Affinity Gaming Explores Sale or Restructuring Options for Primm Casino Complex After Announcing July 4 Closure

Affinity Gaming is exploring alternatives to the planned closure of its Primm casino complex on the California-Nevada border, including a potential sale or restructuring, after announcing earlier this year that the property would cease all operations by July 4. CEO Scott Butera told the Nevada Gaming Control Board that the company has formed a special committee to evaluate options with the Primm family, the landowners, but acknowledged that the economics of the site remain fundamentally broken despite significant prior investment.

“We invested a lot of money in that asset over the years, to no avail,” Butera told regulators, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He said the company had recently tried to revive traffic through a new sign and the installation of fresh slot machines, but those efforts did not meaningfully improve the financial picture. An earlier concept to keep the venues open only for concerts and events at the Star of the Desert arena was also explored but appears to have been set aside.

A Complex That Long Served as a Southern California Gateway

The Primm complex consists of three casino-hotel properties — Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s, and Primm Valley Resort — along with a gas station and a Flying J truck stop. Together, they have served for decades as the first and last major stop along Interstate 15 on the Nevada side of the California border, catering heavily to Southern California residents making weekend trips to Las Vegas. Regulators expressed concern at the Gaming Control Board meeting about the impact of closure on that gateway corridor and on the more than 300 workers whose jobs are at risk.

The Primm family, which owns the land, has publicly appealed for assistance for displaced workers. Clark County Social Services has indicated it will provide support for affected employees as the July 4 deadline approaches. Local officials have noted that a planned Ivanpah Valley airport that could potentially revive economic activity in the area is unlikely to break ground for at least a decade, offering no near-term relief.

What Happens Next

Butera indicated that the company has been actively sharing information with the Primm family in an effort to facilitate a transfer of operations to a new operator if a buyer can be found. Whether a sale or restructuring materializes before July 4 depends on whether any interested party can make the economics work in a market that Affinity Gaming itself could not sustain despite extended efforts. The star of the Desert arena, which has hosted major concerts and events, remains an asset that could factor into any restructuring proposal.

The potential closure of the Primm complex is a notable development for the Nevada casino industry. While the Las Vegas Strip and downtown market continue to perform well — Resorts World Las Vegas recently reported a 26 percent year-over-year revenue jump in the first quarter of 2026 — the regional and border property market faces different dynamics driven by changing travel patterns, operating costs, and competition from tribal casinos in California. For Nevada bettors looking at legal online alternatives, the Nevada sportsbooks landscape continues to offer a range of options even as land-based properties in outlying areas face pressure.