VICI Inks Deal with IGP for Canadian Casinos

VICI Properties (NYSE: VICI) announced Tuesday that it amended its master lease agreement with Pure Canadian Gaming Corp., owing to the acquisition of that company’s operating assets by Indigenous Gaming Partners (IGP).

In January 2023, VICI acquired the real estate assets of Pure Casino Edmonton, Pure Casino Yellowhead, Pure Casino Calgary, and Pure Casino Lethbridge. At that time, the real estate investment trust (REIT) and the gaming company entered into a triple-net master lease agreement with annual rent of $16.1 million.

The Pure Canadian master lease will remain unchanged, including a base term of 25-years with four 5-year tenant renewal options, escalation of 1.25% per annum in lease year 3, with escalation equal to the greater of 1.5% and Canadian CPI (capped at 2.5%) starting in lease year 4, and a minimum capital expenditure requirement equal to 1.0% of annual net revenue,” according to a statement.

The agreement is in its second year with the escalators going into effect on February 1, and it pertains to each of the aforementioned Canadian casinos.

Who is Indigenous Gaming Partners?

IGP is a newly formed entity designed to acquire gaming assets across North America and it’s comprised of five tribal nations: Glooscap First Nation, Millbrook First Nation, Annapolis Valley First Nation, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati, and Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation.

As part of the new agreement, VICI gained rights of first refusal on future IGP sales of gaming real estate, should such transactions emerge.

“In connection with entering into the amendment to the PURE Canadian master lease, VICI received a 5-year right of first offer (ROFO) on future sale-leaseback transactions. Any additional properties acquired pursuant to the ROFO will be added to the master lease,” according to the press release.

Canada Relevant in VICI Equation

The aforementioned Canadian casinos are dwarfed in size by most of the comparable venues VICI owns in the US, but the Great White North is still pertinent to the REIT’s broader investment thesis because the country offers the landlord geographic diversification.

The real estate firm has nearly a dozen gaming tenants, including those mentioned above as well as Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Hard Rock International, and Penn Entertainment, among others.