NOTE 1—Business Operations

 

References in this document to “we,” “us” and “our” mean Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. and/or its wholly owned subsidiaries, as appropriate.

 

We are a premier gaming and entertainment resort destination whose operations consist of:

 

 

 

 

All of our gaming operations are located at our entertainment complex in Dover, the capital of the State of Delaware.

 

Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. is a public holding company that has two wholly owned subsidiaries: Dover Downs, Inc. and Dover Downs Gaming Management Corp.  Dover Downs, Inc. was incorporated in 1967 and began motorsports and harness racing operations in 1969.  In June of 1994, legislation authorizing video lottery operations in the State of Delaware (the “State”) was adopted.  Our casino operations began on December 29, 1995.  As a result of several restructurings, Dover Downs, Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Dover Motorsports, Inc. (formerly known as Dover Downs Entertainment, Inc.) (“DVD”), and became the operating entity for all of DVD’s gaming operations.

 

Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. was incorporated in the State in December of 2001 as a wholly owned subsidiary of DVD.  Effective March 31, 2002, DVD completed a tax-free spin-off of its gaming operations by contributing 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of Dover Downs, Inc. to Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc., and subsequently distributing 100% of our issued and outstanding common stock to DVD stockholders.  Immediately following the spin-off, Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. became an independent publicly traded company.

 

Dover Downs, Inc. is authorized to conduct video lottery, sports wagering, table game and internet gaming operations as one of three “Licensed Agents” under the Delaware State Lottery Code.  Licensing, administration and control of gaming operations in Delaware is under the Delaware State Lottery Office and Delaware’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Division of Gaming Enforcement.

 

Our license from the Delaware Harness Racing Commission (the “Commission”) to hold harness race meetings on our premises and to offer pari-mutuel wagering on live and simulcast horse races must be renewed on an annual basis.  In order to maintain our gaming license, we are required to maintain our harness horse racing license.  We have received an annual license from the Commission for the past 48 consecutive years and management believes that our relationship with the Commission remains good.

 

Due to the nature of our business activities, we are subject to various federal, state and local regulations.  As part of our license arrangements, we are subject to various taxes and fees which are subject to change by the Delaware legislature.

 

In recent years, the mid-Atlantic region has experienced an unprecedented expansion in gaming venues and gaming offerings.  This has had a significant adverse effect on our visitation numbers, our revenues and our profitability.  Management has estimated that approximately 29% of our gaming win comes from Maryland patrons and approximately 60% of our Capital Club® member gaming win comes from out of state patrons.

 

For the past several years, we have been engaged with the Delaware legislature, seeking to change the cost sharing structure that exists between video lottery agents, video lottery vendors, horsemen and the State, all in an effort to make the Delaware gaming industry more competitive in the regional marketplace.  Several bills have been introduced to implement one or more of the recommendations of the gaming industry and the legislatively created Lottery & Gaming Study Commission, but not enacted.  Without legislative relief, we may be unable to refinance or extend the maturity of our credit facility on favorable terms or may default on our obligations, we may be unable to allocate sufficient resources to marketing and promotions in order to compete effectively in the regional marketplace, we may be unable to allocate sufficient resources to maintaining our facility, and we may be required to take other actions in order to manage expenses - especially with respect to operations that have operated at a loss, such as table games.  Such actions could adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flow.