The last operating casino in Primm will close this summer, ending operations in the small gaming community at the Nevada-California state line along Interstate 15.

In a letter to employees dated Tuesday, Affinity Gaming, which operates Primm Valley Casino Resorts, said the company's flagship property will close July 4. The company also said Primm Center, which operates several food and sundries outlets, and the Flying J truck stop, would also "permanently cease operations." 

Primm's lotto store just across the line in California, which often has lines around the building when Powerball has a major jackpot, is also expected to close in July.

A representative for the company confirmed the planned closure Wednesday morning. Affinity filed a letter with the state's Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation, saying the closure would result in 344 employees losing their jobs.

It's unclear if the closure includes two Chevron gasoline stations on each side of the highway, as well as fast food outlets and electric vehicle charging stations. It's also unknown what will happen with a 371,000-square-foot outlet mall, which is attached to Primm Valley and has one open store. A different operator controls the mall.

A Clark County spokeswoman said officials are looking at options to ensure the gas stations remain open.

The mall is owned by the Primm family, which built the community and owns more than 568 acres spread across I-15. 

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Primm President Cory Clemetson, the grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm, said the family wasn't "given much notice" that the closure was happening. He said the family is working "to find potential solutions" to keep the properties operating.

"We hoped that these operators could have done more to make these properties successful and to continue operating the hotel-casino and related properties that they now intend to close," Primm said.

The move by Las Vegas-based Affinity, which also operates the off-Strip Silver Sevens Casino and casinos in Iowa and Missouri, follows last year's closure of Buffalo Bill's Casino Resort and the 2024 closure of Whiskey Pete's, the original casino in Primm. 

The location has long served as a rest stop for drivers between Las Vegas and Southern California and is roughly 40 miles from the center of the Strip. It fell on hard times over the past few decades, a victim of the recession, pandemic and the expansion of tribal gaming in Southern California at casinos in Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, Primm's largest customer base.  

Representatives of Affinity, which is privately owned by Illinois-based hedge fund Z Capital, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. The news was first reported on X by social media commentator Las Vegas Locally. 

Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer confirmed to The Nevada Independent on Wednesday that he was aware of the Primm shutdown.

Since the casinos are privately owned, Affinity does not reveal gaming numbers. The control board includes Primm's monthly totals in the balance of the Clark County market.

After closing Whiskey Pete's, Primm operations were centered on Buffalo Bill's. The casino had been refurbished with new slot machines and restaurants, including a buffet. 

The bullet-riddled Bonnie and Clyde death car, which had been on display at Whiskey Pete's since the 1980s, was moved to Buffalo Bill's casino in 2023 and was in the resort's food court area.

In a November 2024 interview, Butera called Primm "a unique asset. What we want to do is figure out what we can do there. That's what we're focused on, so we can create a special experience."

Primm's 6,500-seat Star of the Desert Arena and the 2,200-seat Primm Valley Event Center are still advertising shows and concerts running through the end of May.

Buffalo Bill's had 1,242 rooms and Primm Valley operated 624 rooms. The Desperado roller coaster, one of the world's tallest thrill rides with a 225-foot drop through the roof of Buffalo Bill's and a primary draw, has been closed since the pandemic.

Affinity Gaming acquired the Primm casino operations in the 2010 bankruptcy reorganization of Herbst Gaming. The company paid MGM Resorts International $400 million to purchase casinos in 2007.

Update at 3:40 p.m. on 5/6/2026 to include statement from Clark County.

Updated at 3:01 p.m. on 5/6/2026 to include a statement from the Primm family.

Updated at 12:16 p.m. on 5/6/2026 to include the number of affected workers.