Primm Valley Casino remained closed on the Fourth of July despite being rescued from permanent closure by Terrible’s last month. Terrible’s purchase was supposed to result in a takeover of Primm Valley Casino from Affinity Gaming on July 1. But a delay meant the transition happened at 12:01 a.m. on July 5.
Terrible’s began taking control of Primm’s gas stations on July 1. Primm Center, Chevron Gas Station, Flying J, and Whiskey Pete’s Travel store all reopened on July 2.
Some patrons hoped they could gamble at the Primm Valley Casino Resort on Independence Day after the gas station empire took over operations. But the transition required regulatory processes that kept the gaming floors closed for the time being. That denied new management the chance to cash in on a popular casino holiday.
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Primm’s Transition From Money Drain to Hopeful Future
Affinity wished to rid itself of its Primm properties, as it considered the truck stop town near the California border a money pit. Affinity stated:
The Primm property was a cash drain of approximately $10–15 million per year for many years, and there was no commercially rational basis to continue investing in the property or to financially support its continued operations.
On the other side of the coin, Terrible’s President Tim Herbst believes Primm has its best days still ahead. His company hopes that taking over the casino’s operations will preserve its legacy and open the door to new growth and tourism opportunities.
Terrible’s plans only relate to Primm Valley Casino at the moment. No clarity has emerged regarding plans for the other casinos in Primm: Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s. Some have suggested that those casinos could reopen in the future as well, with Terrible’s exploring opportunities for investment, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced amenities.
Primm Valley Casino will reopen soon, but management has not given an exact date.
Image credit: Tom Soderlund/Flickr (license)






