.

All infrastructure improvements to the Kansas Star site under the Mulvane Development Agreement are complete and the City of Mulvane issued $19.7 million in general obligation bonds related to these infrastructure improvements. At both December 31, 2021 and 2020, under the Mulvane Development Agreement, Kansas Star recorded $1.6 million, which is included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and at December 31, 2021 and 2020, $5.0 million, net of a $1.6 million discount, and $5.9 million, net of a $2.0 million discount, respectively, which is recorded as a long-term obligation in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Interest costs are expensed as incurred and the discount will be amortized to interest expense over the term of the special tax assessment ending in 2028. Kansas Star's special tax assessment related to these bonds is approximately $1.6 million annually. Payments under the special tax assessment are secured by irrevocable letters of credit of $5.0 million issued by the Company in favor of the City of Mulvane, representing an amount equal to three times the annual special assessment tax imposed on Kansas Star.

Contingent Payments

In connection with securing the Kansas Management Contract, Kansas Star agreed to pay a former casino project promoter 1% of Kansas Star’s earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") each month for a period of 10 years, which ended December 20, 2021.

Minimum Assessment Agreement

In 2007, Diamond Jo Dubuque entered into a Minimum Assessment Agreement with the City of Dubuque (the "City"). Under the Minimum Assessment Agreement, Diamond Jo Dubuque and the City agreed to a minimum taxable value related to the new casino of $57.9 million. Diamond Jo Dubuque agreed to pay property taxes to the City based on the actual taxable value of the casino, but not less than the minimum taxable value. Scheduled payments of principal and interest on the City Bonds will be funded through Diamond Jo Dubuque's payment obligations under the Minimum Assessment Agreement. Diamond Jo Dubuque is also obligated to pay any shortfall should property taxes be insufficient to fund the principal and interest payments on the City Bonds.

Interest costs under the Minimum Assessment Agreement obligation are expensed as incurred. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the remaining obligation under the Minimum Assessment Agreement was $1.9 million at each date, which was recorded in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and $12.2 million, net of a $2.0 million discount, and $12.7 million, net of a $2.2 million discount, respectively, which was recorded as a long-term obligation in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The discount will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the Minimum Assessment Agreement. Total minimum payments by Diamond Jo Dubuque under the Minimum Assessment Agreement are approximately $1.9 million per year through 2036.

Public Parking Facility Agreement

Diamond Jo Dubuque has an agreement with the City for use of the public parking facility adjacent to Diamond Jo Dubuque's casino and owned and operated by the City (the "Parking Facility Agreement"). The Parking Facility Agreement calls for: (i) the payment by the Company for the reasonable and necessary actual operating costs incurred by the City for the operation, security, repair and maintenance of the public parking facility; and (ii) the payment by the Company to the City of $80 per parking space in the public parking facility per year, subject to annual increases based on any increase in the Consumer Price Index, which funds will be deposited into a special sinking fund and used by the City for capital expenditures necessary to maintain the public parking facility. Operating costs of the parking facility incurred by Diamond Jo Dubuque are expensed as incurred. Deposits to the sinking fund are recorded as other assets. When the sinking fund is used for capital improvements, such amounts are capitalized and amortized over their remaining useful life.

Iowa Qualified Sponsoring Organization Agreements

Diamond Jo Dubuque and Diamond Jo Worth are required to pay their respective qualified sponsoring organization, who hold a joint gaming license with Diamond Jo Dubuque and Diamond Jo Worth, a certain percentage of the casino’s adjusted gross receipts on an ongoing basis. Diamond Jo Dubuque pays 4.50% on slot and table game revenues and 0.75% on sports wagering revenue. Diamond Jo Worth pays 5.76% on slot and table game revenues and 0.75% on sports wagering revenue. Diamond Jo Dubuque expensed $3.5 million, $2.3 million and $3.2 million, during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to its agreement. Diamond Jo Worth expensed $6.0 million, $3.8 million and $4.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, related to its agreement. The Diamond Jo Dubuque agreement expires on December 31, 2030. The Diamond Jo Worth agreement expires on March 31, 2025, and is subject to automatic ten-year renewal periods.

