Maverick Plans to Repurchase Two Elko Casinos and Rehire 239 Workers

ELKO, Nev. – Maverick Gaming plans to repurchase two Elko casinos from a bankrupt holding company, with 239 workers expected to be rehired.

CEO Eric Persson said the acquisition of Maverick Casino Hotel and Gold Country Inn and Casino should close within about three weeks. He expects both properties to continue operating through the ownership transition despite notices listing Nov. 30 as a potential closure date.

The properties are currently connected to RunItOneTime LLC, a Texas-based holding company working through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Persson told The Nevada Independent that his current Maverick Gaming business is separate from the entities involved in the bankruptcy and will acquire the properties as part of the restructuring.

WARN Notices Put 239 Elko Jobs at Risk

Maverick NV LLC filed WARN notices with Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation on Sept. 28 covering both casinos. The filings listed 198 employees at Maverick Casino Hotel and 41 at Gold Country Inn and Casino.

The notices identified Nov. 30 as the expected termination date but also stated that a change of owner or operator could prevent or delay the closures. Persson now says Maverick’s repurchase will provide that transition.

“There will be no disruption and all the employees will be rehired.”

Eric Persson
CEO, Maverick Gaming

Persson said workers will technically leave the current operating entity before being hired by the new Maverick business. Customers, however, are not expected to see a shutdown between the two operators.

Wendover Properties Expected to Follow Similar Process

Persson said the restructuring will also cover three other Nevada properties: the nongaming High Desert Inn in Elko and the Wendover Hotel & Casino and Red Garter Hotel & Casino in West Wendover.

RunItOneTime’s 2025 Chapter 11 filing listed liabilities between $100 million and $500 million. Persson has disputed descriptions suggesting his current Maverick Gaming company itself is in bankruptcy, saying he reacquired the Maverick name and established a separate operating business after assets were transferred to lenders.

Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer said the regulator has been closely involved and has remained in extensive contact with Persson as the ownership changes move forward.

The board handled another major ownership change this summer when the Primm Valley takeover kept operations and hundreds of jobs in place after Affinity Gaming exited the properties.

Washington Casinos Also Moving Back to Maverick

The Nevada transaction follows a similar process involving eight Washington cardrooms previously scheduled for potential closure. Persson said Maverick is buying those properties back as well, with about 850 employees expected to be rehired.

Among the Washington properties is Crazy Moose Casino in Pasco, which had been listed for a possible Nov. 30 closure as the restructuring continued.

The Elko deals have not yet closed, leaving the ownership transfer still subject to completion and regulatory requirements. If completed as Persson expects, the two casinos would remain in operation without the mass layoffs contemplated in the September WARN filings.

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