Terrible’s Retains 300 Jobs as Primm Casino Transition Becomes Official

PRIMM, Nev.: Terrible’s has completed its transition into management of the Primm casino properties and retained about 300 employees.

The update gives the Nevada border town a clearer path forward after weeks of uncertainty over jobs, worker housing and the future of its shuttered casino assets.

Terrible’s officially assumed management of Primm Valley Casino, Buffalo Bill’s Casino and Whiskey Pete’s Casino at 12:01 a.m. on July 5. The company said every Primm employee was offered a job, and every worker who wanted to remain accepted the offer.

The update follows the start of the transition, when Terrible’s took over Primm properties after Primm Valley Resort and Casino closed. At the time, jobs, housing and the future of Primm’s shuttered casino assets were the central questions facing the border town.

Terrible’s Retains Workers and Housing

Terrible’s said approximately 300 employees were retained and onboarded as part of the transition. The company also said on-site employee housing remains open and active, allowing workers and their families to stay in their homes.

The housing issue had become one of the most sensitive parts of the Primm transition. Workers tied to the outgoing operator faced uncertainty because company-managed apartments were connected to the same properties changing hands.

Terrible’s said its approach to the transition was rooted in a commitment to “Nevadans helping Nevadans”. The company also said it has a long-term plan to restore and reenergize Primm as an Interstate 15 gateway destination near the Nevada-California state line.

The first phase began July 1, when Terrible’s took over management of the Primm Center, Chevron gas station, Flying J, Whiskey Pete’s Travel Store, Lotto Store and Starbucks. The company said those businesses reopened by July 2, ahead of the Fourth of July travel weekend.

Primm Valley Casino Reopening Is Priority

Terrible’s now manages the three Primm casino properties, but only Primm Valley Casino had remained open before the management change. Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s had already been closed by the previous operator.

The company said reopening Primm Valley Casino is its immediate priority. An exact reopening date has not been announced, but Terrible’s said it expects to share one soon.

Longer-term plans for Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s are still being finalized. Terrible’s said it is evaluating opportunities for new investment, infrastructure improvements, enhanced amenities and additional attractions that could support sustainable growth.

The plans could become one of the most significant reinvestment efforts in Primm in years. The town was once a busy stop for Southern California travelers entering Nevada, but declining visitor activity, closed casinos, and reduced retail operations have weakened its position as a destination.

Affinity Cites Years of Losses

The transition also ends Affinity Interactive’s management of the Primm properties through its subsidiary, The Primadonna Company. Affinity said it had spent more than two years reviewing the future of the lease and holding discussions with the landlord.

Affinity said the lease was no longer financially sustainable and that the landlord was not willing to reduce rent to a viable level. The company said Primm had been a cash drain of about $10 million to $15 million annually for many years.

Affinity said there was no commercially rational basis to keep investing in the properties or financially support continued operations under the previous lease structure. It also thanked the Nevada Gaming Control Board for its guidance during the transition and wished the Herbst family success with the properties.

For Primm, the completion of the transition does not immediately restore the town’s casino economy. However, the retention of jobs, preservation of worker housing and planned reopening of Primm Valley Casino give Terrible’s a starting point for rebuilding activity at one of Nevada’s best-known roadside casino communities.

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