Gaming CFOs Mostly Upbeat, Strong Dollar Could Pinch Suppliers

Casino manufacture chief financial officers (CFOs) are mostly optimistic, but a strong dollar sign could follow a hang back on other gaming companies, says a sell-side analyst.

In a describe to clients today, Roth Washington psychoanalyst Albert Edward Engel noted recent conversations with financial bosses of gambling casino operators were constructive and could auspex comfortably for capital letter return plans inwards 2023.

Not only if are gaming dividends/buy-backs at decennium highs, but based on our conversations operators are urgent on with CapEx initiatives,” wrote the analyst. “We trust this creates a supportive backdrop for 2023 slot sales/placements, as intimately as gambling casino flooring investments the likes of cashless gaming and tech that ameliorate captures participant data/analytics.”

Share repurchase programs are the upper-case letter paying back exertion of selection inward the industry as only if a scant amount of cassino operators restored and grew dividends followers the starting line of the coronavirus pandemic.

As for demand trends, those remain sturdy, specially on the Las Vegas Strip. Engel added Frederick North American 144 gaming revenue (GGR) in August potential tracked 1% to 2% ahead of the twelvemonth before period.

Supplier Recovery Is Notable

Among the lessons learned past casino operators amid multi-month shutdowns inwards 2020 is that efficiencies and margins matter. An obvious outcome of that is a renewed accent on higher margin gaming offerings – to wit one-armed bandit machines.

Now, a potentially lengthy one-armed bandit upgrade round is underway with possible benefits inward store for suppliers such as Everi (NYSE:EVRI), Inspired Entertainment (NASDAQ:INSE) and PlayAGS (NYSE:AGS). Engel has “buy” ratings on that threesome as comfortably as Braxton Bragg Gaming Group (NASDAQ:BRAG).

“Gaming suppliers experience largely recovered to pre-COVID levels, where industry unit sales and installed bases experience either recovered or exceeded 2019. In 2Q22, industry unit sales reached 95% of 2Q19 levels, vs a 90% recovery inward 1Q22,” said the analyst. “Meanwhile, the North American installed radix is +2% on a two-year basis, as new casino openings and a reacclerating replacement rhythm raise the market. With CFOs remaining sure-footed forwards of a strong line of upcoming new openings/expansions, we anticipate further growing for gaming suppliers in 2023.”

Last month, Inspired Entertainment offered $10 a portion out inward cash for AGS, valuing the butt at $370 million. Those discussions at long last fell apart.

Strong Dollar Headwinds

Thanks to cinque interest group charge per unit hikes past the federal official Reserve with more on the way, the US clam is clobbering other major currencies this twelvemonth and that’s a retarding force on companies that convince sales in greenbacks rear to the currencies of their home countries.

As Engel points Braxton Bragg (euro) and Inspired (British pound) are among the gaming companies contending with exchange value hurdles. He lowered his damage place on Inspired to $16 from $19.

“Global iGaming operators reported mixed 2Q22 results; however, B2B suppliers grew alongside fresh regulated markets ilk the U.S. Specifically, companies the likes of BRAG and INSE delivered double-digit iGaming growth as they cow chip away market place portion from manufacture leaders. That said, FX headwinds inward Europe countervail some growth in 2H22 and 2023,” concluded the analyst.