Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We are exposed to changes in interest rates primarily from variable rate long-term debt arrangements and foreign currency risk attributable to our operations outside of the US. Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor. Bally’s does not believe that inflation had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.
Interest Rate Risk
As of December 31, 2023, interest on borrowings under our credit facility was subject to fluctuation based on changes in short-term interest rates. On December 31, 2023, we had $2.24 billion of variable rate debt outstanding under our Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facilities and $1.49 billion of unsecured senior notes. Based upon a sensitivity analysis of our debt levels on December 31, 2023, a hypothetical increase of 1% in the effective interest rate would cause an increase in interest expense of approximately $22.4 million over the next twelve months while a decrease of 1% in the effective interest rate, not to exceed the interest rate floor, would cause a decrease in interest expense of approximately $22.4 million over the same period.
We evaluate our exposure to market risk by monitoring interest rates in the marketplace and we have utilized derivative financial instruments to help manage this risk. As part of the Company’s risk management and hedging program, the Company utilizes interest rate swaps and collars used to hedge and offset, respectively, the variable interest rates on the credit facility as described in Note 11, “ Derivative Instruments ” to our consolidated financial statements presented in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We have not historically utilized derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. We do not believe that fluctuations in interest rates had a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.
Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates as a result of our net investments and operations in countries other than the US. A vast majority of our revenues are from the UK market and are conducted in GBP and are therefore susceptible to any movements in exchange rates between the GBP and USD. Foreign currency transaction losses for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $11.0 million. Foreign currency transaction gains for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $0.5 million. Movements in currency exchange rates could impact the translation of assets and liabilities of these foreign operations which are translated at the exchange rate in effect on the balance sheet date. We have utilized operational hedges or forward currency exchange rate contracts, as well as derivative financial instruments, such as cross currency swaps, to manage the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations on earnings and cash flows.
55