PENN Entertainment, Inc. 10-Q

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS The following are new or modified risk factors that should be read in conjunction with the risk factors disclosed under Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s subsequent Form 10-Q filings. Risks Related to the Acquisition of theScore We may not realize all of the anticipated financial, marketing and operational benefits of the recently closed acquisition of theScore . The benefits we expect to achieve as a result of theScore acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize anticipated growth opportunities and cost synergies. Our success in realizing these growth opportunities and cost synergies, and the timing of this realization, depends on the successful integration of theScore’s business and operations with our business and operations. Even if we are able to integrate our business with theScore’s business successfully, this integration may not result in the realization of the full benefits of the growth opportunities and cost synergies we currently expect within the anticipated time frame or at all. For example, we may be unable to manage critical aspects of our technology stack, eliminate fees and expenses, successfully expand into new verticals, achieve growth plans, or effectively enhance customer acquisition and retention. Moreover, we anticipate that we will incur substantial expenses in connection with the integration of our business with theScore’s business. In addition, in light of theScore’s presence in Canada, exchange rate fluctuations could result in significant 52 Table of Contents foreign currency gains and losses affecting our business results. Accordingly, the benefits from theScore acquisition may be offset by costs incurred or delays in integrating the companies, which could cause our financial assumptions to be inaccurate. Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the global economy, including the gaming industry, and has had a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows, and may continue to do so. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted health and economic conditions throughout the United States. The global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has been, and continues to be, complex and rapidly evolving, with governments, public institutions, and other organizations imposing or recommending, and businesses and individuals implementing, restrictions on various activities or other actions to combat its spread, such as restrictions and bans on travel or transportation, stay-at-home directives, social distancing and health and safety guidelines, limitations on the size of gatherings, closures of work facilities, schools, public buildings, and businesses, cancellation of events, including sporting events, concerts, conferences, and meetings, and quarantines and lock-downs. The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences dramatically reduced travel and demand for casino gaming and related amenities. Many jurisdictions where our properties are located required mandatory closures or imposed capacity limitations, health and safety guidelines and other restrictions affecting our operations. The COVID-19 pandemic and these resulting developments caused significant disruptions to our ability to generate revenues, profitability, and cash flows and had a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. In addition, these disruptions to us and the gaming industry in general as well as significant negative economic trends due to the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our stock price. As of September 30, 2021, all of our properties are open, and the majority of our properties are operating at full capacity while adhering to state mandated health and safety protocols. Though all of our properties are open, we may be required to again temporarily suspend operations at our properties if ordered by such governmental bodies. Our properties may again face restrictions on our operations, including hours of operations, capacity limitations, cleaning requirements, restrictions on the number of seats per table game, slot machine spacing, temperature checks, mask protection and social distancing requirements and restrictions on food and beverage options, which impact our future operations and ability to generate the same level of revenues and cash flows compared to our current operation and compared to pre COVID-19 pandemic levels. Additionally, our operation may be affected by our ability to retain our workforce or hire new team members. Our properties have large customer-facing footprints and large areas where customers can gather together for personal interaction. As such, some customers may choose for a period of time not to travel or visit our properties for health and safety concerns or due to overall changes in consumer behavior resulting from social distancing. Our vendors and other suppliers could also experience potential adverse effects of the pandemic that could impact our ability to operate to the same level as prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancellations, delays or shortened sports seasons and sporting events due to the COVID-19 pandemic could also have an adverse impact on the revenues of our sports betting operations. If COVID-19 continues to spread significantly in its current form or as a more contagious variant of the virus, governmental agencies or officials may again order closures or impose restrictions on the number of people allowed in our properties or in proximity to each other. Any of these events could result in significant disruption to our operations and a drop in demand for our properties and could have a material adverse effect on us. We could experience other potential adverse impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, charges from adjustments to the carrying amount of goodwill and other intangible assets, long-lived asset impairment charges, or impairments of investments in joint ventures. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including the duration and scope of the pandemic (including how long any resurgence may last, and whether there will be multiple resurgences in the future); the duration and impact on overall customer demand; the possibility that governmental bodies may again order temporary suspension of operation at our properties; our ability to again generate revenue and profits capable of supporting our ongoing operations; new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 or variants of the virus, or the efficacy of, or adverse reactions to, vaccines; the negative impact it has on global and regional economies and economic activity; the ability of us and our business partners to successfully navigate the impacts of the pandemic; actions governments, businesses, and individuals continue to take in response to the pandemic, including limiting or banning travel and limiting or banning leisure, casino, and entertainment activities (including concerts, sports and similar events); and whether economies, travel activity, and demand for gaming, entertainment and leisure activities continue to grow after the pandemic subsides.. The 53 Table of Contents impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may also have the effect of exacerbating many of the other risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. As a result of the foregoing, we cannot predict the ultimate scope, duration, and impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our results of operations, but it could have a material impact on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations (including revenues and profitability), and stock price.