Golden Entertainment : Third Quarter Net Revenue Rises 3.9% to $108.3 Million, Net Income of $8.6 Million and Adjusted EBITDA Increases 20.1% to $15.1 Million

Golden Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:GDEN) (“Golden Entertainment” or the “Company”), today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, as summarized below.

Blake L. Sartini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Entertainment, commented, “Our distributed gaming and casino businesses continue to deliver strong financial results, with the 2017 third quarter benefiting from 6.5% Adjusted EBITDA growth in our distributed gaming business and a 37.1% rise in Adjusted EBITDA from our casino business. In total, Golden Entertainment generated third quarter 2017 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA growth of 20.1%, marking our third consecutive quarter of double digit Adjusted EBITDA growth this year.

“In addition to the strong operating results, we had a very active quarter which set the stage for future growth on several fronts. In September, we opened the fourth of our planned seven new Nevada tavern locations for 2017. We continue to grow margins in our Montana distributed gaming operations as operating efficiency improves following the successful integration of two acquisitions last year. In Pahrump, our significant Adjusted EBITDA growth was the result of revisions to our marketing plan which drove increased market share. At Rocky Gap, our profitability continues to outpace revenue growth, driven in part by our decision to purchase the gaming devices on our casino floor in exchange for a slot tax reduction from the state of Maryland.

“Just over two weeks ago, we significantly increased the scale and diversification of our business with the completion of our accretive acquisition of American Casino & Entertainment Properties (“American”). This transaction brings Golden three attractive properties in Las Vegas, including the iconic Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower, Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Arizona Charlie’s Boulder, as well as the Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin. As a result, Golden today operates 16,000 slot machines, 114 table games and 5,162 hotel rooms across eight casino properties and almost 1,000 distributed gaming locations, including the largest portfolio of branded taverns in Nevada. The entire Golden Entertainment team is working hard to integrate American with our existing operations and I am delighted to welcome the American team to the Golden Entertainment family. Looking toward the balance of 2017 and 2018, we are excited by the growth prospects for our entire portfolio of casino properties and distributed gaming operations which together support our goal of further enhancing shareholder value.”

Results for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

Consolidated net revenues for the 2017 third quarter were $108.3 million, compared to $104.2 million in the prior-year quarter. The increase in net revenues was driven primarily by continued growth in gaming revenues across the Company’s Nevada Distributed Gaming operations, inclusive of the opening of additional new branded taverns, as well as from further improvement in the Company’s Casino operations. Golden’s Distributed Gaming business grew net revenue 3.2% year over year to $80.7 million. Net revenues for the Company’s Casino operations grew 6.1% over the prior-year period to $27.5 million.

For the third quarter of 2017, net income was $8.6 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, compared to $1.3 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, in the prior-year quarter. The Distributed Gaming business grew net income 54.8% year over year, and net income for the Company’s Casino operations grew 49.4% year over year.

Adjusted EBITDA for the 2017 third quarter was $15.1 million, compared to $12.6 million for the prior-year period. The 20.1% increase in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by the growth in consolidated net revenues, the ongoing focus on growing the Company’s branded tavern business in Nevada, margin expansion in Montana distributed gaming, and strong performance at both Rocky Gap and Pahrump. The Distributed Gaming business grew Adjusted EBITDA 6.5% year over year, and Adjusted EBITDA for the Company’s Casino operations grew 37.1% year over year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $42.9 million and total outstanding debt of $174.6 million. Outstanding debt under the Company’s senior credit facility included $141 million in senior secured term loans and $27 million in borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Following the end of the 2017 third quarter and in connection with the closing of the acquisition of American, the Company refinanced its existing credit facilities.

Charles H. Protell, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Financial Officer, commented, “Our strong cash flows and financial position enabled Golden Entertainment to further invest in our existing casino and distributed gaming businesses with approximately $11 million of capital expenditures in addition to completing the transformative acquisition of American in October. We expect to achieve our previously stated full year pro forma results and synergy targets. Reflecting the additional debt incurred in connection with the recent closing of the American transaction, Golden expects to end 2017 with net leverage of approximately 5x pro forma adjusted EBITDA for the combined companies, with sufficient financial liquidity to continue to pursue both organic and strategic growth opportunities.”

