Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.
TypePublic
NasdaqGLPI
Russell 1000 Component
FoundedNovember 1, 2013; 10 years ago (2013-11-01)
Headquarters,
Revenue$1.2 billion[1] (2020)
$506 million[1] (2020)
Total assets$9.0 billion[1] (2020)
Number of employees
560[2] (2020)
Websiteglpropinc.com

About GLPI

Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc (GLPI) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) with a primary focus on obtaining real estate assets that are leased to gaming operators. Established in November 2013, GLPI emerged as a result of a corporate separation from Penn National Gaming, a prominent casino operator. Although headquartered in Pennsylvania, GLPI's expansive portfolio encompasses 59 gaming properties situated across 18 states. The predominant leasing structure employed is a triple-net lease, encompassing fundamental rent along with real property taxes, building insurance, and maintenance expenditures.

The Gambling market

As the REIT focuses on gaming properties (which are mostly casinos), we must address the gambling market.

The gambling industry can be categorized into verticals:

  • Sports
  • Racing
  • Casino (which would include live casino: poker, roulette, blackjack)
  • Slots
  • Lottery
  • Bingo
  • Others (such as E-Sports and Virtual Sports)

It can be further classified by Channel-type:

  • Land-Based
  • Online (also referred to as ‘iGaming’).
  • Omni-channel (both online and land-based. For example a jackpot slot game, where players are competiting for the same jackpot whether they play in-person or online)

A breakdown of GLPI's market & industry position

A gambling-focused REIT like GLPI is engaged in both the gambling and real estate markets.

Gambling market

  • Channel: GLPI predominantly operates in the Land-based segment. While omni-channel products connecting online and land-based casinos are emerging, the evaluation of properties should primarily emphasize the 'offline' component.
  • Verticals: REITs own 'gaming properties' - most of which are 'Land-based' casinos. Whilst there is a range of different segments in the gambling industry, typically in a casino you will find Slot machines, Casino tables (Poker, Roulette, Blackjack, etc), Sports betting and Bingo/Lottery/Scratch.
  • The allure of Land-based casinos, particularly in Casino tables, Slot machines, and Bingo halls, stems from the sensory experiences these physical settings offer, which online counterparts cannot fully replicate. However, the emergence of Live Casino and the potential of Virtual Reality are also noteworthy, and will be explored in the Risks & Catalysts section.

Real Estate

Casinos are no longer gaming venues, they are now entertainment centres and some are resorts. A casino resort can include hotel rooms and entertainment services such as shopping centres, dining, music, recreation and business spaces. Casino go-ers now are far more interested in the Real Estate aspect of a casino, rather than the variety of gambling products on offer or Brand loyalty.

The realm of gambling has maintained its prevalence for millennia, with the land-based sector demonstrating remarkable resilience throughout this extended period. However, the notable rise of online gaming, accelerated by the impact of the Covid pandemic, might paradoxically act as a catalyst for the land-based market.

GLPI's property portfolio is exclusively concentrated within the United States. Interestingly, the US is an emerging contender in the global landscape of online gaming, harboring the potential to surpass both Europe and the rest of the world in this domain.

Today, casinos have evolved into multifaceted entertainment hubs featuring diverse amenities, including food courts and various facilities. This transformation has effectively redefined the casino as an establishment centered around enjoyment, rather than a mere avenue for financial gain. Within the industry, responsible gambling has taken center stage, encapsulated by the well-recognized adage, "When the fun stops, stop." The industry is undergoing a transformation by shifting its identity from 'gambling' to 'entertainment', and it is the land-based casinos that are leading the way in embracing this evolution.

Casino Operators & Casino brands

Casino operators oversee a collection of casinos operating under their brand, typically located in properties they either own or lease from a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) like GLPI.


Some of the largest (land-based) casino operators is the US are:

  • Caesars Entertainment Corporation (Brands include: Caesars, Eldorado, Harrah's, Horseshoe, Tropicana)
    • Isle of Capri Casinos (acquired by Caesars in 2017, when it was formerly known as Eldorado Resorts)
  • MGM Resorts International (Brands include: MGM Grand, Bellagio, Luxor,etc)
  • Las vegas Sands Corporation - Sold all US properties to focus on properties in Macau and Singapore.
  • Wynn Resorts (Brands include: Wnn, Encore)
  • Penn National Gaming (Brands include: Hollywood Casino, Ameristar, and Boomtown)
  • Boyd Gaming Corporation (Brands include: Belterra, Diamond Jo, etc)
  • Hard Rock International (Brands: Hard Rock Hotels)
  • Golden Entertainment (Brands include: Golden Nugget, Arizona Charlie, Aquarius, etc)
  • Rush Street Gaming (Brands include: BetRivers, Sugarhouse, Rushbet)
  • Station casinos (Brands include: Station, Wildfire)

