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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Revenue Recognition: The Company’s revenue from contracts with customers consists of gaming wagers, food and beverage transactions, retail transactions, hotel room sales, racing wagers, management services related to the management of external casinos, and reimbursable costs associated with management contracts. During the second quarter 2018, our management contract with Hollywood Casino-Jamul San Diego, which is located on the Jamul Tribe’s trust land in San Diego, California, was terminated and our management contract with Casino Rama, which is located in Ontario, Canada, was terminated during the third quarter 2018. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU No. 2014-09”), and all related amendments, which introduced a new revenue standard, ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606” or the “new revenue standard”). As described in Note 4, “New Accounting Pronouncements,” the adoption of ASC 606 principally affects the presentation of promotional allowances and the measurement of the liability associated with our customer loyalty programs. We adopted ASC 606 using a modified retrospective approach, which did not require us to retrospectively restate prior year amounts. See Note 4, “New Accounting Pronouncements,” for the current year impacts of adopting the new revenue standard on our Consolidated Financial Statements. The transaction price for a gaming wagering contract is the difference between gaming wins and losses, not the total amount wagered. The transaction price for food and beverage, hotel and retail contracts is the net amount collected from the customer for such goods and services. Sales tax and other taxes collected on behalf of governmental authorities are accounted for on the net basis and are not included in revenues or expenses. The transaction price for our racing operations, inclusive of live racing events conducted at our racing facilities and our import and export arrangements, is the commission received from the pari-mutuel pool less contractual fees and obligations primarily consisting of purse funding requirements, simulcasting fees, tote fees and certain pari-mutuel taxes that are directly related to the racing operations. The transaction price for our former management service contracts was the amount collected for services rendered in accordance with the contractual terms. The transaction price for the reimbursable costs associated with our former management contracts was the gross amount of the reimbursable expenditure, which primarily consisted of payroll costs incurred by the Company for the benefit of the managed entity. Since the Company was the controlling entity to the arrangement, the reimbursement was recorded on a gross basis with an offsetting amount charged to operating expense. Gaming revenue contracts involve two performance obligations for those customers earning points under the Company’s loyalty reward programs and a single performance obligation for customers that do not participate in the programs. The Company applies a practical expedient by accounting for its gaming contracts on a portfolio basis as such wagers have similar characteristics and the Company reasonably expects the effects on its Consolidated Financial Statements of applying the revenue recognition guidance to the portfolio to not differ materially from that which would result if applying the guidance to an individual wagering contract. For purposes of allocating the transaction price in a wagering contract between the wagering performance obligation and the obligation associated with the loyalty points earned, the Company allocates an amount to the loyalty point contract liability based on the stand-alone selling price of the points earned, which is determined by the value of a point that can be redeemed for slot play and complimentaries such as food and beverage at our restaurants, lodging at our hotels and products offered at our retail stores, less estimated breakage. The allocated revenue for gaming wagers is recognized when the wagering occurs as all such wagers settle immediately. The loyalty reward contract liability amount is deferred and recognized as revenue when the customer redeems the loyalty points for slot play and complimentaries and such goods and services are delivered to the customer. Food and beverage, hotel and retail services have been determined to be separate, standalone performance obligations and the transaction price for such contracts is recorded as revenue as the good or service is transferred to the customer over their stay at the hotel or when the delivery is made for the food and beverage or retail product. Cancellation fees for hotel and meeting space services are recognized upon cancellation by the customer and are included in food, beverage, hotel and other revenue. Racing revenue contracts, inclusive of the Company’s (i) host racing facilities, (ii) import arrangements that permit the Company to simulcast in live racing events occurring at other racetracks, and (iii) export arrangements that permit the Company’s live racing event to be simulcast at other racetracks, provide access to and the processing