With less than a month to go before Primm's final operating casino and businesses were set to close, a Primm family representative said Thursday that it's "highly possible" for a new operator to take over the businesses and potentially save hundreds of jobs in the California border town.

In an interview with The Nevada Independent on Thursday, Cory Clemetson, the grandson of town founder Ernie Primm and CEO of the Primm family business, said discussions with a "well-respected gaming operator" have proceeded to the stage where he believes "Primm will not be going dark on July 4."

Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming announced in early May that the last of Primm's three casinos would permanently close July 4, along with Primm Center, which has several food and sundries outlets, the Flying J truck stop and the Primm Valley Lotto Store, just across the state line in California. Some 344 workers are set to lose their jobs, nearly 75 percent of whom will have to vacate their company-owned apartments behind the casinos.

Clemetson declined to name the operator, but said he was hopeful that regulatory approval could be quickly achieved. "Due to sensitivities and different discussions we're having with a few groups, I can't say any more now."

"From a regulatory standpoint, we will do everything we can to appropriately support continuity of gaming operations at Primm," wrote Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer in a Thursday text message, noting that the agency was aware of the negotiations. 

Clemetson said the family had retained Reno gaming attorney Michael Alonso to help in the process. Alonso declined to comment.

Clemetson, who is a partner in Reno-based NevDex Properties with his brother Chad, said the family is moving "as fast as it can" to keep the Primm Valley Casino and Hotel open along with other businesses, including the truck stop and the lotto store.

"We're obviously very concerned, first and foremost, about the 300 Nevadans who are potentially going to be displaced on July 4," Clemetson said. "So the primary thing has been getting a management agreement with a particular group."

He said the Primm family will be more involved in the community than it has been in the last 15 years under the new agreement.

"We're in the process of developing the management agreement," he said.

Clentson also confirmed discussions with LV Petroleum about the Primm land, but said the talks took place "early in the process. At the same time, we've spoken to other groups who are very well respected, particularly in the gaming, hotel and fuel businesses."

According to the Clark County Assessor's Office, the Primm family, through various entities, owns 15 parcels on both sides of Interstate 15 that total 568.5 acres, including a vacant 237-acre parcel to the east of Buffalo Bill's.

Starting with the late Ernest Primm and his son Gary Primm, the family developed the three casinos. Whiskey Pete's, named for legendary bootlegging moonshiner Pete MacIntyre, who lived in the area, opened in 1977. Primm Valley casino, initially named Primadonna, opened in 1990. Buffalo Bill's opened in 1994 and a second hotel tower was added in 1995.

The region was long known as State Line, but took on the name Primm Valley as the family began buying the surrounding acreage. 

Clemetson was critical of Affinity and CEO Scott Butera, who told the control board last month that Primm is "just not viable as a casino operation." Affinity is owned by Z Capital Partners, a New York-based asset management firm.

"We feel much better about the future partner than maybe we have in the last 15 years about what's been operating it out there," he said. Butera, he added, blamed the Primm family, "but conveniently left out the massive debt his company has across the board in excess of $500 million. That's what was reported as the end of 2025."

Clemetson said the Primm family would have "zero debt" on the casinos, "which is a rarity in today's Las Vegas landscape," and would put money into the properties to redevelop and upgrade the experience.

NevDex has overseen the development of more than 2 million square feet of office space in Northern Nevada and currently manages 500,000 square feet of development in Reno.

The company also manages the Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite.