Accel Entertainment Reports Record First Quarter Revenue and Strong Operating Results

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL) today announced financial and operating results for the first quarter March 31, 2025.

Highlights:

• Record revenues of $323.9 million in Q1 '25; an increase of 7.3% compared to Q1 '24
• Net income of $14.6 million for Q1 '25; an increase of 97.0% compared to Q1 '24
• Adjusted EBITDA of $49.5 million for Q1 '25; an increase of 7.1% compared to Q1 '24
• Ended Q1 '25 with 4,391 locations; an increase of 2.9% compared to Q1 '24
• Ended Q1 '25 with 27,180 gaming terminals; an increase of 4.4% compared to Q1 '24
• Net debt of $309 million at March 31, 2025
• Repurchased 1 million shares of Accel Class A-1 common stock in Q1 '25 for approximately $10.2 million
• Commenced our casino and racing operations at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing in April 2025.

Accel CEO Andy Rubenstein commented, “Our operating and financial momentum continues in 2025. In the first quarter, we generated our highest quarterly revenue since going public and strong Adjusted EBITDA as we expanded the number of locations we serve and increased the number of gaming terminals. In April, we opened Phase I of our casino and commenced horse racing operations at Fairmount Park Casino & Racing, which has already garnered solid customer visitation and play. This past Saturday, we hosted Fairmount Park’s “Derby Day at the Track.” Despite the inclement weather forcing us to cancel races at our Derby Day, we still had a fantastic turnout that drove very strong play at the casino, demonstrating the value of our acquisition. We remain confident that Fairmount will be another meaningful growth driver for Accel.”

“We continue to execute on our near- and long-term growth plans to improve our core operations and expand into complimentary markets, including Fairmount, to leverage our operating disciplines. These initiatives are already benefiting our operating performance and we expect our expansion efforts will allow Accel to maintain attractive low-teens returns on capital, generate growing free cash flow, and ultimately improve our trading multiples to enhance shareholder value.”

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Data

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)	2025			2024
Total net revenues	$	323,912		$	301,817
Operating income		25,952			25,559
Income before income tax expense		19,606			12,183
Net income		14,613			7,416
Other Financial Data:
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		49,514			46,247
Adjusted net income (2)		20,218			19,505

(1)		Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP metric. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a reconciliation to GAAP.
(2)		Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP metric. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a reconciliation to GAAP.

 

Net Revenues

(in thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31,						Increase / (Decrease)
	2025			2024			Change ($)				Change (%)
Net revenues by state:
Illinois	$	233,479		$	224,863		$	8,616			3.8%
Montana		41,136			38,141			2,995			7.9%
Nevada		27,617			29,209			(1,592	)		(5.5)%
Louisiana		9,025			—			9,025			N/A
Nebraska		7,230			5,834			1,396			23.9%
Georgia		4,325			2,624			1,701			64.8%
Other		1,100			1,146			(46	)		(4.0)%
Total net revenues	$	323,912		$	301,817		$	22,095			7.3%

Key Business Metrics

Locations (1)	As of March 31,				Increase / (Decrease)
	2025		2024		Change		Change (%)
Illinois	2,745		2,786		(41)		(1.5)%
Montana	618		609		9		1.5%
Nevada	355		355		—		—%
Louisiana	96		—		96		N/A
Nebraska	267		237		30		12.7%
Georgia	310		280		30		10.7%
Total locations	4,391		4,267		124		2.9%

Gaming terminals (1)	As of March 31,				Increase / (Decrease)
	2025		2024		Change		Change (%)
Illinois	15,624		15,494		130		0.8%
Montana	6,526		6,280		246		3.9%
Nevada	2,623		2,714		(91)		(3.4)%
Louisiana	614		—		614		N/A
Nebraska	949		833		116		13.9%
Georgia	844		708		136		19.2%
Total gaming terminals	27,180		26,029		1,151		4.4%

Location hold-per-day (2)	Three Months Ended March 31,						Increase / (Decrease)
	2025			2024			Change ($)			Change (%)
Illinois	$	885		$	860		$	25		2.9%
Montana		610			594			16		2.7%
Nevada		802			847			(45)		(5.3)%
Louisiana		972			—			972		N/A
Nebraska		263			233			30		12.9%
Georgia		145			91			54		59.3%

(1)		Based on a combination of third-party portal data and data from our internal systems. This metric is utilized by Accel to continually monitor growth from existing locations, organic openings, acquired locations, and competitor conversions.
(2)		Location hold-per-day is calculated by dividing net gaming revenue in the period by the average number of locations. We then divide the calculated amount by the number of operational days. We utilize this metric to compare market and location performance on a normalized basis. The percent change in location hold-per-day is the underlying metric used to determine the change in same-store sales.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Data

	Year Ended March 31,
(in thousands)		2025				2024			Change ($)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	44,752			$	28,750			$	16,002
Net cash used in investing activities		(26,186	)			(25,896	)			(290	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(27,932	)			(10,546	)			(17,386	)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted net income is defined as net income plus:

