An executive with Las Vegas-based casino operator Terrible’s outlined plans Thursday for a resort and service stations to continue to operate in Primm on the Nevada/California border.
In a special meeting Thursday morning, the Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended Terrible’s, owned by the Herbst family, be licensed to take over Primm gaming operations from Affinity Gaming to avoid a shutdown on July 4. Affinity planned to shut everything down after leasing them from the Primm family for 15 years.
Nearly three hours after the Gaming Board meeting, the Nevada Gaming Commission held a 17-minute hearing before voting 5-0 to approve the license. The Herbst license is for one year to start.
Earlier this month, the Primm family, owners of the border properties, signed a lease agreement with Terrible’s to operate the properties, saving more than 300 jobs that were scheduled to be lost. The service stations are expected to be open on the Fourth of July weekend, but there’s no timetable for the remaining casino to open under the operation of Terrible’s.
Thursday morning’s hearing lasted 40 minutes and Board Chair Mike Dreitzer said it was a priority to speed ahead with the review and approval process, because the impact to businesses and job losses in Primm were “of grave concern.” He thanked the Herbst family for caring more about Nevadans than chasing dollars, saying, they embody the “true spirit” of Nevada.
“This is a success story for Nevada and Primm,” Dreitzer said. “That special location is the first thing people see when they cross the border and the first impression they get of the state. It’s a difficult situation in really good hands.”
Las Vegas attorney Dennis Gutwald, who represented Terrible’s, said three LLCs owned by Herbst family trusts applied for non-restricted gaming licenses, along with manufacturer and distributor licenses. William Hill is the licensed sportsbook at the properties.
Tim Herbst is the manager of the new entities that will hold the non-restricted licenses at the Primm properties. One entity will operate Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, which has been closed, but will open periodically to preserve the license. Another entity will continue to operate the currently open Primm Valley Resort & Casino, while a third will operate Whiskey Pete’s Casino, currently closed. That property has a service station with 18 slot machines.
A convenience store will be operated by Terrible Herbst. Jett Gaming will run restricted gaming there as part of a lease agreement.
“It’s the gateway to Las Vegas and the worst thing in the world would be if that place was shut down and those travelers or tourists show up there and it’s dark and out of fuel,” Herbst said. “I think it’s a bright future out there, with 700 acres at the Nevada-California border, an ample supply of water, and 20 million cars that go by a year. That’s 60 million people going by your front door. Also, it’s not a matter of if, but when, that international cargo/passenger airport is brought on and built. It’s coming. The Brightline (high-speed rail from California) is coming right down the middle of their property. I think this will be the Primm family’s next wonderful chapter.”
Herbst said they have onboarded 300 employees as of Thursday with more coming by early next week.
Terrible’s has about 3,500 existing employees. It has operated convenience stores, travel plazas, casinos, lounges, and recently bars and taverns throughout Nevada for more than 65 years. It has casinos in such rural Nevada locations in Pahrump, Indian Springs, Fernley, and Searchlight. Besides Nevada, it operates in Utah, Arizona, California, and New Mexico.
Herbst said he’s heard from Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and Clark County asking what they could do to help keep the properties open. “It all comes down to Nevadans helping Nevadans,” Herbst said in thanking the Board for moving forward quickly. “It’s an unorthodox transition of a business. It usually doesn’t happen this way.”
Herbst said they have a long-standing relationship with the Primm family and reached out to them when they heard about the planned closures by Affinity and asked what they could do. When he spoke to them, it was about keeping the resort destination open.
“That’s what we’re trying to do and I think we’ll do it successfully, then give us and the Primm family time to figure out the long-term goals and objectives.”
Any immediate capital improvements will be life-safety only, to ensure nothing has been overlooked, including infrastructure, Herbst said.
“The last major capex project at Primm Valley was in 1994 when they built Buffalo Bill’s,” Herbst said.
Herbst mentioned ongoing negotiations between the Primm family and Affinity gaming on its exit from the property.
“They’re negotiating what they are and aren’t leaving and we should know fairly soon. It’s very fluid. The truck stop and travel center we could get open in two days and be ready for the Fourth of July travel weekend. From a gaming perspective, we’ll open up as soon as we can.”
Cory Clemetson, he grandson of Primm founder Ernie Primm and president of the Primm South Real Estate Company, released a statement thanking regulators for expediting the process and enabling them to partner with Terrible’s to begin operating the properties.
“Today’s approval will help us preserve jobs and housing for the more than 300 Nevadans who live and work at Primm,” Clemetson said. “We’re confident that Primm has a bright future and look forward to working with the team at Terrible’s to modernize and energize this important gateway to Nevada.”
Affinity shuttered Whiskey Pete’s casino in December 2024 and Buffalo Bill’s has been open sporadically when concerts are held on the weekends since July 2025. Primm Valley Casino Resort was to close July 4, along with a truck stop and service stations on either side of the freeway, a Tesla charging station, and a lotto store frequented by Nevada residents, since the state has no lottery. The mall component connected to the Primm Valley hotel property has fast-food restaurants that were under the oversight of the Primm valley and were always scheduled to remain open.
Nearly three hours after the Gaming Board meeting, the Nevada Gaming Commission held a 17-minute hearing before voting 5-0 to approve the license.
