Clark County commissioners Tuesday approved an application from Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino at the Nevada and California border that allows the property to be open part time for the next two years with two six-month extensions.
The vote was 7-0 with no discussion. The hotel-casino is under a 60-day closure effective July 15.
Citing a lack of visitation, two months ago Affinity Interactive announced the shuttering of Buffalo Bill’s as a full-time gaming destination, while retaining its hotel and casino operation for concerts and special events starting this fall.
Clark County codes provide that if a gaming licensee doesn’t meet the conditions and requirements of its license for a period of over 30 consecutive days, the license will be automatically suspended or be nonrenewable. The requirements can be waived for remodeling, labor disputes, and other matters. The total period of waivers can’t exceed three years.
In August, Buffalo Bill’s sent an updated request for temporary closure due to the slowing of post-pandemic traffic at Primm and the majority of business to weekend activity only.
“Since the pandemic, it’s been mostly weekend operations,” Buffalo Bill’s legal counsel Stephanie Gronauer told commissioners. “We’re hoping this is a temporary closure for a future reopening.”
Buffalo Bill’s requested approval to open eight to 10 times per year for concerts and special events, which would meet the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s requirement that Buffalo Bill’s open at least once every quarter for at least eight hours. NGCB’s temporary closure is approved through June 29, 2027, with the option to request an extension of the temporary closure, if necessary.
In July, Affinity announced that the property’s focus will be on entertainment and shifting 24/7 operations to its neighboring Primm Valley Resort; Buffalo Bill’s will continue to be home for concerts and special events at its 6,500-seat arena.
“It will be a fully operating facility — hotel, food and beverage, and casino — but just around concerts and special events,” the company said.
In December, Whiskey Pete’s, which opened in 1977, suddenly closed and patrons were redirected to book a room at Buffalo Bill’s. The company said at the time that it did so to feature investments at Buffalo Bill’s and Primm Valley Resorts. Affinity also operates Silver Sevens Casino in Las Vegas.
Earlier this year, Affinity CEO Scott Butera appeared before Nevada regulators for his licensing and hinted that changes were coming.
“We’re in the process of doing a major repositioning in Primm,” Butera said. “Primm is an historic place and for decades it’s been a gateway for Southern Californians to Nevada. We want to restore that.”
Butera said that they’re repositioning their Primm Valley hotel by adding national brands, since the ownership group is involved in a number of restaurant concepts. They’re also improving its travel centers by building a $4 million marquee that will show off the property and advertise for Las Vegas casino operators and investing $5 million to $6 million in slot products.
“We have 50,000 cars a day that pass by and the idea is to cater to those who’ve have on long drives, not only to get gas or recharge their car, but get something nice to eat and have fun at the casino before they move on,” Butera said. “On the weekends, we’ve been very successful with the arena and primarily Latin acts, which there seems to be a demand for. Longer term, if the (Ivanpah) airport were ever developed (nearby), you could have housing out there and logistics centers. The future is pretty interesting for that property.”
