Last Primm Casino Hotel Closes July 4, Idling 344 Workers

Primm, a Nevada town on the California border 38 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip, will lose its last casino hotel on July 4, putting 344 people out of work, Fox 5 Las Vegas and other outlets reported.

The closure of Primm Valley Casino Resorts ends operations at 624 hotel rooms and suites, 46,000 square feet of entertainment space and more than 300 slot machines, according to Fox 5. Affinity Gaming, the parent company, notified staff this month of their terminations and required them to vacate company housing by July 6. The company stopped charging rent on May 15 and offered help with government assistance, per a letter published by 8NewsNow.com.

In December 2024, Whiskey Pete’s became the first of the three Primm Valley casinos to close. Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino then limited operations to special events in July 2025. The Primm Center gas station and Flying J truck stop will also shut, though the Primm family is working to keep gas stations open along the busy route, Fox 5 said.

Once a stop for travelers to and from Las Vegas or those seeking cheaper gambling, Primm has declined over 15 to 20 years due to California development and Las Vegas growth, said Amanda Belarmino, associate professor of hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Success of Native American casinos in Southern California cut visitation, she told Fox News Digital.

"A lot of people used to stop there just because they were so excited to gamble once they got over the border. But since casinos are more readily accessible, Primm lost some of that appeal," Belarmino said.

Michael Green, UNLV associate history professor, compared Primm to old mining towns that emptied after booms ended. "Primm, I think, could end up being the first gambling ghost town," he told Fox News Digital.

Las Vegas shifted to emphasize tourist experiences beyond gambling, Green said. Primm had buffets, a roller coaster, concerts, a golf course and a Bonnie and Clyde death car exhibit, but three hotels proved too many. Business fell sharply during COVID and never recovered, he added.

David G. Schwartz, UNLV gaming historian, said casino gaming persists despite online betting. "Gambling is going to continue to parallel retail," he said. "People would buy paper towels online, but they might not buy a Lamborghini online."

Lottery tickets work on phones, but high-stakes baccarat draws people in person, Schwartz added. He expects gambling resorts to add non-gaming amenities like T-Mobile Arena, Allegiant Stadium and the Sphere, which have driven recent Las Vegas development.