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a webcast and conference call today, November 8, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the third quarter 2017 results. The conference call may be accessed live by dialing (844) 465-3054 or (480) 685-5227 for international callers and entering the passcode 1515166. A replay will be available beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on November 8, 2017 and may be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 for international callers; the passcode is 1515166. The replay will be available until November 10, 2017. The call will also be webcast live through the “Investors” section of the Company’s website, www.goldenent.com. A replay of the audio webcast will also be archived on the Company’s website, www.goldenent.com.

If you have questions about Golden Entertainment or are interested in conducting a conference call with Golden Entertainment management, please contact JCIR at (212) 835-8500 or gden@jcir.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “seek,” “should,” “think,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions, or they may use future dates. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding: the benefits of the American transaction; estimated future financial and operating results, including the expected pro forma combined companies’ adjusted EBITDA and net leverage multiple at year end 2017; and the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations, intentions, including with respect to its growth prospects and growth opportunities. It is important to note that the Company’s goals and expectations are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may change at any time, and readers are therefore cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among other things: the effects of disruption caused by the American transaction making it more difficult for the Company to execute its operating plan effectively or to maintain relationships with employees, vendors and other business partners; delays in realizing or failure to realize the anticipated cost savings, synergies and other benefits of the American transaction; the Company’s ability to successfully integrate American’s businesses, and other acquired businesses; changes in national, regional and local economic, political and market conditions; legislative and regulatory matters (including the cost of compliance or failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations); increases in gaming taxes and fees in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; litigation; increased competition; the Company’s ability to renew its distributed gaming contracts; reliance on key personnel (including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy and Financial Officer); the level of the Company’s indebtedness and the Company’s ability to comply with covenants in its debt facilities; terrorist incidents; natural disasters; severe weather conditions; the effects of environmental and structural building conditions; the effects of disruptions to the Company’s information technology and other systems and infrastructure; factors affecting the gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries generally; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including the “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA, which measure the Company believes is appropriate to provide meaningful comparison with, and to enhance an overall understanding of, the Company’s past financial performance and prospects for the future. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA (and associated margin calculations) provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding specific expenses and gains that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating results. Further, Adjusted EBITDA is a measure of operating performance used by management, as well as industry analysts, to evaluate operations and operating performance and is widely used in the gaming industry. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies in the gaming industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than the Company does. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) are provided in the financial information tables below.

The Company defines “Adjusted EBITDA” as earnings before interest and other non-operating income (expense), income taxes, depreciation and amortization, preopening expenses, acquisition and merger expenses, class action litigation expense, share-based compensation expenses, executive severance and sign-on bonuses, gain on contingent consideration, impairments and other gains and losses. Adjusted EBITDA for a particular segment or operation is Adjusted EBITDA before corporate overhead, which is not allocated to each segment or operation. The Company defines “Adjusted EBITDA margins” for the Company or a particular segment or operation as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net revenues for the Company or such segment or operation, as applicable.

About Golden Entertainment, Inc.

Golden Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates gaming properties across two divisions – resort and casino operations and distributed gaming. The Company operates approximately 16,000 gaming devices, 114 table games, 5,162 hotel rooms, and provides jobs for more than 7,200 team members. Golden Entertainment owns eight casino resorts – seven in Southern Nevada and one in Maryland. Through its distributed gaming business in Nevada and Montana, Golden Entertainment operates video gaming devices at nearly 1,000 locations and owns nearly 60 traditional taverns in Nevada. The Company is licensed in Illinois to operate video gaming terminals. Golden Entertainment is focused on maximizing the value of its portfolio by leveraging its scale, leadership position and proven management capabilities across its two divisions. For more information, visit www.goldenent.com.

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