'It's kind of sad.' As Primm's last casino shuts down, employees struggling for housing, jobs – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Primm Valley Casino Resort will shut its doors on July 4, ending operations at the final gaming property in the small community 40 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip. The closure will eliminate 344 positions and force hundreds of employees out of company-owned apartments just two days later. Many workers have spent years in the area, raising families and relying on the modest wages that came with the jobs.
Timeline Leaves Little Room to Prepare
Affinity Gaming, the operator controlled by New York-based Z Capital, notified state officials in early May that the resort would close. Employees received letters confirming that rent and utilities would stop being deducted from mid-May through early July, yet the short window has left little time for savings or new arrangements. The company scheduled four meetings to share details on public services, but workers described the process as rushed.
One employee who has lived in the apartments for nearly two decades said the family now faces deposits and employment verification requirements for any new housing in Las Vegas or Henderson. Another longtime resident noted that salaries at the property rarely exceeded minimum wage, making it difficult to build any financial cushion.
Daily Commutes and Family Ties Add Pressure
Yvette Cartsen has driven two hours each way from Apple Valley, California, for years and views the Primm workforce as an extended family. She started a fundraising effort after seeing colleagues struggle to cover moving costs while still required to work through the final day to receive their last paycheck. Several employees have begun pooling resources to rent space in Laughlin and search for openings at the eight casinos there.
Local businesses that remain open under separate leases, including a Carl’s Jr. and a Taco Bell, now worry about staffing shortages because many of their workers also live in the apartments. One manager said the lack of shuttle service from Las Vegas makes it unclear how the restaurants will operate after July 6.
State Agencies Step In With Limited Options
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation has activated its rapid response team to connect displaced workers with re-employment services, emergency rental aid and case management. Officials are coordinating across agencies to identify available support, though the sudden loss of both income and housing has created immediate gaps.
Regulators are scheduled to question Affinity’s chief executive about the shutdown during a hearing later this week. The company has not detailed any long-term plans for the site beyond earlier comments that it no longer needs another casino and could instead serve as a family destination.
Once-Bustling Site Now Quiet
The closure follows the shutdown of the Primm Valley Golf Club in 2024, which had drawn visitors who stayed at the three resorts. The two courses, designed by architect Tom Fazio, have since dried out and sit fenced off six miles south of the community. Regular guests who came for golf have largely disappeared.
Customers who have visited Primm for decades described the change as unexpected despite earlier rumors. One regular noted that management turnover had already eroded confidence, and the final closure marks the end of an era that once included three operating casinos along Interstate 15.
The community has been a second home for many of us, and now people have no idea where to go or how to afford a down payment.
With the last casino gone, the focus shifts to how quickly workers can secure new housing and employment while state services attempt to fill the immediate gaps. The outcome will determine whether the small border community can retain any of its remaining residents or simply fades further into the desert landscape.
