Gaming and Leisure Properties announced that it acquired the real estate assets of Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols, NY from American Racing & Entertainment for $175 million. Simultaneous with the deal, GLPI and American Racing entered into a triple-net master lease agreement for an initial 30-year term.
This initial annual rent for the new master lease is $14.5 million, representing an 8.3% capitalization rate. And the initial annualized rent coverage ratio for the lease is expected to be over 2.3x. Rent associated with the lease is subject to a fixed 1.75% annual escalation beginning with the first anniversary and a fixed annual escalation of 2.0% beginning in year fifteen of the lease and carrying forward through the balance of its term.
Based in Nichols, NY, Tioga Downs Casino Resort is a roughly 162-acre property that features a 32,600 sq. ft. gaming floor with 895 slots and 29 table games, a 2,500 sq. ft. FanDuel sports book, a 160-room hotel, 5/8-mile harness horse track, 7 food and beverage locations, and a separate 18-hole championship golf course. The property also underwent a $130 million expansion beginning in 2016 after the State of New York awarded it a Class III casino license.
The deal was funded with cash on hand and $20 million in OP units were issued. And since the end of the third quarter 2023, GLPI has issued 4.06 million shares through its ATM (At-The-Market) program which raised net proceeds of $188.9 million, in part towards the funding of this transaction, as well as its overall potential acquisition pipeline. Citizens JMP Securities acted as financial advisor to Gaming and Leisure Properties. Innovation Capital served as the financial advisor to American Racing.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are pleased to add Tioga Downs to our portfolio and the new relationship with American Racing to our tenant roster. Tioga Downs further diversifies our portfolio, expanding it to 62 properties across 19 states with 8 tenants. American Racing has 20 years of gaming, horse racing, and hotel experience, marking another addition to our portfolio of leading gaming operator tenants. Tioga Downs is a high-quality, recently expanded asset with significant geographic protection from competition. We look forward to the start of a fruitful partnership with American Racing. Our initiatives to further expand our portfolio remain active in the current environment as our reputation as the gaming landlord of choice is strengthened.”
- Peter Carlino, GLPI’s Chairman and CEO
“We are excited to partner with the team at GLPI as we continue to grow our business at Tioga Downs. Our locals-oriented property has a well-protected feeder market with no competition within 85 miles and a very loyal following. Its location largely insulates it from gaming expansion in the downstate New York region. GLPI is a great steward of regional casino assets, and we are excited to begin this new relationship. I’m also personally looking forward to becoming a GLPI unitholder.”
- Jeff Gural, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of American Racing
