Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	NOTE 9. 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 Kansas Star's Contract to Serve as Lottery Gaming Facility Manager for the South Central Gaming Zone on behalf of the Kansas Lottery (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, 2023 and 2022, 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, 2023 and 2022, $3.1 million, net of a $0.8 million discount, and $4.1 million, net of a $1.1 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. 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, 2023 and 2022, 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 $11.2 million, net of a $1.7 million discount, and $11.7 million, net of a $1.8 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, $3.3 million and $3.5 million, during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to its agreement. Diamond Jo Worth expensed $6.1 million, $5.9 million and $6.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, 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 obligated us to fund certain pre-development costs, which were estimated to be approximately $1 million to $2 million annually, and to assist Wilton Rancheria in its development and oversight of the gaming facility construction. The Agreements also 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 of the gaming facility. In January 2017, the Company funded the acquisition of land that is the site of the Sky River Casino today and, in February 2017, the land was placed into trust by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs for the benefit of Wilton Rancheria. 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. In 2022, construction of the Sky River Casino was completed and the Company funded construction of a parking lot adjacent to the casino. On August 15, 2022, the Sky River Casino opened and we began earning a management fee. The pre-development costs financed by us, and the cost of the land and parking lot financed by us, are to be repaid under the terms of a note receivable with Wilton Rancheria bearing interest at 12.5% and payment timing and the payment amount are subject to an excess cash flow waterfall payment prioritization and maintenance of a certain leverage ratio, among other restrictions under Wilton Rancheria's third-party credit agreement that provided funding for the rest of the construction project. Given the significant barriers of the project, a majority of advances made during the 10-year period were historically reserved in full when advanced. With the opening of Sky River Casino and cash flow from operations, the Company evaluated its expected losses on the note receivable and reduced its allowance by $35.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. The allowance on the note represented a reserve on both the development advances and interest on the note. As such, the allowance reduction is allocated accordingly and $20.4 million is recorded in project development, preopening and writedowns and $14.7 million in interest income, both reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Wilton Rancheria amended their third-party credit agreement in March 2023 and such amendment effectively allowed Sky River Casino to begin making previously disallowed distributions, under the excess cash flow waterfall. Given the amendment in the first quarter of 2023, the Company updated its evaluation of its expected losses on the note receivable. As the amendment allowed for quarterly payments to begin and given the sustained operating strength of the recently opened property, the Company concluded it expected to receive all payments due under the note receivable. As such, the Company removed the remaining allowance on the note receivable in the first quarter of 2023, which represented a reserve on both the development advances and interest on the note. The allowance reduction is thus allocated accordingly and $20.1 million is recorded in project development, preopening and writedowns and $14.3 million is recorded in interest income, both reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company has received $113.6 million in principal payments and $12.0 million in interest due under the note receivable during the year ended December 31, 2023 and as of December 31, 2023, the principal and interest outstanding on the note receivable total $0.4 million. Separately, the management agreement provides for us to manage the gaming facility upon opening for a period of seven years and receive a monthly management fee for our services based on the monthly performance of the gaming facility. The management fee of $76.9 million and $26.9 million for our management services for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, is paid monthly and recorded in management fee revenue on the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company received a one-time $5.0 million development fee which was recognized upon completion of our performance obligations under the development agreement and is included in other revenue on the consolidated statement of operations. Master Lease Agreements A Boyd subsidiary, Boyd TCIV, entered into the Master Lease ("Boyd TCIV 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, PNK (Ohio), LLC, a Boyd subsidiary, that owns the business operations of Belterra Park, entered into a master lease to which the landlord agreed to lease to PNK (Ohio), LLC, the facilities associated with Belterra Park. The Master lease has substantially the same terms as disclosed above as the Boyd TCIV Master Lease. Rent expense associated with these Master Leases is recorded in master lease rent expense on the consolidated statements of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. 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. Hurricane Laura Insurance Recovery On August 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura made landfall in Vinton, Louisiana, which caused the closure of our Delta Downs property for approximately three weeks. The Company maintains insurance, subject to certain deductibles, that covers business interruption, including lost profits. As the Company deemed it probable that insurance recoveries would exceed any loss incurred, the Company accounted for the proceeds in excess of the loss incurred as a gain contingency in the period received in accordance with authoritative accounting guidance. During third quarter 2022, we settled our business interruption and lost profits claim with our insurance carriers and received payments totaling $13.2 million. After consideration of expenses incurred related to the claim, included in other operating items, net for the year ended December 31, 2022, is a $12.6 million gain representing business interruption insurance for lost profits from the closure of Delta Downs in 2020 due to Hurricane Laura.

Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 9. 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 Kansas Star's Contract to Serve as Lottery Gaming Facility Manager for the South Central Gaming Zone on behalf of the Kansas Lottery (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, 2023 and 2022, 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, 2023 and 2022, $3.1 million, net of a $0.8 million discount, and $4.1 million, net of a $1.1 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.

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, 2023 and 2022, 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 $11.2 million, net of a $1.7 million discount, and $11.7 million, net of a $1.8 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, $3.3 million and $3.5 million, during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to its agreement. Diamond Jo Worth expensed $6.1 million, $5.9 million and $6.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, 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 obligated us to fund certain pre-development costs, which were estimated to be approximately $1 million to $2 million annually, and to assist Wilton Rancheria in its development and oversight of the gaming facility construction. The Agreements also 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 of the gaming facility. In January 2017, the Company funded the acquisition of land that is the site of the Sky River Casino today and, in February 2017, the land was placed into trust by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs for the benefit of Wilton Rancheria. 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. In 2022, construction of the Sky River Casino was completed and the Company funded construction of a parking lot adjacent to the casino. On August 15, 2022, the Sky River Casino opened and we began earning a management fee.

The pre-development costs financed by us, and the cost of the land and parking lot financed by us, are to be repaid under the terms of a note receivable with Wilton Rancheria bearing interest at 12.5% and payment timing and the payment amount are subject to an excess cash flow waterfall payment prioritization and maintenance of a certain leverage ratio, among other restrictions under Wilton Rancheria's third-party credit agreement that provided funding for the rest of the construction project. Given the significant barriers of the project, a majority of advances made during the 10-year period were historically reserved in full when advanced. With the opening of Sky River Casino and cash flow from operations, the Company evaluated its expected losses on the note receivable and reduced its allowance by $35.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. The allowance on the note represented a reserve on both the development advances and interest on the note. As such, the allowance reduction is allocated accordingly and $20.4 million is recorded in project development, preopening and writedowns and $14.7 million in interest income, both reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Wilton Rancheria amended their third-party credit agreement in March 2023 and such amendment effectively allowed Sky River Casino to begin making previously disallowed distributions, under the excess cash flow waterfall. Given the amendment in the first quarter of 2023, the Company updated its evaluation of its expected losses on the note receivable. As the amendment allowed for quarterly payments to begin and given the sustained operating strength of the recently opened property, the Company concluded it expected to receive all payments due under the note receivable. As such, the Company removed the remaining allowance on the note receivable in the first quarter of 2023, which represented a reserve on both the development advances and interest on the note. The allowance reduction is thus allocated accordingly and $20.1 million is recorded in project development, preopening and writedowns and $14.3 million is recorded in interest income, both reflected in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company has received $113.6 million in principal payments and $12.0 million in interest due under the note receivable during the year ended December 31, 2023 and as of December 31, 2023, the principal and interest outstanding on the note receivable total $0.4 million.

Separately, the management agreement provides for us to manage the gaming facility upon opening for a period of seven years and receive a monthly management fee for our services based on the monthly performance of the gaming facility. The management fee of $76.9 million and $26.9 million for our management services for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, is paid monthly and recorded in management fee revenue on the consolidated statements of operations. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company received a one-time $5.0 million development fee which was recognized upon completion of our performance obligations under the development agreement and is included in other revenue on the consolidated statement of operations.

Master Lease Agreements

A Boyd subsidiary, Boyd TCIV, entered into the Master Lease ("Boyd TCIV 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, PNK (Ohio), LLC, a Boyd subsidiary, that owns the business operations of Belterra Park, entered into a master lease to which the landlord agreed to lease to PNK (Ohio), LLC, the facilities associated with Belterra Park. The Master lease has substantially the same terms as disclosed above as the Boyd TCIV Master Lease.

Rent expense associated with these Master Leases is recorded in master lease rent expense on the consolidated statements of operations for each of the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

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.

Hurricane Laura Insurance Recovery

On August 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura made landfall in Vinton, Louisiana, which caused the closure of our Delta Downs property for approximately three weeks. The Company maintains insurance, subject to certain deductibles, that covers business interruption, including lost profits. As the Company deemed it probable that insurance recoveries would exceed any loss incurred, the Company accounted for the proceeds in excess of the loss incurred as a gain contingency in the period received in accordance with authoritative accounting guidance. During third quarter 2022, we settled our business interruption and lost profits claim with our insurance carriers and received payments totaling $13.2 million. After consideration of expenses incurred related to the claim, included in other operating items, net for the year ended December 31, 2022, is a $12.6 million gain representing business interruption insurance for lost profits from the closure of Delta Downs in 2020 due to Hurricane Laura.