Revenue dropped to us$ 475.7 million from us$ 573.2 million

Slot maker IGT reports 44 % drop in income

2009-04-24
Reading time 1:42 min

For the three-month period ended March 31, the Reno-based maker of slot machines and casino management systems said net income fell to us$ 38.3 million, or 13 cents per share, from us$ 68.4 million, or 22 cents per share in the same quarter in 2008.

Revenue dropped to us$ 475.7 million from us$ 573.2 million. The results missed the expectations of Wall Street, where analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters anticipated earnings of 22 cents per share on revenue of us$ 532 million.

The company attributed about us$ 8 million of the loss, or 2 cents per share, to restructuring related to work force reductions. In a conference call with analysts, IGT chief executive Patti Hart lowered the company's fiscal year guidance to a range of 75 cents to 85 cents per share, down from about us$ 1.

Still, executives said they believe some sectors of the hard-hit casino industry were starting to show signs of stabilization. "Our second quarter saw continued difficult economic conditions worldwide impacting our financial results," Hart said, "but in a number of jurisdictions we are beginning to see stability in play levels."

Hart assumed the CEO post April 1 from TJ Matthews, who resigned but remained with the company as board chairman. IGT shares rose 35 cents, or 3 %, to us$ 11.53 in morning trading Thursday.

Both Hart and Matthews said a decline in consumer playing levels, as people focused on essentials instead of discretionary spending, appeared to be leveling off in some gambling markets, particularly in the Midwest. "We think we are putting most of this behind us," Matthews said. Other areas, such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City, that are heavily dependent on tourism, continue to suffer, they said.

In November, IGT announced the layoffs of 500 employees. In January, it said another 200, mostly in its manufacturing division, would be let go by April. In March, the company also slashed its regular quarterly dividend nearly 60 %, to 6 cents from 14.5 cents, in a moved to save about us$ 100 million in cash annually. Hart said IGT's goal was to position itself for a rapid recovery once the economy improves.

IGT, which in past years saw rapid growth when it introduced cashless slot and video machines, is banking on a renewed demand for widespread products with the introduction of server-based games and casino floor management technology.

The first floor-wide debut of the technology is planned at the us$ 8.7 billion CityCenter on the Las Vegas Strip. The multi-hotel project, a joint venture between MGM Mirage Inc. and Dubai World, is scheduled to begin opening later this year.

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