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Primm Valley Casino Resorts will close permanently on July 4, ending operations at the last full-time casino property in Primm and resulting in the termination of employees working at the resort, the Primm Center gas station, and the Flying J truck stop.
A termination notice informed employees that “this action is expected to result in the permanent termination of employment for all employees at these locations.”
The closure was first reported by Las Vegas Locally, which posted the employee notice online. A publicist for owner Affinity Gaming later confirmed the closure on Wednesday.
The shutdown will end full-time casino operations in Primm, formerly known as State Line, where three casino resorts once operated along Interstate 15 at the California-Nevada border.
Series of operational reductions
The closure follows earlier operational changes involving Affinity-owned casino properties in the area.
Buffalo Bill’s Resort ended 24/7 operations on July 6, 2024. The casino continued opening only during special events held at the Star of the Desert Arena.
Whiskey Pete’s casino then ceased operations in December 2024, leaving Primm Valley Resort as the remaining full-time casino property in the market.
Along with the Primm Valley closure, Primadonna Co. LLC will also shut down the Primm Center gas station and the Flying J truck stop located at Whiskey Pete’s.
The future of other Affinity-owned operations near the state line, including the Lotto Store on the California side of the border, has not been disclosed. The store has historically attracted Nevada residents purchasing Powerball tickets during larger jackpots.
Earlier filing outlined operating conditions
Details contained in an October 2024 letter from Affinity Interactive to Clark County officials provided context regarding conditions affecting operations in Primm.
In the letter, Erin Barnett, senior vice president and general counsel for Affinity Interactive, wrote 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.”
The correspondence related to a proposal seeking approval to temporarily close Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino while continuing operations at the adjacent truck stop.
Barnett stated in the filing that “the expected development of an airport and ancillary businesses has created the prospect of a resurgence for the area in the coming years.”
Competition altered traffic patterns
Primm developed into a gaming stop for motorists traveling between Southern California and Las Vegas. Located roughly 45 minutes closer to Los Angeles than the Las Vegas Strip, the area became known for its three-casino corridor consisting of Whiskey Pete’s, Primm Valley Resort, and Buffalo Bill’s.
Industry observers cited multiple factors tied to the area’s decline, including the COVID-19 pandemic. David G. Schwartz, gaming historian and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, also said the growth of tribal casinos in Southern California changed travel habits for gamblers who previously drove to Nevada properties.
“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.