of wagers into the pari-mutuel pool. The Company has concluded it is not the controlling entity to the arrangement, but rather functions as an agent to the pari-mutuel pool. Commissions earned from the pari-mutuel pool less contractual fees and obligations are recognized on a net basis, which is included within food, beverage, hotel and other revenues. Management services have been determined to be separate, standalone performance obligations and the transaction price for such contracts was recorded as services were performed. The Company recorded revenues on a monthly basis calculated by applying the contractual rate called for in the contracts. PIV generates in-app purchase and advertising revenues from free-to-play social casino games, which can be downloaded to mobile phones and tablets from digital storefronts. Players can purchase virtual playing credits within our social casino games, which allows for increased playing opportunities and functionality. PIV records deferred revenue from the sale of virtual playing credits and recognizes this revenue over the average redemption period of the credits, which is approximately three days. Advertising revenues are recognized in the period when the advertising impression, click or install delivery occurs. PIV also generates revenue through revenue-sharing arrangements with third-party content providers whereby revenues are recognized on a net basis since PIV is not the controlling entity in the arrangement. Complimentaries associated Gaming Contracts Food and beverage, hotel, and other services furnished to patrons for free as an inducement to gamble or through the redemption of our customers’ loyalty points are recorded as food and beverage, hotel, and other revenues, at their estimated standalone selling prices with an offset recorded as a reduction to gaming revenues. The cost of providing complimentary goods and services to patrons for free as an inducement to gamble as well as for the fulfillment of our loyalty point obligation is included in food, beverage, hotel, and other expenses. Revenues recorded to food and beverage, hotel, and other and offset to gaming revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018 were as follows:
(in thousands) | For the year ended December 31, 2018
Food and beverage | $ | 137,179 |
Hotel | 60,859 |
Other | 8,099 |
Total complimentaries associated with gaming contracts | $ | 206,137 |
Revenue Disaggregation We generate revenues at our owned, managed, or operated properties principally by providing the following types of services: (i) gaming, (ii) food and beverage, (iii) hotel, (iv) racing, (v) reimbursable management costs and (vi) other. In addition, we assess our revenues based on geographic location of the related properties, which is consistent with our reportable segments (see Note 15, “Segment Information,” for further information). Our revenue disaggregation by type of revenue and geographic location was as follows:
| For the year ended December 31, 2018
(in thousands) | Northeast |  | South |  | West |  | Midwest |  | Other |  | Total
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gaming | $ | 1,644,176 |  |  | $ | 302,842 |  |  | $ | 228,055 |  |  | $ | 719,753 |  |  | $ | 35 |  |  | $ | 2,894,861 |
Food and beverage | 109,645 |  |  | 56,631 |  |  | 89,566 |  |  | 57,886 |  |  | 1,084 |  |  | 314,812 |
Hotel | 23,208 |  |  | 23,320 |  |  | 90,824 |  |  | 26,323 |  |  | — |  |  | 163,675 |
Racing | 20,275 |  |  | — |  |  | 580 |  |  | — |  |  | 5,926 |  |  | 26,781 |
Reimbursable management costs | 46,822 |  |  | — |  |  | 10,459 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 57,281 |
Other | 47,388 |  |  | 11,558 |  |  | 18,403 |  |  | 19,755 |  |  | 33,404 |  |  | 130,508 |
Revenues | $ | 1,891,514 |  |  | $ | 394,351 |  |  | $ | 437,887 |  |  | $ | 823,717 |  |  | $ | 40,449 |  |  | $ | 3,587,918 |
| For the year ended December 31, 2017
(in thousands) | Northeast |  | South |  | West |  | Midwest |  | Other |  | Total
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gaming | $ | 1,583,882 |  |  | $ | 202,967 |  |  | $ | 219,743 |  |  | $ | 685,429 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,692,021 |
Food and beverage | 114,993 |  |  | 35,532 |  |  | 82,406 |  |  | 58,414 |  |  | 1,052 |  |  | 292,397 |
Hotel | 21,513 |  |  | 10,340 |  |  | 76,147 |  |  | 21,959 |  |  | — |  |  | 129,959 |
Racing | 49,596 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,340 |  |  | — |  |  | 10,759 |  |  | 62,695 |
Reimbursable management costs | — |  |  | — |  |  | 26,060 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 26,060 |
Other | 48,645 |  |  | 6,263 |  |  | 16,605 |  |  | 16,404 |  |  | 40,417 |  |  | 128,334 |
| 1,818,629 |  |  | 255,102 |  |  | 423,301 |  |  | 782,206 |  |  | 52,228 |  |  | 3,331,466 |
Less: Promotional allowances | (62,050 | ) |  | (30,855 | ) |  | (42,883 | ) |  | (47,173 | ) |  | (535 | ) |  | (183,496 | )
Revenues | $ | 1,756,579 |  |  | $ | 224,247 |  |  | $ | 380,418 |  |  | $ | 735,033 |  |  | $ | 51,693 |  |  | $ | 3,147,970 |
| For the year ended December 31, 2016
(in thousands) | Northeast |  | South |  | West |  | Midwest |  | Other |  | Total
