Dividend Power Score
A single, comprehensive score designed to measure the true strength of a company’s dividend.
This score combines three essential pillars of dividend quality:
Consistency – Measures how reliable the dividend has been over time, focusing on payment history, stability, and the absence of cuts or suspensions.
Payability – Assesses the company’s financial ability to sustain its dividend, taking into account cash flow, earnings coverage, balance sheet strength, and overall financial health.
Growth – Evaluates the long-term growth of both the dividend and the company’s share price, highlighting businesses that consistently increase payouts while creating shareholder value.
Higher scores identify companies that have historically delivered dependable income alongside sustained dividend growth and long-term capital appreciation.
Company Overview
Accel Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly traded distributed gaming operator in the United States, primarily engaged in the installation, operation, and management of electronic gaming terminals in licensed, non-casino locations. The company operates within the distributed gaming, route-based gaming, and amusement and entertainment services industries, with revenue primarily generated from gaming terminals placed in bars, restaurants, truck stops, and other local establishments. Accel’s business model centers on long-term partnerships with location owners, where gaming revenue is shared between Accel, the location, and the applicable state or local authority.
The company’s core revenue drivers include video gaming terminals (VGTs), redemption amusement devices, and related service and maintenance contracts. Accel primarily serves small- and mid-sized hospitality businesses, positioning itself as a full-service operator that manages regulatory compliance, equipment procurement, installation, and ongoing maintenance. A key strategic advantage is its scale in regulated distributed gaming markets, particularly Illinois, where it is the largest operator by terminal count. Accel was founded in 2012 and expanded rapidly through acquisitions and organic growth, culminating in its public listing in 2020 following a merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
Business Operations
Accel operates through a single integrated operating model focused on distributed gaming, with revenue generated through recurring participation agreements tied to terminal performance. The company owns and operates gaming terminals, provides software and monitoring systems, and manages compliance and reporting obligations required by state regulators. Its operations include both gaming and non-gaming amusement devices, though regulated gaming represents the majority of revenue and operating income.
The company’s operations are concentrated in regulated jurisdictions, with domestic operations accounting for substantially all revenue. Accel controls a large installed base of gaming terminals and maintains proprietary monitoring, analytics, and service infrastructure to support uptime and regulatory reporting. The company has grown its footprint through acquisitions of local route operators and gaming assets, integrating them into its centralized operating platform. Accel also maintains long-term contractual relationships with thousands of licensed location partners.
Strategic Position & Investments
Accel’s strategic direction emphasizes disciplined expansion in regulated distributed gaming markets, optimization of existing terminal performance, and selective acquisitions of route-based operators and gaming assets. Growth initiatives focus on increasing terminal density in existing markets, entering new jurisdictions as legislation permits, and improving operating efficiency through technology-enabled monitoring and service capabilities.
The company has completed multiple acquisitions of smaller distributed gaming operators and gaming routes, strengthening its market share and geographic reach. Accel continues to evaluate opportunities in newly legalized or expanding gaming markets, while maintaining a conservative capital allocation strategy centered on cash flow generation and balance sheet management. Emerging focus areas include enhancements to terminal content, data analytics for location performance, and operational scalability rather than speculative or unregulated gaming technologies.
Geographic Footprint
Accel’s operations are concentrated in the United States, with its strongest presence in Illinois, which represents the majority of its installed terminals and revenue. The company also operates in Montana, Nevada, Nebraska, and other regulated jurisdictions, with market entry dependent on state-level gaming legislation and licensing frameworks.
The company is headquartered in Illinois and maintains regional offices and service teams across its operating states. Accel does not have international operations, but its influence within the U.S. distributed gaming market is significant due to its scale, regulatory expertise, and long-standing relationships with state regulators and local business owners.
Leadership & Governance
Accel was founded by executives with experience in gaming operations, route-based distribution, and regulated entertainment services. The leadership team emphasizes regulatory compliance, disciplined growth, and long-term partnerships with both location owners and government authorities. Strategic vision is centered on building sustainable cash flows within highly regulated markets while avoiding operational and legal risk.
Key executives include:
- Andy Rubenstein – Chief Executive Officer
- Brian DeChellis – Chief Financial Officer
- Mark Phelan – President
- Todd Eilers – Chief Operating Officer
- Duane Okamoto – Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
The company is governed by a board of directors with experience in gaming, finance, and public company oversight, aligning executive compensation and strategic planning with long-term shareholder value creation.