• Amortization of intangible assets and route and customer acquisition costs
• Stock-based compensation expense
• Loss from unconsolidated affiliates
• (Gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent earnout shares
• Other expenses, net which consists of (i) non-cash expenses including the remeasurement of contingent consideration liabilities, (ii) non-recurring lobbying and legal expenses related to distributed gaming expansion in current or prospective markets, and (iii) other non-recurring expenses
• Tax effect of adjustments

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income plus:

• Amortization of intangible assets and route and customer acquisition costs
• Stock-based compensation expense
• Loss from unconsolidated affiliates
• (Gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent earnout shares
• Other expenses, net
• Tax effect of adjustments
• Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment
• Interest expense, net
• Emerging markets, which reflects the results, on an Adjusted EBITDA basis, for non-core jurisdictions where our operations are developing
  • Markets are no longer considered emerging when we have installed or acquired at least 500 gaming terminals in the jurisdiction, or when 24 months have elapsed from the date we first install or acquire gaming terminals in the jurisdiction, whichever occurs first
  • We currently view Pennsylvania as an emerging market
  • Prior to January 2024, Iowa was considered an emerging market
• Income tax expense

Net debt is defined as debt, net of current maturities:

• plus Current maturities of debt
• less Cash and cash equivalents

Adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Increase / (Decrease)
(in thousands)	2024		2023		Change ($)		Change (%)
Net income	$ 14,613		$ 7,416		$ 7,197		97.0 %
Adjustments:
Amortization of intangible assets and route and customer acquisition costs	6,290		5,438		852		15.7 %
Stock-based compensation expense	2,091		2,350		(259)		(11.0) %
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates	16		—		16		100.0 %
(Gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent earnout shares	(2,355)		4,716		(7,071)		(149.9) %
Other expenses, net	2,817		2,426		391		16.1 %
Tax effect of adjustments	(3,254)		(2,841)		(413)		(14.5) %
Adjusted net income	20,218		19,505		713		3.7 %
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment	12,301		10,434		1,867		17.9 %
Interest expense, net	8,685		8,660		25		0.3 %
Emerging markets	63		40		23		57.5 %
Income tax expense	8,247		7,608		639		8.4 %
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 49,514		$ 46,247		$ 3,267		7.1 %

Net Debt

	As of March 31,
(in thousands)	2025				2024
Debt, net of current maturities	$	546,425			$	511,425
Plus: Current maturities of debt		34,280				28,485
Less: Cash and cash equivalents		(271,939	)			(253,919	)
Net debt	$	308,766			$	285,991

Conference Call

Accel will host an investor conference call on May 5, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Central time (5:30 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss these financial and operating results. Interested parties may join the live webcast by registering at https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=e00222af&confId=80950 or accessing the webcast via the company’s investor relations website: ir.accelentertainment.com. Following completion of the call, a replay of the webcast will be posted on Accel’s investor relations website.

About Accel

Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL) is a leading distributed gaming operator in the United States, as well as a developer of brick-and-mortar casinos that serve local gaming markets and horse racing venues. Accel is dedicated to delivering unmatched value to its customers through its innovative solutions and exceptional service and is a preferred partner for local business owners in the markets it serves. Accel is the largest terminal operator in the country, supporting more than 27,000 gaming terminals in 4,300 local and regional establishments across ten states. Offering turnkey full-service gaming solutions, Accel designs, manufactures, installs, and operates gaming terminals and related equipment, including slot machines, redemption terminals, video game machines, gaming software, and amusements to authorized non-casino locations including bars, restaurants, convenience stores, truck stops, fraternal and veteran establishments as well as casinos and horse racing venues.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, any statements regarding our estimates of number of gaming terminals, locations, revenues, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, location hold-per-day and capital expenditures, our ability to continue to generate returns on capital and improve our trading multiples, and our expansion into casino operations and horse racing. The words “predict,” “estimated,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would,” “continue,” and similar expressions or the negatives thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our current reasonable expectations and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the forward-looking statements, and you should be aware that results and events could differ materially and adversely from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors including, but not limited to: Accel’s ability to operate in existing markets or expand into new jurisdictions; Accel’s ability to offer new and innovative products and services that fulfill the needs of location partners and create strong and sustained player appeal; Accel’s dependence on relationships with key manufacturers, developers and third parties to obtain gaming terminals, amusement machines, and related supplies, programs, and technologies for its business on acceptable terms; the negative impact on Accel’s future results of operations by the slow growth in demand for gaming terminals and by the slow growth of new gaming jurisdictions; Accel’s heavy dependency on its ability to win, maintain and renew contracts with location partners; Accel's expansion into casino operations and horse racing; unfavorable macroeconomic conditions or decreased discretionary spending due to other factors such as interest rate volatility, persistent inflation, increased or retaliatory tariffs, actual or perceived instability in the U.S. and global banking systems, high fuel rates, recessions, epidemics or other public health issues, terrorist activity or threat thereof, civil unrest or other macroeconomic or political uncertainties, that could adversely affect Accel’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial conditions and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in documents filed or to be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Accordingly, forward-looking statements, including any projections or analysis, should not be viewed as factual and should not be relied upon as an accurate prediction of future results. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on Accel. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the "Form 10-K"). Except as required by law, we do not undertake publicly to update or revise these statements, even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed in this or other press releases or future quarterly reports, or company statements will not be realized. In addition, the inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by us that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. In addition, the industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K, as well as Accel’s other filings with the SEC. These and other factors could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in this press release.