Development Agreement

In September 2011, the Company acquired the membership interests of a limited liability company (the "LLC") for a purchase price of $24.5 million. The primary asset of the LLC was a previously executed development agreement (the "Development Agreement") with Wilton Rancheria. The purchase price was allocated primarily to an intangible asset associated with the Company's rights under the agreement to assist Wilton Rancheria in the development and management of a gaming facility on Wilton Rancheria's land.

In July 2012, the Company and Wilton Rancheria amended and replaced the agreement with a new development agreement and a management agreement (the "Agreements"). The Agreements obligate us to fund certain pre-development costs, which were estimated to be approximately $1 million to $2 million annually, to assist Wilton Rancheria in its development and oversight of the gaming facility construction. In the current year, as progress is being made with the development, pre-development costs were approximately $1.7 million. Upon opening, we will manage the gaming facility. The pre-development costs funded by us are reimbursable to us with future cash flows from the operations of the gaming facility under terms of a note receivable from Wilton Rancheria.

In January 2017, the Company funded the acquisition of land that is the intended site of the Wilton Rancheria casino and, in February 2017, the land was placed into trust by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs for the benefit of Wilton Rancheria. The cost of the land is recorded as a receivable on our consolidated balance sheet, and we expect to be reimbursed for this cost.

The Agreements provide that the Company will receive future revenue for its services to Wilton Rancheria contingent upon successful development of the gaming facility and based on future revenues at the gaming facility. In September 2017, the California State Legislature unanimously approved, and the Governor of California executed, a tribal-state gaming compact with Wilton Rancheria allowing the development of the casino. In October 2018, the National Indian Gaming Commission approved the Company's management contract with Wilton Rancheria. With the compact now in place and the design and project budget finalized, Wilton Rancheria has secured third-party financing to fund construction. Construction of Sky River Casino began in first quarter 2021, and it is expected to open in fourth quarter 2022.

Master Lease Agreements

A Boyd subsidiary, Boyd TCIV, entered into the Master Lease pursuant to which the landlord agreed to lease to Boyd TCIV the facilities associated with Ameristar Kansas City, Ameristar St. Charles, Belterra Resort and Ogle Haus, LLC, commencing on October 15, 2018 and ending on April 30, 2026 as the initial term, with options for renewal. The term of this Master Lease may be extended for five separate renewal terms of five years each. The monthly lease payment consists of the following, (i) the building base rent, as defined in the Master Lease agreement, plus (ii) the land base rent, as defined in the Master Lease agreement, plus (iii) the percentage rent, as defined in the Master Lease agreement. Each and every other lease year commencing with the third lease year, the percentage rent will reset based on a calculation defined in the Master Lease agreement.

On May 6, 2020 we entered into an agreement with Gold Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of GLPI, for its acquisition of Boyd PropCo (the "Merger"), the entity that owns the Belterra Park real estate, with the Merger consummated and the transaction closed at the time of the execution of the merger agreement. That agreement provided that Gold Merger Sub would acquire Boyd PropCo via a merger, which would be treated for income tax purposes as a taxable asset acquisition consisting of the exchange of the real estate by us in satisfaction of the $57.7 million mortgage executed in connection with GLPI’s initial financing of our acquisition of the real estate in October 2018.

Prior to the Merger, BP OpCo, which owns the business operations of Belterra Park, leased the real estate from Boyd PropCo pursuant to a master lease that is the same in all material respects as the Master Lease between Boyd TCIV, LLC and Gold Merger Sub (the "BP Master Lease" and "GLP Master Lease," respectively). Rent paid under the BP Master Lease to Boyd PropCo by BP OpCo was then paid by Boyd PropCo to Gold Merger Sub as interest on the Note. As a result of the Merger, Gold Merger Sub has become the Landlord under the BP Master Lease and now receives rent payable under the BP Master Lease (equal to, and in lieu of, the interest payments on the Note received prior to consummation of the Merger). As an additional step in connection with the Merger, we expect to add BP OpCo as a subtenant to the GLP Master Lease (in connection with the termination of the BP Master Lease), resulting in a single Master Lease with GLPI, subject to the prior receipt of all required governmental approvals.

Contingencies

Legal Matters

We are parties to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe that all pending claims, if adversely decided, would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.