Leadership:

Management

Peter M. Carlino - CEO

Brandon J. Moore - COO, General Counsel and Secretary

Desiree A. Burke - CFO and Treasurer

Steven L. Ladany - Chief Development Office, Senior Vice President

Matthew Demchyk - Chief Investment Officer, Senior Vice President

Board of Directors

Peter M. Carlino - Chairman and CEO

JoAnne A. Epps - Acting President, Temple University

Carol Lili Lynton - Co-Founder and Operating Partner, The Dinex Group

Joseph W. Marshall III - Vice Chairman, Stevens & Lee, LLP

James B. Perry - Former Chairman and CEO, Isle of Capri Casinos

Barry F. Schwartz - Vice Chairman Emeritus, MacAndrews & Forbes Inc

Earl C. Shanks - Retired CFO, Essedant Inc

E. Scott Urdang - Restored CEO and Chairman, Urdang Capital Management

Strategy, Commitment & Ethos

Strategy and M&A

Despite being geographically diversified across the US, their portfolio only consists of gaming properties within the US. However, they are actively monitoring developmental opportunities to diversify portfolio by acquiring real property assets outside the gaming industry. This is evidenced recently as on May 13, 2023, the company entered into a letter of intent with Athletics Holdings LLC and Tropicana Las Vegas to develop a stadium for the Oakland Athletics MLB team on a portion of the Tropicana Site. GLPI will fund up to $175 million for construction costs.

Acquiring further gaming real estate assets and facilities still remains one of their top priorities. On January 3, 2023, the Company completed its acquisition of the real property assets of Bally's Tiverton and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi for $635 million. The properties were added to the existing Master Lease with Bally's. They also have the option to acquire the real property assets of Bally's Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort in Lincoln, RI before December 31, 2026.

ESG, Commitment and Ethos

The company emphasizes environmental and community stewardship as an essential aspect of creating shareholder value. They are committed to integrating ESG practices that benefit the company, its employees, and the communities they operate in. Social responsibility is a priority, and they aim to maintain a corporate culture that fosters a sense of community, well-being, and long-term success for both the employees and the company.

Corporate culture and employee engagement are encouraged through town-hall meetings, open feedback culture, talent development programs, and resources for health and well-being. Diversity and inclusion are promoted, and they adhere to equal opportunity employment policies.

The company actively supports the communities in which they operate by partnering with various organizations for charitable contributions, community service, and donation programs to help families in need.

Environmental stewardship is also a focus, with an emphasis on sustainable practices, energy efficiency, recycling, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality at their properties. They promote awareness and encourage environmentally beneficial practices among their tenants as well.

Corporate governance is led by the Board of Directors, which considers the interests of all stakeholders, including the environment and social well-being, to ensure the long-term prosperity of the company. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee oversees sustainability and ESG matters, providing recommendations to the Board.

Competition

GLPI’s primary competitor is VICI Properties Inc (VICI), another Gambling REIT. MGM Growth Properties LLC (MGP) was also one of their competitors, until VICI acquired the firm in April 2022 for $17.2billion. They also face competition from Private investment companies, private equity, hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, lenders and gaming operators themselves.

VICI

Vici Properties was established as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company (CEOC), a significant division of Caesars Entertainment. Following CEOC's entry into bankruptcy proceedings in January 2015, Caesars proposed a division of CEOC into two distinct entities: a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) responsible for owning the company's casinos and an operating company tasked with their management. This strategic approach aimed to optimize value for CEOC's creditors by leveraging the favorable tax benefits associated with REITs.

The REIT spin-off, Vici Properties, was successfully completed on October 6, 2017, coinciding with CEOC's emergence from bankruptcy. Vici commenced with a portfolio encompassing nineteen casinos and racetracks, all leased to Caesars, along with four golf courses. The name "Vici" derives from the famous phrase "Veni, vidi, vici," attributed to Julius Caesar.

Over time, Vici expanded its portfolio and pursued various acquisitions. It acquired properties such as Harrah's Las Vegas, engaging in sale and leaseback arrangements. MGM Growth Properties expressed interest in acquiring Vici in 2018, though Vici opted for an initial public offering (IPO) instead. Vici successfully completed its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $1.2 billion.

The company continued its growth trajectory by engaging in acquisitions, transactions with Caesars, and strategic expansion into Canada in 2023. Vici acquired a range of properties, including casinos and resorts, adding to its diverse portfolio and expanding its influence within the gaming and hospitality sectors.

