Century Casinos Reports Net Earnings for 2001 and Fourth Quarter

Press Release: Century Casinos, Inc.
April 1, 2002
CRIPPLE CREEK, CO -- Century Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNTY) Thursday reported net earnings of $2,455,000 or $0.18 per share for the year ended December 31, 2001 and $726,000 or $0.05 per share for the fourth quarter of 2001. Excluding non-recurring items, one-time operational charges and their tax effects recorded during the first quarter of 2000, net earnings for the year 2000 was $2,581,000 or $0.18 per share and $1,048,000 or $0.07 per share for the fourth quarter of 2000. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) increased to $ 10,741,000 in 2001 compared to $9,941,000 for 2000, excluding non-recurring items and one time operational charges in 2000. EBITDA for the fourth quarter 2001 was $2,583,000 compared to $3,557,000 for the same period in 2000.

Note that in year-to-date 2000, both net income and EBITDA included a non-recurring final payment of $1,380,000 received from the 1995 sale of the Company's interest in an Indiana gaming development project. This contributed significantly to the net income of $3,253,000 or $0.23 per share and the EBITDA of $11,019,000 reported for the year ended December 31, 2000.


Details of results for these periods are summarized below:

Year-End 2001


The Company reported net operating revenues of $29,576,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001 -- a 13% increase over the $26,232,000 reported for 2000.

Earnings from operations of $6,213,000 in 2001 reflect a 6% increase over the $5,873,000 reported in 2000.

Net earnings for 2001 decreased 25% to $2,455,000 or $0.18 per share compared to net earnings of $3,253,000 or $0.23 per share in 2000. Excluding the after-tax effects of non-recurring items, earnings for 2000 were $2,581,000 or $0.18 per share. In 2000 the Company reported after-tax income of $672,000 or $0.05 per share from non-recurring items, mostly which was the sale of the Company's casino rights in an Indiana riverboat gaming license.

EBITDA, excluding non-recurring items in 2000 of $1,078,000 increased 8% in 2001 to $10,741,000 compared to $9,941,000 in 2000.

Since 1996 the Company has increased its annual net operating revenues at a compounded annual growth rate (or ``CAGR'') of 21%, EBITDA at a 53% CAGR and net earnings at a 31% CAGR.

Consolidated casino gross margin for 2001 was 65% compared to 70% in 2000. The Company attributes this decrease to lower than expected revenues at the Caledon Casino, Hotel and Spa. While costs have been controlled and decreased throughout the year, revenues have not yet met expectations.

As a percentage of net operating revenue, general and administrative expense decreased to 26% from 31% last year. This represents a $474,000 decrease in general and administrative expense from 2000 to 2001. Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $4,564,000 from $3,753,000 in 2000 largely as a result of the October 2000 start of operations of The Caledon Casino, Hotel and Spa. Interest expense, net of interest income, increased in 2001 to $1,846,000 from $1,384,000 in 2000. This increase is primarily due to interest associated with financing The Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa.

At December 31, 2001 the Company had $13.6 million of available liquidity consisting of cash, cash equivalents and borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank.

Fourth Quarter 2001

The Company reported net operating revenues of $6,973,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2001 compared to $9,100,000 during the same period in 2000. The Caledon Casino, Hotel and Spa began operations in October 2000. Revenues, at Caledon, were higher than normal during the fourth quarter 2000 until a major competitor began operations in late December 2000.

Earnings from operations of $1,724,000 in 2001 reflect a 35% decrease from the $2,664,000 reported in 2000. 2000 reflects the higher than normal results of Caledon beginning operations in the fourth quarter.

Net earnings for the fourth quarter 2001 decreased 31% to $726,000 or $0.05 per share compared to net earnings of $1,048,000 or $0.07 per share for the same quarter in 2000.

EBITDA for the quarter was $2,583,000 compared to $3,863,000 in 2000.

Consolidated casino gross margin for the fourth quarter was 63% in 2001 compared to 72% during the same period in 2000.

General and administrative expense decreased to $1,467,000 in 2001 from $2,432,000 in 2000. 2000 general and administrative expense includes approximately $624,000 in one time costs associated with the start up of The Caledon Casino, Hotel and Spa. Depreciation and amortization decreased to $988,000 from $1,172,000 in 2000. Interest expense, net of interest income, decreased to $505,000 from $579,000 in 2000.

Certain prior period information relating to the reporting of promotional allowances has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation as required by a new accounting pronouncement.

