Last gambling resort in Primm, Nev., is set to close by July

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.

Primm Valley Casino Resorts, the last full-time casino among a cluster of three off Interstate 15 in Primm, at the California-Nevada border, is permanently closing July 4, a publicist for owner Affinity Gaming confirmed Wednesday.

Las Vegas insider publication Las Vegas Locally broke the news Tuesday evening, posting a termination notice sent that day from Primadonna Co. LLC, owned by Affinity, to employees who worked at Primm Valley, informing them that they would be let go.

Affinity Gaming declined to make an official statement.

Primm Valley is the last of three operating casino resorts in Primm, formerly known as State Line. The castle-shaped Whiskey Pete’s opened in 1977, followed by Primm Valley in 1990 and Buffalo Bill’s in 1994.

In a letter to the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Erin Barnett, Affinity’s vice president and general counsel, wrote in October 2024 that “traffic at the state line has proved to be heavily weighted towards weekend activity and is insufficient to support three full-time casino properties.”

Along with Primm Valley Resorts, Primadonna Co. is closing the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s; that casino closed in December 2024.

The termination notice comes nearly a year after Affinity Gaming ended 24/7 operations at Buffalo Bill’s Resort on July 6. The casino opened on days in which its concert venue, the Star of the Desert Arena, hosted special events.

It’s unclear what happens to music and magic acts booked until July 25.

It’s not known how long other Affinity-owned properties in the area, such as the popular Lotto Store on the California side of the border, will continue to operate. Nevadans have been known to drive for several miles and wait in long lines to buy Powerball tickets, particularly when jackpots creep into 10 figures.

The notice informed employees “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”

As late as September, Primm Valley Resorts emailed media members promoting renovated rooms and signature experiences at its final resort.

Primm once shined as one of Nevada’s more popular gambling resorts. The three-casino complex served as a less expensive, less flashy, slightly more kitschy alternative to Las Vegas that benefited from being a good 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than Sin City.

John Honell was once a frequent visitor to Primm. The West Covina resident, 85, said he saw Whiskey Pete’s expand “from a rusty shack” in the early 1970s into a “respectable resort.”

What he couldn’t understand, however, was the expansion from one resort into three and, in particular, the development of retail outlets and stores.

“It just seemed bizarre,” Honell said. “You had this whole complex in the middle of the desert, and I thought how really weird that was.”

Several factors have contributed to Primm’s slow decline, including the COVID pandemic and increased competition from casinos popping up on tribal lands in California.

David G. Schwartz, a gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said the rise of tribal gaming in Southern California helped convince local fans of gambling to make the much shorter drive to a tribal casino.

“If the drive is now in minutes rather than hours, drivers, particularly those in the Inland Empire, are just going to stay home,” Schwartz said.

Those newer casinos are easier to get to than Primm from key Southern California population centers, reducing the value proposition.