Maverick Gaming, which filed for bankruptcy in July and closed two Washington casinos in September, plans to close another eight properties in the state in November.
The company, co-founded by high-stakes poker player and CEO Eric Persson, notified Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) about the closures. According to MyNorthwest, about 850 employees will lose their jobs.
In letters to the ESD for each casino, Maverick Human Resources Director Christine Wisniewski said a new owner could keep the properties open.
“Maverick Washington LLC is currently subject to a bankruptcy proceeding and, as part of that proceeding, there could be a potential change of operator and/or owner for the site,” she said.
“If the site is transitioned to a new owner/operator, the above-referenced closure may not occur, or alternatively, the closure could be delayed. We will provide updated information to you in the event that occurs.”
More Than 1,000 Jobs Will Be Lost In November
The gaming venues set to close include:
- American Casino in Everett
- Chip’s Casino in Lakewood
- Macau Casino in Lakewood
- Palace Casino in Lakewood
- All Star Casino in Silverdale
- Casino Caribbean in Yakima
- Crazy Moose Casino in Pasco
- Coyote Bobs Casino in Kennewick
Maverick notified the ESD on Sept. 28. The latest closures come about a month after notifying the agency of two casino closures in Tukwila. Those properties are set to close on Nov. 1, with 238 employees losing their jobs.
The latest round of closures will take effect Nov. 30. According to the company’s website, Maverick will own only four properties after the closures.
Company Criticizes State Business Climate
Maverick has alleged the state’s commercial casinos and cardrooms face a daunting business climate compared to Washington’s tribal gaming operations. That includes not allowing properties owned by the same company to operate a centralized surveillance system.
“This decision follows the Washington Gaming Commissioners’ choice to shut down the centralized surveillance petition, which was intended to support Washington cardrooms,” the company said in a statement regarding the bankruptcy filing.
“In the decision considerations, the gaming board compared Washington cardroom casinos (15 tables) to mega casinos that attract higher volumes of traffic, impacting our operations. The lack of centralized and advanced surveillance technology, in contrast to what is available in larger establishments, has further hindered our ability to compete effectively.”
Other Factors Playing A Role
Beyond those criticisms, a weaker local economy affected Maverick’s operations, according to Bloomberg. A series of layoffs in the technology industry also made an impact on the customer base.
Additionally, the company suffered from high operating costs, including rent. The recent bankruptcy filing came after Maverick restructured debt in 2024.
As part of Chapter 11, the gaming operator listed between $100 million and $500 million for both assets and liabilities. Chapter 11, also known as reorganization bankruptcy, allows businesses to restructure debt and continue operations.
Persson has been a regular in live-streamed, high-stakes cash games, including a memorable heads-up match against Phil Hellmuth in 2022. The action saw an interesting turn in regard to table talk as Persson seemed happy to antagonize his opponent – turning the tables on the “Poker Brat.”