Portfolio

A list of the properties within GLPI's portfolio - please note GLPI has 59 propeties in the portfolio, 56 listed here and 3 others.

'Other Properties' figures are from the 2022 Annual report, whilst 'Tenant Occupied Properties' has been amended to include two new acquisitions that were complete in March 2023 (Bally's Tiverton and Hard Rock Casino Biloxi).

Location State Acquisition date Tenant Lease Agreement Approx Property Square Footage Owned Acreage Leased Acreage Hotel Rooms
Tenant Occupied Properties
Dover Downs Dover, DE DELAWARE 06/03/2021 Bally's Master Lease 212,500 69.6 500
Tropicana Evansville Evansville, IN INDIANA 06/03/2021 Bally's Master Lease 754,833 18.4 10.2 338
Black Hawk (Black Hawk North, West and East casinos) Black Hawk, CO COLORADO 04/01/2022 Bally's Master Lease 118,552 3.2
Quad Cities Casino & Hotel Rock Island, IL ILLINOIS 04/01/2022 Bally's Master Lease 390,285 119.9 205
Bally's Tiverton Hotel & Casino Tiverton, RI RHODE ISLAND 01/03/2023 Bally's Master Lease 2,030,767 46.6 0 84
Hard Rock Casino and Hotel Biloxi Biloxi, MS MISSISSIPPI 01/03/2023 Bally's Master Lease 376,358 8.6 0 479
Tropicana Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV NEVADA 4/16/2020 Bally's/ Tropicana Las Vegas Lease 35.1
Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center Cincinnati, OH OHIO 10/15/2018 Boyd/Belterra Park Lease 372,650 160
Ameristar Kansas City Kansas City, MO MISSOURI 4/28/2016 Boyd/Boyd Master Lease 763,939 224.5 31.4 184
Ameristar St. Charles St. Charles, MO MISSOURI 4/28/2016 Boyd/Boyd Master Lease 1,272,938 241.2 397
Belterra Casino Resort Florence, IN INDIANA 4/28/2016 Boyd/Boyd Master Lease 782,393 167.1 149 662
Trop Casino Greenville Greenville, MS MISSISSIPPI 10/01/2018 Caesars/Amended Caesars Master Lease 94,017 7.4
Tropicana Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ NEW JERSEY 10/01/2018 Caesars/Amended Caesars Master Lease 4,232,018 18.3 2,364
Tropicana Laughlin Laughlin, NV NEVADA 10/01/2018 Caesars/Amended Caesars Master Lease 936,453 93.6 1,487
Belle of Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA LOUISIANA 10/01/2018 Caesars/Amended Caesars Master Lease 386,398 13.1 0.8 288
Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf Bettendorf, IA IOWA 12/18/2020 Caesars/Amended Caesars Master Lease 738,905 24.6 509
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo Waterloo, IA IOWA 12/18/2020 Caesars/Amended Caesars Master Lease 287,436 52.6 194
Horseshoe St Louis St Louis, MO MISSOURI 10/01/2018 Caesars/Horseshoe St. Louis Lease 807,407 18.5 494
Casino Queen St. Louis, IL ILLINOIS 1/23/2014 Casino Queen Master Lease 330,502 67.2 157
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA LOUISIANA 12/17/2021 Casino Queen Master Lease 95,318 25
Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland Hanover, MD MARYLAND 12/29/2021 Cordish Maryland Live! Lease 2,326,669 12.6 310
Live! Casino Pittsburgh Greensburg, PA PENNSYLVANIA 03/01/2022 Cordish/Pennsylvania Live! Master Lease 129,552 1.8
Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA PENNSYLVANIA 03/01/2022 Cordish/Pennsylvania Live! Master Lease 685,000 9.6 208
Ameristar Black Hawk Black Hawk, CO COLORADO 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 775,744 105.2 536
Ameristar Council Bluffs Council Bluffs, IA IOWA 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 312,047 36.2 22.6 160
Ameristar East Chicago Chicago, IN INDIANA 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 509,867 21.6 288
Ameristar Vicksburg Vicksburg, MS MISSISSIPPI 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 298,006 74.1 148
Boomtown Bossier City Bossier City, LA LOUISIANA 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 281,747 21.8 187
Boomtown New Orleans New Orleans, LA LOUISIANA 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 278,227 53.6 150
L'Auberge Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA LOUISIANA 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 436,461 99.1 205
L'Auberge Lake Charles Lake Charles, LA LOUISIANA 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 1,014,497 234.5 995
Jackpot Properties (Cactus Petes and Horseshu) Jackpot, NV NEVADA 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 419,800 79.5 416
River City Casino & Hotel St. Louis, MO MISSOURI 4/28/2016 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 431,226 83.4 200
Plainridge Park Casino Plainville, MA MASSACHUSETTS 10/15/2018 PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 196,473 87.9
Hollywood Casino at the Meadows Washington, PA PENNSYLVANIA 09/09/2016 PENN/Meadows Lease 417,921 155.5
Hollywood Casino Morgantown Morgantown, PA PENNSYLVANIA 10/01/2020 PENN/Morgantown Lease 36
Argosy Casino Alton Alton, IL ILLINOIS 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 124,569 0.2 4
Argosy Casino Riverside Riverside, MO MISSOURI 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 450,397 37.9 258
Boomtown Biloxi Biloxi, MS MISSISSIPPI 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 134,800 1.5 1
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races Town, WV WEST VIRGINIA 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 511,249 298.6 153
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course Grantville, PA PENNSYLVANIA 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 451,758 573.7
Hollywood Casino Aurora Aurora, IL ILLINOIS 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 222,189 0.4 1.7
Hollywood Casino Bangor Bangor, ME MAINE 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 257,085 6.4 37.9 152
Hollywood Casino Columbus Columbus, OH OHIO 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 354,075 116
Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast Bay St. Louis MS MISSISSIPPI 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 425,920 578.7 291
Hollywood Casino Joliet Joliet, IL ILLINOIS 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 322,446 275.6 100
Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg Lawrenceburg, IN INDIANA 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 634,000 73.1 32.1 295
Hollywood Casino St. Louis Maryland Heights, MO MISSOURI 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 645,270 220.8 502
Hollywood Casino Toledo Toledo, OH OHIO 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 285,335 42.3
Hollywood Casino Tunica Tunica, MS MISSISSIPPI 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 315,831 67.7 494
M Resort Henderson, NV NEVADA 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 910,173 83.5 390
Zia Park Casino Hobbs, NM NEW MEXICO 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 109,067 317.4
Hollywood Gaming Casino at Dayton Raceway Dayton, OH OHIO 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 191,037 119.7
Hollywood Gaming Casino at Mahoning Valley Race Track Youngstown, OH OHIO 11/01/2013 PENN/PENN Master Lease 177,448 193.4
1st Jackpot Casino Tunica, MS MISSISSIPPI 05/01/2017 PENN/PENN Master Lease 78,941 52.9 93.8
Hollywood Casino Perryville Perryville, MD MARYLAND 07/01/2021 PENN/Perryville Lease 97,961 36.3
30,196,457 5,207 800 14,780
Other Properties
Other owned buildings and land (2022 figures) 23,400 0.3
Total 30,219,857 5,207 800 14,780