The Company will have a conference call and web cast on Wednesday, April 3 -- at 10:00AM Mountain Standard Time (12:00 Noon EST and 18:00 Middle European Time) to discuss these results, recent developments and answer any questions from the investment community. Domestic callers may access the conference call by dialing (888) 222-0389. International callers can access the conference, toll free, by dialing (706) 679-8462. Austrian callers can access the conference, toll free, by dialing 0 800 281 475. German callers can access the conference, toll free, by dialing 0 800 181 5287. The web cast may be accessed via the internet through www.centurycasinos.com or http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=3942

     CENTURY CASINOS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                              For the Year Ended December 31,
                                                     2001           2000
     Operating Revenue:
       Casino                                    $30,096,000    $27,703,000
       Food and beverage                           1,897,000      1,377,000
       Hotel                                         755,000        257,000
       Other                                         771,000        427,000
                                                  33,519,000     29,764,000
       Less promotional allowances                (3,943,000)    (3,532,000)
         Net operating revenue                    29,576,000     26,232,000

     Operating Costs and Expenses:
       Casino                                      9,521,000      7,425,000
       Food and beverage                           1,075,000        761,000
       Hotel                                         673,000        416,000
       General and administrative                  7,530,000      8,004,000
       Depreciation and amortization               4,564,000      3,753,000

         Total operating costs and expenses       23,363,000     20,359,000

     Earnings from Operations                      6,213,000      5,873,000
       Other (expense), net                       (1,996,000)       (20,000)
     Earnings Before Income Taxes and Minority
      Interest                                     4,217,000      5,853,000
       Provision for income taxes                  1,794,000      2,542,000
     Earnings Before Minority Interest            $2,423,000     $3,311,000
       Minority Interest in subsidiary (earnings)
        losses                                        32,000        (58,000)
     Net Earnings                                 $2,455,000     $3,253,000
     Earnings Per Share
       Basic                                          $ 0.18         $ 0.23
       Diluted                                        $ 0.16         $ 0.22



     CENTURY CASINOS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

                                      For the Three Months Ended December 31,
                                                     2001           2000
     Operating Revenue:
       Casino                                     $7,187,000     $9,218,000
       Food and beverage                             441,000        465,000
       Hotel                                         203,000        134,000
       Other                                         200,000        180,000
                                                   8,031,000      9,997,000
       Less promotional allowances                (1,058,000)      (897,000)
         Net operating revenue                     6,973,000      9,100,000

     Operating Costs and Expenses:
       Casino                                      2,417,000      2,365,000
       Food and beverage                             213,000        294,000
       Hotel                                         164,000        173,000
       General and administrative                  1,467,000      2,432,000
       Depreciation and amortization                 988,000      1,172,000

         Total operating costs and expenses        5,249,000      6,436,000

     Earnings from Operations                      1,724,000      2,664,000
       Other (expense), net                         (533,000)      (553,000)
     Earnings Before Income Taxes and Minority
      Interest                                     1,191,000      2,111,000
       Provision for income taxes                    363,000        757,000
     Earnings Before Minority Interest               828,000      1,354,000
       Minority Interest in subsidiary (earnings)
        losses                                      (102,000)      (306,000)
     Net Earnings                                   $726,000     $1,048,000

     Earnings Per Share:
       Basic                                          $ 0.05          $0.07
       Diluted                                        $ 0.04          $0.06



     CENTURY CASINOS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

                                              December 31, 2001
     ASSETS
       Current Assets                             $4,389,000
       Other Assets                               40,430,000
       Total Assets                              $44,819,000

     LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
       Current Liabilities                        $5,066,000
       Non-Current Liabilities                    17,575,000
       Shareholders' Equity                       22,178,000
     Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity  $44,819,000


About Century Casinos, Inc:

Century Casinos is an international casino company led by a team of gaming industry professionals who have developed and operated more than 100 casinos worldwide. The Company owns and operates Womacks Casino and Hotel in Cripple Creek, Colorado; owns (65%) and operates The Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa near Cape Town, South Africa; has a five-year casino concession to operate four casinos aboard the ultra-luxury Silversea cruise vessels; has a five-year casino concession to operate the casino aboard The World of ResidenSea cruise vessel, the worlds first ocean going luxury residential resort; and manages the Millennium Casino in the Marriott Hotel in Prague, Czech Republic. The Company continues to pursue other international projects in various stages of development.

The address for the U.S. administrative offices is 200 E. Bennett Ave., (P.O. Box 1006), Cripple Creek, CO 80813. Telephone: (719) 689-9100. Fax: (719) 689-3282. E-Mail: investor@cnty.com. For more information about Century Casinos, visit the Company's web site at www.centurycasinos.com . Century Casinos' common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the symbol CNTY.

This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the other important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are economic, competitive, and governmental factors affecting the company's operations, markets, services and prices, as well as other factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its recent filings on Forms 10-KSB, 10-QSB and 8K. Century Casinos disclaims any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by it or on its behalf.

SOURCE: Century Casinos, Inc.