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gaming | $ | 1,572,378 |  |  | $ | 166,509 |  |  | $ | 211,788 |  |  | $ | 655,587 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2,606,262 |
Food and beverage | 115,834 |  |  | 30,692 |  |  | 80,003 |  |  | 58,370 |  |  | 1,313 |  |  | 286,212 |
Hotel | 20,888 |  |  | 8,843 |  |  | 73,180 |  |  | 22,493 |  |  | — |  |  | 125,404 |
Racing | 48,063 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,331 |  |  | — |  |  | 15,596 |  |  | 65,990 |
Reimbursable management costs | — |  |  | — |  |  | 15,997 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 15,997 |
Other | 46,900 |  |  | 5,646 |  |  | 16,260 |  |  | 15,454 |  |  | 24,916 |  |  | 109,176 |
| 1,804,063 |  |  | 211,690 |  |  | 399,559 |  |  | 751,904 |  |  | 41,825 |  |  | 3,209,041 |
Less: Promotional allowances | (62,254 | ) |  | (25,858 | ) |  | (38,783 | ) |  | (47,632 | ) |  | (134 | ) |  | (174,661 | )
Revenues | $ | 1,741,809 |  |  | $ | 185,832 |  |  | $ | 360,776 |  |  | $ | 704,272 |  |  | $ | 41,691 |  |  | $ | 3,034,380 |
Customer-related Liabilities The Company has two general types of liabilities related to contracts with customers: (i) our loyalty credit obligation and (ii) advance payments on goods and services yet to be provided and for unpaid wagers. The Company’s loyalty reward programs allow members to utilize their reward membership cards to earn loyalty points that are redeemable for slot play and complimentaries, such as food and beverage at our restaurants, lodging at our hotels and products offered at our retail stores across the vast majority of the Company’s casino properties. The Company accounts for the loyalty credit obligation utilizing a deferred revenue model, which defers revenue at the point in time when the loyalty points are earned by our customers. Revenue associated with the loyalty credit obligation is subsequently recognized into revenue when the loyalty points are redeemed by our customers. The deferred revenue liability is based on the estimated standalone selling price of the loyalty points earned after factoring in the likelihood of redemption. The Company’s loyalty credit obligation, which is included in “Accrued expenses” within our Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $39.9 million as of December 31, 2018 compared to $24.7 million upon the adoption of the new revenue standard on January 1, 2018. Our loyalty credit obligations are generally settled within six months of issuance. Changes between the opening and closing balances primarily relate to (i) the Pinnacle Acquisition, in which all acquired gaming properties have a loyalty reward program and (ii) the timing of the customer’s election to redeem loyalty points for complimentaries and products offered at our food and beverage outlets, hotels and retail stores. The Company’s advance payments on goods and services yet to be provided and for unpaid wagers primarily consist of the following: (i) deposits on rooms and convention space, (ii) money deposited on behalf of a customer in advance of their property visitation (i.e., front money), (iii) outstanding tickets generated by slot machine play or pari-mutuel wagering, (iv) outstanding chip liabilities, (v) unclaimed jackpots, and (vi) gift cards redeemable at our properties. Advance payments on goods and services are recognized as revenue when the good or service is transferred to the customer. Unpaid wagers primarily relate to the Company’s obligation to settle outstanding slot tickets, pari-mutuel racing tickets and gaming chips with customers and generally represent obligations stemming from prior wagering events, of which revenue was previously recognized. The Company’s advance payments on goods and services yet to be provided and for unpaid wagers were $34.3 million and $21.5 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, of which $0.7 million and $1.3 million are classified as long-term, respectively. Cash and Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all cash balances and highly-liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase 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 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 investigations of creditworthiness. The Company’s receivables as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 primarily consisted of the following:
| December 31,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017
Markers issued to customers | $ | 17,242 |  |  | $ | 5,237 |
Cash, credit card, and other advances to customers | 20,925 |  |  | 13,891 |
Receivables from automatic teller machine and cash kiosk transactions | 19,244 |  |  | 2,785 |
Hotel and banquet receivables | 8,142 |  |  | 4,566 |
Receivables due from the West Virginia Lottery (1) | 4,358 |  |  | 6,088 |
Racing settlements | 6,064 |  |  | 5,493 |
Reimbursement of payroll expenses (2) | 3,439 |  |  | 3,366 |
Receivables due from platform providers for social casino game revenues | 2,255 |  |  | 3,019 |
Other | 28,329 |  |  | 21,343 |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | (3,161 | ) |  | (2,983 | )
| $ | 106,837 |  |  | $ | 62,805 |
(1) | Related to gaming revenue settlements and capital reinvestment projects at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