Portfolio: State analysis

A breakdown of the Tenant occupied properties by State:

State No. of properties Sum of Property Sq footage Sum of Owned Acreage Sum of Leased Acreage Sum of Hotel Rooms
COLORADO 2 894,296 108 0 536
DELAWARE 1 212,500 70 0 500
ILLINOIS 5 1,389,991 463 5 462
INDIANA 4 2,681,093 259 212 1,583
IOWA 3 1,338,388 113 23 863
LOUISIANA 6 2,492,648 213 235 1,825
MAINE 1 257,085 6 38 152
MARYLAND 2 2,424,630 49 0 310
MASSACHUSETTS 1 196,473 88 0 0
MISSISSIPPI 7 1,723,873 716 170 1,412
MISSOURI 6 4,371,177 743 115 2,035
NEVADA 4 2,266,426 292 0 2,293
NEW JERSEY 1 4,232,018 18 0 2,364
NEW MEXICO 1 109,067 317 0 0
OHIO 5 1,380,545 632 0 0
PENNSYLVANIA 5 1,684,231 775 2 208
RHODE ISLAND 1 2,030,767 47 0 84
WEST VIRGINIA 1 511,249 299 0 153
Grand Total 56 30,196,457 5,207 800 14,780


As a percentage of the total portfolio:

Top 3 in each column in Bold
State Properties Square footage Owned Acreage Leased Acreage Hotel rooms
COLORADO 4% 3% 2% 0% 4%
DELAWARE 2% 1% 1% 0% 3%
ILLINOIS 9% 5% 9% 1% 3%
INDIANA 7% 9% 5% 27% 11%
IOWA 5% 4% 2% 3% 6%
LOUISIANA 11% 8% 4% 29% 12%
MAINE 2% 1% 0% 5% 1%
MARYLAND 4% 8% 1% 0% 2%
MASSACHUSETTS 2% 1% 2% 0% 0%
MISSISSIPPI 13% 6% 14% 21% 10%
MISSOURI 11% 14% 14% 14% 14%
NEVADA 7% 8% 6% 0% 16%
NEW JERSEY 2% 14% 0% 0% 16%
NEW MEXICO 2% 0% 6% 0% 0%
OHIO 9% 5% 12% 0% 0%
PENNSYLVANIA 9% 6% 15% 0% 1%
RHODE ISLAND 2% 7% 1% 0% 1%
WEST VIRGINIA 2% 2% 6% 0% 1%

