Skip to content

Caesars and VICI Clash Over Casino Rent as $730M Bill Strains Finances

With $750M in cash flow swallowed by rent, Caesars fights for survival. Will lease tweaks—or even bankruptcy—tip the scales in this casino showdown?

This is the aerial view of a city. in this we can see buildings, towers, motor vehicles,...
This is the aerial view of a city. in this we can see buildings, towers, motor vehicles, advertisements, sign boards, roads, trees, street poles, street lights, sky, persons, traffic cones, advertisement and information boards.

Caesars and VICI Clash Over Casino Rent as $730M Bill Strains Finances

Caesars Entertainment and VICI Properties are in talks to resolve a dispute over regional casino rents. The issue centres on a master lease agreement that has drawn attention from industry analysts. Both companies appear eager to find a solution.

The regional casinos under the agreement bring in around $750 million in annual cash flow. However, they pay $730 million in yearly rent, leaving little financial flexibility. The rent increases are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a common feature in casino sale-leaseback deals.

Analysts are monitoring the situation closely. Evercore ISI’s Steve Sakwa recently downgraded VICI’s rating from 'outperform' to 'in-line' and lowered his price target. He cited the unresolved rent issue as a key concern.

Possible solutions include a rent reduction for Caesars, potentially in exchange for an asset sale or lease extension. Another option could involve temporary adjustments to the lease terms. Some speculate that Caesars might even file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to gain leverage in negotiations.

Both companies remain motivated to reach an agreement. Discussions are ongoing, with multiple approaches being considered to ease the financial strain.

A resolution would likely involve changes to the existing lease structure. If successful, it could improve cash flow for Caesars while addressing VICI’s investment stability. The outcome will be closely watched by market observers.

Read also: