'I'm going to miss this place.' Southern Nevadans lament closing of Primm lottery store – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
Southern Nevadans who have long made regular drives to the Primm Valley Lotto Store now face longer trips and fewer options once the outlet shuts its doors after the July 4 holiday. The location, long ranked among California’s top lottery retailers, will close along with the surrounding casino properties and most other services in the small border community. Customers accustomed to staffed counters and quick transactions must decide whether to travel farther or settle for kiosk-only machines at nearby sites.
Announcement Brings Uncertainty to Regular Players
Affinity Gaming, the Las Vegas company that operates the Primm properties under lease from the Primm family, confirmed the full closure on May 4. The decision affects the lottery outlet even though it has consistently ranked as one of California’s highest-volume ticket sellers. State lottery officials noted the store’s strong performance but said other nearby retailers stand ready to serve customers. John Rodill of Las Vegas has driven the roughly 40-minute route every few weeks for years, especially when Powerball jackpots climb into the billions. He plans to add another 45 minutes to his trips rather than use a newer kiosk-only location just six miles past Primm. Rodill prefers the personal service at staffed counters, a feature the Primm store has offered since its expansion in 2007.
Longtime Customers Reflect on Routine and Convenience
For many residents, the store has been more than a ticket outlet. Dellie Atkins, who moved to Las Vegas last year, made her final monthly trip to Primm after learning of the closure. She described the location as a familiar stop during drives between Southern California and the Las Vegas Strip. Domenic Bosa has visited the store for 25 years, often turning the outing into a family lunch when his children were young. He noted that Indian casinos have drawn business away from Primm since the pandemic, yet the loss of the lottery counter still feels abrupt. Bosa said he remains unsure where he will buy tickets next.
Alternatives Emerge Along Interstate 15
Players unwilling to travel as far as Baker, California, can consider several closer options once the Primm store closes. A travel center roughly 40 miles south of Boulder City offers Arizona lottery tickets. On the California side, the second-busiest lottery retailer operates in Floriston near the northern border. Terrible Herbst opened a new outlet six miles south of Primm in August 2024 at a Chevron station on Yates Well Road. That site provides three kiosk machines but no staffed counter sales. The company previously ran the Primm location after acquiring the properties from MGM Resorts in 2007 and shifting the focus entirely to lottery sales.
Broader Questions About Nevada Lottery Access
Nevada remains one of five states without a statewide lottery, and any effort to create one requires a constitutional amendment. Proposals advanced in the 2023 legislative session but stalled in 2025 amid concerns over costs and limited projected revenue. Gaming industry leaders have pointed to the state’s record $15.8 billion in casino revenue for 2025 as evidence that a lottery is unnecessary. California’s lottery generated just under $9 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, with more than $1.8 billion directed to public education. The Primm store never sold a Powerball jackpot winner but contributed to the sale of many smaller prizes during high-profile drawings. The closure marks the end of a convenient cross-border habit for thousands of Southern Nevadans who valued the staffed windows and steady traffic along Interstate 15. Many now weigh longer drives against the convenience of machines or out-of-state options, with no immediate replacement in sight.