(2) | Reimbursement of payroll expenses paid on behalf of our joint venture in Kansas Entertainment (as defined below)
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 amount, 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. Property and Equipment: Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Capital expenditures are accounted for as either project capital or maintenance (replacement) capital expenditures. Project capital expenditures are for fixed asset additions that expand an existing facility or create a new facility. Maintenance capital expenditures are expenditures to replace existing fixed assets with a useful life greater than one year that are obsolete, worn out or no longer cost effective to repair. 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. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are determined based on the nature of the assets as well as the Company’s current operating strategy. Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded using the straight-line method over the following useful lives:
| Years
Land improvements | 15
Buildings and improvements | 5 to 31
Vessels | 10 to 35
Furniture, fixtures and equipment | 3 to 31
All costs funded by the Company considered to be an improvement to the real estate assets owned by GLPI under the Master Leases are recorded as leasehold improvements. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the related lease term. The Company reviews the carrying amount of its property and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount 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. For purposes of recognizing and measuring impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment,” assets are grouped at the individual property level representing the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. In assessing the recoverability of the carrying amount 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: Goodwill represents the future economic benefits of a business combination measured as the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired and has been allocated to our reporting units. Goodwill is tested annually, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. An income approach, in which a discounted cash flow model is utilized and a market-based approach utilizing guideline public company (“GPC”) multiples of Adjusted EBITDAR (as defined in Note 15, “Segment Information”) from the Company’s peer group is utilized to estimate the fair value of the Company’s reporting units. For the quantitative goodwill impairment test, the current fair value of each reporting unit is estimated using a combination of the discounted cash flow model and the GPC multiples approach which is then compared to the carrying amount of each reporting unit. The Company adjusts the carrying amount of each reporting unit that utilizes property subject to either of the Master Leases by an allocation of a pro-rata portion of the applicable financing obligation based on the reporting unit’s estimated fair value as a percentage of the aggregate estimated fair value of all reporting units that utilize property that is subject to either the Penn Master Lease or the Pinnacle Master Lease, as applicable. The Company compares the aggregate weighted average fair value to the carrying amount of its reporting units. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the aggregate weighted average fair value, an impairment is recorded equal to the amount of the excess not to exceed the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The Company considers its gaming licenses and certain other intangible assets to be indefinite-lived based on the Company’s future expectations to operate its gaming facilities indefinitely as well as its historical experience in renewing these intangible assets at minimal cost with various state commissions. Rather, these indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, by comparing the fair value of the recorded assets to their carrying amount. If the carrying amounts of the indefinite-lived intangible assets exceed their fair value, an impairment is recognized. The Company completes its testing of its indefinite-lived intangible assets prior to assessing the realizability of its goodwill. The Company assesses the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets (which are primarily gaming licenses) using the Greenfield Method under the income approach. The Greenfield Method estimates the fair value of the gaming license using a discounted cash flow model assuming the Company built a casino with similar utility to that of the existing facility. The method assumes a theoretical start-up company going into business without any assets other than the intangible asset being valued. As such, the value of the gaming license is a function of the following items:
• | Projected revenues and operating cash flows (including an allocation of the Company’s projected financing payments to its reporting units consistent with how the financing obligations associated with the Master Leases are allocated);
• | Theoretical construction costs and duration;
• | Pre-opening expenses; and
• | Discounting that reflects the level of risk associated with receiving future cash flows attributable to the license.
Once an impairment of goodwill or other intangible asset has been recorded, it cannot be reversed. Other 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 amount of its amortizing intangible assets for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the amortizing intangible assets exceed their fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. See Note 8, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Master Lease Financing Obligations: The Company’s spin-off of its real estate assets into GLPI on November 1, 2013 (the “Spin-Off”) and corresponding entrance into the Penn Master Lease did not meet all of the requirements for sale-leaseback accounting treatment under ASC Topic 840, “Leases,” (“ASC 840”); specifically, the Penn Master Lease contains provisions that indicate the Company has prohibited forms of continuing involvement in the leased assets which are not a normal leaseback. Therefore, the Penn Master Lease is accounted for as a financing obligation rather than as a lease. The Company calculated a financing obligation at the inception of the Penn Master Lease based on the future minimum lease payments discounted at the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate at lease inception over the lease term of 35 years, which included renewal options that were reasonably assured of being exercised, and the funded construction of certain leased real estate assets in development at the commencement of the Penn Master Lease, which was determined to be 9.7%. Within a business combination, an arrangement that did not meet all of the requirements for sale-leaseback accounting treatment under ASC 840, and previously accounted for as a financing obligation by the acquiree, retains its classification as a financing obligation on the acquiring company’s consolidated balance sheets at the business combination date. The Company calculated the financing obligation associated with the Pinnacle Master Lease based on the future minimum lease payments discounted at a rate determined to be fair value at the business combination date. The financing obligation associated with Pinnacle Master Lease was calculated at the October 15, 2018 closing date, assuming a remaining lease term of 32.5 years, which included renewal options that were reasonably assured of being exercised, and a discount rate of 7.3%. Furthermore, in conjunction with the Pinnacle Acquisition, GLPI acquired the real estate assets associated with Plainridge Park Casino for $250.0 million and leased back the real estate assets to the Company pursuant to an amendment to the Pinnacle Master Lease for a fixed annual rent of $25.0 million over the remaining term of the Pinnacle Master Lease, which resulted in an effective yield of 9.6%. Minimum lease payments under our Master Leases are recorded as interest expense and, in part, as repayments of principal reducing the associated financing obligations. Contingent payments are recorded as interest expense as incurred. The real estate assets subject to the Master Leases are included on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and are depreciated over their remaining useful lives. For more information, see Note 10, “Master Lease Financing Obligations and Lease Obligations.” 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. These costs are classified as a direct reduction of long-term debt within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Self-Insurance Reserves: The Company is self-insured for employee health coverage, general liability and workers compensation up to certain stop loss amounts. The Company uses a reserve method for each reported claim plus an allowance for claims incurred but not yet reported to a fully developed claims reserve method based on an actuarial computation of ultimate liability. Self-insurance reserves are included in “Accrued expenses” within the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contingent Purchase Price: The consideration for the Company’s acquisitions may include future payments that are contingent upon the occurrence of a particular event. The Company records an obligation for such contingent payments at fair value as of the acquisition date. The Company revalues its contingent consideration obligations each reporting period. Changes in the fair value of the contingent purchase price obligation can result from changes to one or multiple inputs, including adjustments to the discount rate and changes in the assumed probabilities of successful achievement of certain financial targets. The changes in the fair value of contingent consideration are recognized within the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of “General and administrative” expense. Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 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 net deferred tax assets is evaluated quarterly by assessing the valuation allowance and by adjusting the amount of the allowance, if necessary. The Company considers all available positive and negative evidence including projected future taxable income and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the net deferred tax assets. The evaluation of both positive and negative evidence is a requirement pursuant to ASC 740 in determining more-likely-than-not the net deferred tax assets will be realized. In the event the Company determines that the deferred income tax assets would be realized in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be recorded, which would reduce the provision for income taxes. 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. 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. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, these expenses, which were recorded primarily within gaming expense within the Consolidated Statements of Operations, were $1,102.3 million, $983.3 million, and $962.7 million, respectively. Earnings Per Share: The Company calculates earnings per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share” (“ASC 260”). Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stock 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. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company’s 8,624 outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock were sold by the holders of these securities, and therefore automatically converted to 8,624,000 shares of common stock under previously agreed upon terms. As a result, there are no longer any outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. The Company determined that the preferred stock qualified as a participating security as defined in ASC 260 since these securities participate in dividends with the Company’s common stock. 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 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. For more information on our Series C Preferred Stock, refer to Note 13, “Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit).” The following table sets forth the allocation of net income for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 under the two-class method:
| For the year ended December 31,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Net income attributable to Penn National Gaming, Inc. | $ | 93,519 |  |  | $ | 473,463 |  |  | $ | 109,310 |
Net income applicable to preferred stock | — |  |  | — |  |  | 8,662 |
Net income applicable to common stock | $ | 93,519 |  |  | $ | 473,463 |  |  | $ | 100,648 |
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, 2018, 2017 and 2016:
| For the year ended December 31,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Determination of shares: |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | 97,105 |  |  | 90,854 |  |  | 82,929 |
Assumed conversion of dilutive employee stock-based awards | 3,018 |  |  | 2,431 |  |  | 1,299 |
Assumed conversion of restricted stock | 215 |  |  | 93 |  |  | 42 |
Diluted weighted-average common share outstanding before participating security | 100,338 |  |  | 93,378 |  |  | 84,270 |
Assumed conversion of preferred stock | — |  |  | — |  |  | 7,137 |
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding | 100,338 |  |  | 93,378 |  |  | 91,407 |
Options to purchase 656,588 shares; 51,803 shares; and 3,036,819 shares were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they were antidilutive. The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted EPS for the Company’s common stock for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:
| For the year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Calculation of basic EPS: |  |  |  |  |
Net income applicable to common stock | $ | 93,519 |  |  | $ | 473,463 |  |  | $ | 100,648 |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | 97,105 |  |  | 90,854 |  |  | 82,929 |
Basic EPS | $ | 0.96 |  |  | $ | 5.21 |  |  | $ | 1.21 |
Calculation of diluted EPS using two-class method: |  |  |  |  |
Net income applicable to common stock | 93,519 |  |  | 473,463 |  |  | 100,648 |
Diluted weighted-average common share outstanding before participating security | 100,338 |  |  | 93,378 |  |  | 84,270 |
Diluted EPS | $ | 0.93 |  |  | $ | 5.07 |  |  | $ | 1.19 |
Stock-Based Compensation: The Company accounts for stock compensation under ASC Topic 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 Company accounts for forfeitures in the period in which they occur based on actual amounts. The fair value of stock options is estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires management to make assumptions, including the expected term, which is based on the contractual term of the stock option and historical exercise data of the Company’s employees; the risk-free interest rate; which is based on the U.S. Treasury spot rate with a term equal to the expected term assumed at the grant date; the expected volatility, which is estimated based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price over the expected term assumed at the grant date; and the expected dividend yield, which we expect to be zero since the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its common stock since its initial public offering in May 1994 and intends