TransAct Technologies Exploring Sale of Casino, Gaming Business

Key Points

  • TransAct Technologies has hired Bank of America to explore strategic options for its casino unit, including a potential sale
  • Management stated the strategic review is designed to maximize value for investors as it pivots toward enterprise software
  • The firm supplies specialized printing and software technology across a vital corner of the global casino industry

TransAct Technologies (NASDAQ: TACT) is exploring a potential sale of its casino gaming business as part of a strategic effort to unlock shareholder value and sharpen its focus on enterprise software.

TransAct Technologies, one of the leading makers of casino kiosk and slot machine printers, is shopping its casino unit. (Image: Scott Roeben/Vital Vegas)

The Connecticut-based company delivered its second-quarter results yesterday, telling investors it has hired Bank of America (BofA) Securities to explore alternatives for its casino unit, which accounted for more than half of its quarterly revenue.

“Casino and Gaming also saw another strong quarter. This market continues to generate substantial cash flow and positive results for the business,” said CEO John Dillon in a statement. “We believe the time is right to explore potential strategic options, given the ongoing strength in this market.”

TransAct joins a growing list of gaming equipment and technology companies currently conducting strategic reviews. However, the company cautioned investors that there is no set timeline for the evaluation and no guarantee it will result in a transaction.

TransAct Casino Biz Could Be Attractive to Suitors

Many bettors, and plenty of retail investors for that matter, likely aren’t familiar with TransAct by name, but they are familiar with the casino services provided by the company.

TransAct is one of the dominant providers of ticket-in/ticket-out (TITO) printing on gaming devices, such as slot and video poker machines. Its Epicentral software is the “only promotional bonusing suite that targets players in real time with custom coupons while they play.”

It’s a prosaic, though steady business model and one largely free of the volatility associated with the consumer-facing sides of casino and sportsbook operations.

Those traits could make the TransAct casino unit attractive to prospective suitors seeking a bolt-on acquisition levering them to an essential side of the gaming industry.

TransAct’s casino customers include Foxwoods Resorts Casino — a tribal gaming venue located in Connecticut — and the Hippodrome Casino in London, among others.

Looks Like a Growth Business

TransAct may be able to fetch multiple bids for the casino unit because it offers growth potential, though that thesis hinges on potential buyers seeing the forest through the trees.

“Turning to Casino and Gaming, revenue in the second quarter was $7.3 million, down approximately 4% from the prior year,” said Dillon on a conference call with analysts.

“After adjusting for the tariff-related impact of the refunds, the casino and gaming revenue would have been approximately $8.3 million, approximately up 9% year over year. We saw solid contributions from key original equipment manufacturing (OEM) customers, both domestically and internationally,” he added.

On the back of the second-quarter earnings report, shares of TransAct plunged today, but the stock is up 34.38% year-to-date.

Todd Shriber
Todd Shriber Financial Reporter

Todd Shriber is a senior news reporter covering gaming financials, casino business, stocks, and mergers and acquisitions for Casino.org.

Todd got his start in financial markets as a reporter with Bloomberg News. Later, he became a trader at a Southern California-based long/short hedge fund, where he specialized in the trading sector and international ETFs leading up to and during the financial crisis. He joined Casino.org in 2019.

Currently, Todd analyzes, researches, and writes on ETFs for various web-based publications and financial services firms. Shriber has been featured and quoted in Barron's, CNBC.com, and The Wall Street Journal. His work can also be found on Benzinga, ETF Daily News, ETF Trends, MarketWatch, Fox Business, and Nasdaq.com.

He currently resides in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golf and taking his black lab to the dog park. He's also an avid sports fan and likes to wager on college football and the NBA. You can also find him at the three-card poker and roulette table, even though he knows better.

Contact Todd at todd.shriber@casino.org.

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