Fill ‘er up.
Faced with the closure of several casinos and the loss of hundreds of jobs in Primm, Nevada, Las Vegas-based gas station and slot machine operator Terrible’s has stepped in to take over management of several properties in the city.
Primm is located on the Nevada-California border and has historically been popular with Golden State residents looking for a quick gambling getaway. However, Primadonna Company, an arm of Affinity Gaming, announced in May that the company was closing Primm Valley Resorts, Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, Primm Center, and the Flying J convenience store.
Primm Valley is the only property still open, according to reports. Primadonna operated the casinos, but the Primm family owned them through the Primm South Real Estate Co. CEO Cory Clemetson, grandson of town founder Ernie Primm, was seeking another operator to keep the casinos and hotels open, according to the Nevada Independent.
Terrible’s Gaming previously ran the casinos through 2010 before losing operations during a bankruptcy filing. The gaming operation is part of the Las Vegas-based Terrible Herbst Oil Co. The deal allows the company to refocus on Primm after also opening a lottery sale location just across the border in California in 2024.
“Primm has long been one of Nevada’s most recognizable destinations,” Terrible’s President Tim Herbst said. “This partnership reflects our commitment to preserving that legacy while creating new opportunities for growth, investment, and tourism for decades to come. We believe Primm’s best days are still ahead.”
Primm Casinos Receive A Lifeline
The news comes as Primm fortunes have seen a downturn over the last few years. Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino already closed in December. Ownership was also going to shutter The Lotto Store, which catered to Nevada residents looking to purchase lottery tickets and is located just over the border in California.
The agreement with Terrible’s now could keep all those properties open and save more than 300 jobs in the process. Clemetson also hoped to keep an apartment complex for hundreds of employees open as well. However, Terrible’s will need to obtain a full-scale casino gaming license before the July 4 closure date.
Gaming Control Board Chairman Mike Dreitzer told the Independent that a special meeting of the board and the Nevada Gaming Commission was in the works for June 25 to address the matter.
“The Herbst family has a long history as a Nevada gaming licensee,” Dreitzer said. “We will do everything we can to help ensure continuity of gaming operations at Primm.”
Clemetson said he spoke with several groups about taking over operations of the casinos, but felt Terrible’s shared his family’s vision for the properties. That includes renovating properties, improving amenities, adding more food and beverage options, and upgrading infrastructure.
Flying J Convenience store operator Pilot Co. also expressed hope for the deal and now planned on keeping the location open.
A ‘Terrible’ Deal
Terrible’s is well-known among Nevada residents, with more than 180 convenience stores and gas stations located across the state as well as in California, Arizona, and Utah. Those properties often include car washes, restaurants, and slot machine lounges.
The company also operates several gaming taverns and five slot casinos in other parts of Nevada. For card players, Buffalo Bill’s was the only Primm property that operated a poker room.
It’s unclear if new management would keep the property open. But at least local poker players have some hope that they might save the room.
In related news, Terrible’s Casino, located just 25 miles south of Las Vegas in the city of Jean, became the latest Las Vegas-area property to be demolished in 2024 to make way for a new industrial park.
The Poker Palace casino in North Las Vegas was also saved after closing in 2025. Truckee Gaming, based in Sparks, Nevada, purchased and renovated the property before reopening in April as Club Fortune Casino North.