to retain all of its earnings to finance the development of its business for the foreseeable future. See Note 14, “Stock-based Compensation,” for further information. Variable Interest Entities: In accordance with the authoritative guidance of ASC Topic 810, “Consolidation” (“ASC 810”), the Company consolidates a VIE if the Company is the primary beneficiary, defined as the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. A variable interest is a contractual, ownership or other interest that changes with changes in the fair value of the VIE’s net assets exclusive of variable interests. To determine whether a variable interest the Company holds could potentially be significant to the VIE, the Company considers both qualitative and quantitative factors regarding the nature, size and form of its involvement with the VIE. The Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE or the holder of a significant variable interest in a VIE on an on-going basis for each such interest. Application of Business Combination Accounting: The Company utilizes the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations,” which requires us to allocate the purchase price to tangible and identifiable intangible assets based on their fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value ascribed to tangible and identifiable intangible assets is recorded as goodwill. If the fair value ascribed to tangible and identifiable intangible assets changes during the measurement period (due to additional information being available and related Company analysis), the measurement period adjustment is recognized in the reporting period in which the adjustment amount is determined and offset against goodwill. The measurement period for our acquisitions are no more than one year in duration. Segment Information: The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”), as that term is defined in ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” measures and assesses the Company’s business performance based on regional operations of various properties grouped together based primarily on their geographic locations. We view each of our gaming and racing facilities as an operating segment with the exception of our two facilities in Jackpot, Nevada, which we view as one operating segment. We view our combined VGT operations as an operating segment. See Note 15, “Segment Information,” for further information. For financial reporting purposes, as of December 31, 2018, we aggregate our operating segments into the following reportable segments:
Northeast segment (1) | Location
Ameristar East Chicago | East Chicago, Indiana
Hollywood Casino Bangor | Bangor, Maine
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races | Charles Town, West Virginia
Hollywood Casino Columbus | Columbus, Ohio
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg | Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course | Grantville, Pennsylvania
Hollywood Casino Toledo | Toledo, Ohio
Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway | Dayton, Ohio
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course | Youngstown, Ohio
Meadows Racetrack and Casino | Washington, Pennsylvania
Plainridge Park Casino | Plainville, Massachusetts
South segment | Location
1 st Jackpot Casino Tunica | Tunica, Mississippi
Ameristar Vicksburg | Vicksburg, Mississippi
Boomtown Biloxi | Biloxi, Mississippi
Boomtown Bossier City | Bossier City, Louisiana
Boomtown New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana
Hollywood Casino Tunica | Tunica, Mississippi
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast | Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
L’Auberge Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge, Louisiana
L’Auberge Lake Charles | Lake Charles, Louisiana
Resorts Casino Tunica | Tunica, Mississippi
West segment (2) | Location
Ameristar Black Hawk | Black Hawk, Colorado
Cactus Petes and Horseshu | Jackpot, Nevada
M Resort | Henderson, Nevada
Tropicana Las Vegas | Las Vegas, Nevada
Zia Park Casino | Hobbs, New Mexico
Midwest segment | Location
Ameristar Council Bluffs | Council Bluffs, Iowa
Argosy Casino Alton | Alton, Illinois
Argosy Casino Riverside | Riverside, Missouri
Hollywood Casino Aurora | Aurora, Illinois
Hollywood Casino Joliet | Joliet, Illinois
Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway (3) | Kansas City, Kansas
Hollywood Casino St. Louis | Maryland Heights, Missouri
Prairie State Gaming | Illinois
River City Casino | St. Louis, Missouri
(1) | The Northeast segment also included the Company’s Casino Rama management service contract, which terminated in July 2018.
(2) | The West segment also included a management service contract with the JIVDC, which terminated in May 2018.
(3) Pursuant to a joint venture with International Speedway Corporation (“International Speedway”) and includes the Company’s 50% investment in Kansas Entertainment, LLC (“Kansas Entertainment”), which owns the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.

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