Portfolio: Tenant Analysis

Tenant Lease Agreement No. of Properties Sum of Approx Property Square Footage Sum of Owned Acreage Sum of Leased Acreage Sum of Hotel Rooms
CASINO QUEEN
Casino Queen Master Lease 2 425,820 92 0 157
2 425,820 92 0 157
BALLYS
Bally's Master Lease 6 3,883,295 266 10 1,606
Bally's/ Tropicana Las Vegas Lease 1 0 35 0 0
7 3,883,295 301 10 1,606
BOYD
Boyd/Belterra Park Lease 1 372,650 160 0 0
Boyd/Boyd Master Lease 3 2,819,270 633 180 1,243
4 3,191,920 793 180 1243
CAESARS
Caesars/Amended Caesars Master Lease 6 6,675,227 202 8 4,842
Caesars/Horseshoe St. Louis Lease 1 807,407 19 0 494
7 7,482,634 221 8 5,336
CORDISH
Cordish Maryland Live! Lease 1 2,326,669 13 0 310
Cordish/Pennsylvania Live! Master Lease 2 814,552 10 2 208
3 3,141,221 23 2 518
PENN
PENN/Amended Pinnacle Master Lease 11 4,954,095 557 362 3,285
PENN/Meadows Lease 1 417,921 156 0 0
PENN/Morgantown Lease 1 0 36 0 0
PENN/PENN Master Lease 19 6,601,590 2,992 238 2,635
PENN/Perryville Lease 1 97,961 36 0 0
33 12,071,567 3777 600 5,920
Grand Total 56 30,196,457 5,207 800 14,780


As a percentage of the total portfolio:

Tenant group Properties Square footage Owned Acreage Leased Acreage Hotel rooms
CASINO QUEEN 4% 1% 2% 0% 1%
BALLYS 13% 13% 6% 1% 11%
BOYD 7% 11% 15% 23% 8%
CAESARS 13% 25% 4% 1% 36%
CORDISH 5% 10% 0% 0% 4%
PENN 59% 40% 73% 75% 40%

The majority of the properties are leased to Penn National Gaming operators, this is expected as GLPI was a corporate spin-off from Penn, so it inherited these properties at inception.

Risks & Catalysts

Market

Industry performance

The global gambling market was valued at approximate $449.04bn in 2022, having declined at a compund annual growth rate of -0.9% since 2017. This decline is largely due to covid lockdowns which affected the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) of the market in 2020. Whilst some regions, such as the US, recovered, others like Macau have not had a full recovery yet. The market is expected to grow from $449.04bn in 2022 to $765.89 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 11.3%.[3]

Gambling in the US

The strength of the US gambling market has consistently prevailed. As of 2020, the top five global casino companies, ranked by revenue, were exclusively US-based entities, with MGM Resorts claiming the crown.[4]

Commercial gross gaming revenue (GGR) in the United States has demonstrated steady growth since the 2000s. The only instances of year-on-year decline occurred during the 2008 financial crisis and the Covid-related lockdown in 2020. However, in both scenarios, the market exhibited remarkable resilience, rebounding swiftly from these challenges.

Channel analysis

Vertical analysis

Legal, Geopolitical and Regulations

Regional

Lease agreements, length

Economic Conditions & Investor Sentiment

Credit

Financials

Balance Sheet

Income Statement

Statement of Cash flows

Stock performance history

Dividends history

Competitor Financials (VICI)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Form 10-K: Annual Report (Report). Gaming and Leisure Properties. February 19, 2021. pp. 61–62 – via EDGAR.
  2. Form 10-K: Annual Report (Report). Gaming and Leisure Properties. February 19, 2021. p. 21 – via EDGAR.
  3. The Business Research Company. (2023). Gambling Global Market Opportunities & Strategies. Retrieved from https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/gambling-market#:~:text=Gambling%20Market%20Size,at%20a%20CAGR%20of%2011.3%25.
  4. Statista. (January 25, 2022). Leading selected casino companies worldwide in 2020, by revenue (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 11, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/257531/leading-casino-companies-worldwide-by-revenue/