Nevada Regulators Approve Terrible's Gaming Takeover of Primm Casinos

Nevada gambling regulators have approved Terrible's Gaming to take over the remaining casino and retail operations in Primm, a desert town on the California-Nevada border. The approval, granted on Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Commission, prevents the town from ceasing operations over the July 4th weekend and saves more than 300 jobs.

Terrible's Gaming is set to assume control of several Primm businesses on July 1. The company received a limited one-year license, requiring them to present long-term plans to regulators next year. The immediate goal, according to Tim Herbst of Terrible's Gaming, is to keep Primm operational.

Herbst stated that the company stepped in after learning that hundreds of workers faced job losses and potential eviction from company housing. He described the rescue effort as "Nevadans helping Nevadans."

The takeover is expected to keep Primm Valley Resort hotel-casino, its gas station, convenience store, and other retail operations open. Terrible's will evaluate the future of Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino and Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino, the other two major casino properties in Primm.

These properties were slated for permanent closure by July 4th, according to a May 5th notice from Affinity Gaming and its parent company, Z Capital. The original shutdown plan would have affected approximately 344 workers and led to the closure of Primm Valley Resort, Buffalo Bill’s, Whiskey Pete’s, the Primm Center, and the Flying J truck stop. Tenants in employee housing were also given until July 6th to vacate.

Primm, formerly known as State Line, had seen its economic fortunes decline. The town's unique position as a highway stop for Southern Californians heading to Las Vegas diminished as tribal casinos expanded in California. The COVID-19 pandemic further impacted tourism, leading to downsizing. Whiskey Pete's closed in December 2024, and Buffalo Bill's had been operating primarily for special events. Primm Valley Resort was the last full-time casino operating before the shutdown notice.

The Primm family, which owns the land, had publicly sought a solution and subsequently reached an agreement with Terrible's. The Herbst family, known for their extensive network of gas stations and travel centers, has prior experience operating a casino near Primm. Their long-term plans for Primm, in conjunction with the Primm family, may include infrastructure upgrades and new amenities to ensure a more sustainable future for the aging border stop.