SEC Company Response from FLORIDA GAMING CORP (CIK 0000312065) — Jul 18, 2005
FLORIDA GAMING CORP (CIK 0000312065)
Date: July 18, 2005 · CIK: 0000312065 · Accession: 0001144204-05-021816
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File numbers found in text: 000-09099
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CORRESP
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filename1.htm
Unassociated Document
June
15,
2005
United
States Securities & Exchange Commission
Ms.
Claire Lamoureux
Division
of Corporate Finance
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Subject:
Florida Gaming Corporation
Form
10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2004
Form
10-QSB for the period ended March 31, 2005
Commission File #: 000-09099
Dear
Ms.
Lamoureux:
The
following is in response to the subject letter to Florida Gaming Corporation
(the “Company”), dated July 1, 2005.
1.
Future
filings will include a section detailing the critical accounting estimates
in the MD&A.
We will refer to Financial Reporting Policy 60 and Release No. 33-8350
for
guidance.
2.
Future
filings will describe the reason for material changes from period to
period. We will also provide an analysis and quantification in line
items.
We will refer to Item 303 (b)(1)(vi) of Regulation
S-B.
3.
Future
filings will discuss the net working deficit and we will refer to Item
303(b) (1) of Regulation S-B.
4.
We
understand that APB 30 requires us to consider the environment in which
we
operate and that Florida routinely faces hurricanes and tropical storms.
However, in this case, history was made when two category 3 hurricanes
made land fall at Ft. Pierce, Florida within three weeks. The extent
of
the damage and thus the insurance claim and gain were increased
dramatically by the second hurricane because the first hurricane removed
the roof from the Ft. Pierce fronton building. While we do not believe
a
single hurricane in a year would be unusual in nature, certainly, two
hurricanes in three weeks in exactly the same place is highly unusual.
Of
course, nothing like this has happened for over 40 years in Florida
so it
is certainly infrequent. We believe a fair analog would be tornadoes
in
the Midwest. Certainly, it isn’t unusual for tornadoes to form and touch
down in the Midwest but it would be highly unusual for two tornadoes
to
form and touch down in the same city in a three-week period. We believe
the treatment we have afforded the gain provides the best measure of
our
economic performance to our shareholders. We do not believe
it is appropriate to include the gain in our income from continuing
operations but, upon your direction in your letter, we will revise
future
filings to reclassify the gain from extraordinary to a separately stated
item of income from continuing
operations.
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5.
We
understand and concur with your advice on the presentation of preferred
dividends in our statements of
operations.
6.
We
will revise future filings to disclose the useful lives of each class
of
our property and equipment.
7.
In
2004 we recognized a loss on real estate activities that included a
provision to increase a valuation reserve we maintain on houses and
lots
we are holding out for sale. The impairment loss was not related to
a
long-lived asset. The valuation for the houses and lots was based on
appraisals determined by comparable sales in the same development.
We will
include an expanded description of the above information in future
filings.
8.
Jai-alai
and intertrack mutual commissions are recognized immediately upon the
completion of the event upon which the related wagers are placed. In
general, wagers are placed immediately prior to the event upon which
the
wager is placed. The wagers are generally made in cash or other good
funds
and subject to state escrow requirements so collectibility is never
an
issue. SAB 101, Topic 13, deals with revenue recognition. We believe
the
timing of the revenue recognition is appropriate because we recognize
the
revenue after it is earned. Further, the collection of the funds is
not in
question. Finally, with respect to the inclusion of disclosures regarding
our handle on the face of the Statement of Operations, we believe the
handle data is important to the understanding of the trends in parimutuel
commission income. We would be happy to move this information to our
footnote disclosures if you believe that would be preferable
presentation.
9.
Our
policy is to capitalize any advertising costs that benefit future periods
through name branding. We have incurred no such expenses in the last
two
years. All of our advertising costs have been expensed as incurred
because
they relate to promotions for particular events and seasonal activities
that do not benefit future periods. There were no capitalized advertising
costs at December 31, 2004 or 2003.
10.
We
will begin using tabular presentation of stock options in future
filings.
11.
The
fair market value of the stock optioned on both dates in question was
below the strike price of both options. The market values were $2.85
per
share on June 13, 2003 and $3.50 per share on September 23,
2003.
12.
The
real estate valuation reserve is the same reserve discussed in Item
7
above. The purpose of the reserve is to lower the carrying value of
our
retail real estate inventory to realizable (fair market)
value.
13.
We
will revise future filings to reflect paragraph 47 of FAS
109.
14.
The
presentation of our loss from real estate activities as a one line
item is
driven by the fact that we had no sales in 2004. Accordingly, the line
contains only expenses. Because our primary business has been and is
expected to be the gaming business, we have treated our retail real
estate
sales activity as other income and losses as opposed to operating income
combined with our gaming operations. This presentation is consistent
with
all previous years. We are open to any ideas you have for improving
our
financial reporting in this area.
15.
Please
find below, the information requested pertaining to FAS 131, paragraph
32.
All
amounts in table are in thousands
PROFIT
ASSETS
REVENUES
(LOSS)
Florida
Gaming Centers
80%
15,972
100%
9,466
91%
(4,383)
Tara
Club Estates
20%
3,881
0%
-
9%
(411)
Consolidated
Total
100%
19,853
100%
9,466
100%
(4,794)
16.
The
contingent liability disclosed in Note O still exists. We will continue
to
include information on this matter in future
filings.
17.
Future
filings of Form 10QSB will reflect the above responses to the comments
found in your letter.
I
would
like to thank you for the analysis of our financial reporting. We are striving
to improve our reporting as we fully implement the provisions of Sarbanes-Oxley
Act. The Company is aware that we are responsible for the adequacy and accuracy
of the disclosure in the filings. The Company knows that staff comments or
changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the
Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing. The Company is
also aware that we may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding
initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws
of
the United States.
If
you
have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned
at
(502) 589-2000 or facsimile (812) 945-7717. My mailing address is Florida Gaming
Corporation, 2669 Charlestown Road, Suite D, New Albany, IN 47150.
Sincerely,
Kimberly
R. Tharp
Chief
Financial Officer
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