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Introduction & Market Context
Century Casinos , Inc. (NASDAQ:CNTY) presented its Q1 2025 investor presentation on May 12, 2025, highlighting the company’s performance and strategic initiatives amid challenging market conditions. The casino operator, which runs 17 properties across the USA, Canada, and Europe, reported stable revenue but widening losses as it continues to navigate high debt levels and regional market dynamics.
The presentation comes at a difficult time for the company, with its stock trading near 52-week lows at $1.31 in premarket trading, down 12.67% following a disappointing Q4 2024 earnings report that saw the stock plummet 27.58% in early May.
As shown in the following North American property footprint map, Century Casinos operates 11 properties across the United States and Canada, featuring 2,153 hotel rooms and 7,119 slot machines:
Quarterly Performance Highlights
Century Casinos reported Q1 2025 net operating revenue of $136.8 million, slightly higher than the $136 million reported in Q1 2024. However, Adjusted EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and rent) declined to $27.4 million in Q1 2025 compared to $29.3 million in Q1 2024.
More concerning was the widening net loss attributable to Century Casinos shareholders, which reached $20.6 million in Q1 2025, significantly worse than the $13.5 million loss reported in Q1 2024.
The following chart illustrates the company’s quarterly performance trends from 2023 through Q1 2025:
The United States remains Century Casinos’ largest market, accounting for 71% of revenues and 79% of Adjusted EBITDAR in Q1 2025, with Canada and Poland contributing the remainder.
Detailed Financial Analysis
Century Casinos’ financial performance varied across its three regional segments:
The East Region (West Virginia and Maryland) reported net operating revenue of $26.7 million in Q1 2025, down significantly from $38.5 million in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBITDAR also declined to $4.8 million from $7.6 million year-over-year.
The Midwest Region (Colorado and Missouri) showed more stability with Q1 2025 revenue of $39.8 million, slightly higher than $39.2 million in Q1 2024. Adjusted EBITDAR was $15.9 million, marginally lower than $16.1 million in the prior year period.
The West Region (Nevada) reported Q1 2025 revenue of $16.4 million, down from $18.4 million in Q1 2024. However, Adjusted EBITDAR improved to $2.9 million from $0.7 million, showing operational improvements at the Nugget Casino (EPA:CASP) Resort.
A key concern for investors remains Century Casinos’ high leverage ratio. As shown in the following balance sheet overview, the company reported a net debt leverage ratio of 6.9X as of March 31, 2025:
Management anticipates this ratio trending toward 4.7-6.0X by the end of 2025, though this remains significantly higher than industry averages. The company’s total principal debt stands at $339.6 million against cash of $84.7 million, resulting in net debt of $254.9 million.
Strategic Initiatives
Despite financial challenges, Century Casinos continues to pursue growth initiatives in its regional markets. The company highlighted several completed projects, including:
1. Opening a new permanent land-based casino and 38-room hotel at Century Casino & Hotel Caruthersville, Missouri on November 1, 2024
2. Opening a 69-room hotel at Century Casino Cape Girardeau, Missouri on April 4, 2024
3. Ongoing improvements at the Nugget Casino Resort in Reno-Sparks, Nevada
The company also noted that sports betting in Missouri, legalized in November 2024 and set to launch in the latter half of 2025, is expected to deliver incremental Adjusted EBITDAR beginning in 2026.
Century Casinos emphasized the resilience of regional gaming markets, which have shown stable growth despite macroeconomic fluctuations. The following chart illustrates how U.S. regional gross gaming revenue (GGR) has maintained growth despite changes in oil prices and consumer price index:
The company’s regional markets have all shown growth compared to pre-pandemic levels, with 2024 GGR materially higher than 2019 across all markets served in the U.S.:
Forward-Looking Statements
For 2025, Century Casinos provided several key financial forecasts:
- Capital Expenditures: Approximately $17.9 million, including $3.5 million in growth capital expenditures
- Cash Rent: Approximately $66.1 million related to the Master Lease and Nugget Lease
- Debt and Cash Interest: Approximately $5.2 million in scheduled principal payments and $32.9-34.2 million in gross cash interest
- Corporate Expense: $14.4-15.4 million including stock-based compensation
Management noted that trends in operating cash flows tend to follow trends in earnings from operations, which historically increase during the middle of the year.
During the recent Q4 2024 earnings call, Co-CEO Peter Hoetzinger commented, "We are seeing stability in our core gaming business across our carded database," while also acknowledging, "The big unknown is how business volumes from retail and low-end customers will develop."
The company is also exploring the divestment of non-U.S. assets to improve its financial position, according to the earnings call transcript, though this was not explicitly mentioned in the Q1 2025 presentation.
Century Casinos faces significant challenges ahead, including high debt levels, inflationary pressures affecting consumer spending, and uncertainty in the low-end consumer segment. While its regional gaming markets have shown resilience, the company’s financial performance and stock price continue to reflect investor concerns about its leverage and path to profitability.
Full presentation:
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