Industry and Market Data

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this press release concerning our industry and the markets in which we operate, including our general expectations and market position, market opportunity, and market size, is based on information from various sources, on assumptions that we have made that are based on those data and other similar sources, and on our knowledge of the markets for our services. This information includes a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such information. In addition, projections, assumptions, and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industry in which we operate are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the Form 10-K, as well as Accel's other filings with the SEC. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by third parties and by us.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes certain financial information not prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“GAAP”), including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Net Debt are non-GAAP financial measures and are key metrics used to monitor ongoing core operations. Management of Accel believes Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Net Debt enhance the understanding of Accel’s underlying drivers of profitability and trends in Accel’s business and facilitates company-to-company and period-to-period comparisons, because these non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effects of certain non-cash items, represents certain nonrecurring items that are unrelated to core performance, or excludes non-core operations. Management of Accel also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are used by investors, analysts and other interested parties as measures of financial performance.

ACCEL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2025				2024
Net revenues:
Net gaming	$	301,951			$	288,137
Amusement		5,908				6,129
Manufacturing		3,858				2,209
ATM fees and other		12,195				5,342
Total net revenues		323,912				301,817
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense shown below)		221,472				209,167
Cost of manufacturing goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense shown below)		2,076				1,159
General and administrative		53,004				47,634
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment		12,301				10,434
Amortization of intangible assets and route and customer acquisition costs		6,290				5,438
Other expenses, net		2,817				2,426
Total operating expenses		297,960				276,258
Operating income		25,952				25,559
Interest expense, net		8,685				8,660
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates		16				—
(Gain) loss on change in fair value of contingent earnout shares		(2,355	)			4,716
Income before income tax expense		19,606				12,183
Income tax expense		4,993				4,767
Net income	$	14,613			$	7,416
Less: Net income attributed to redeemable noncontrolling interests	$	(26	)		$	—
Net income attributable to Accel Entertainment, Inc.	$	14,639			$	7,416
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.17			$	0.09
Diluted		0.17				0.09
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic		86,003				84,298
Diluted		87,223				85,300

ACCEL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value and share amounts)	March 31,				December 31,
	2025				2024
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	271,939			$	281,305
Accounts receivable, net		12,673				10,550
Prepaid expenses		8,606				8,950
Inventories		8,558				8,122
Interest rate caplets		5,024				6,342
Other current assets		9,686				10,883
Total current assets		316,486				326,152
Property and equipment, net		321,802				307,997
Noncurrent assets:
Route and customer acquisition costs, net		23,578				23,258
Location contracts acquired, net		197,539				202,618
Goodwill		116,252				116,252
Other intangible assets, net		53,344				53,940
Interest rate caplets, net of current		—				479
Other assets		18,255				17,702
Total noncurrent assets		408,968				414,249
Total assets	$	1,047,256			$	1,048,398
Liabilities, Temporary equity, and Stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of debt	$	34,280			$	34,443
Current portion of route and customer acquisition costs payable		2,218				2,197
Accrued location gaming expense		10,175				4,734
Accrued state gaming expense		20,203				19,802
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses		51,892				41,944
Accrued compensation and related expenses		8,863				12,117
Current portion of consideration payable		3,137				3,116
Total current liabilities		130,768				118,353
Long-term liabilities:
Debt, net of current maturities		546,425				560,936
Route and customer acquisition costs payable, less current portion		7,475				7,160
Consideration payable, less current portion		14,403				14,596
Contingent earnout share liability		30,748				33,103
Other long-term liabilities		7,886				7,571
Deferred income tax liability, net		46,231				47,372
Total long-term liabilities		653,168				670,738
Temporary equity - Redeemable noncontrolling interest		4,252				4,278
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock, par value of $0.0001; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024		—				—
Class A-1 Common Stock, par value $0.0001; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 96,110,689 shares issued and 84,927,240 shares outstanding at March 31, 2025; 95,865,026 shares issued and 85,670,255 shares outstanding at December 31, 2024		8				8
Additional paid-in capital		222,462				221,625
Treasury stock, at cost		(115,789	)			(105,485	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		3,012				4,145
Accumulated earnings		149,375				134,736
Total stockholders' equity		259,068				255,029
Total liabilities, temporary equity, and stockholders' equity	$	1,047,256			$	1,048,398

 

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Media:

Eric Bonach

H/Advisors Abernathy

212-371-5999

eric.bonach@h-advisors.global

Source: Accel Entertainment, Inc.