Eight Washington Casinos Expected to Stay Open as Maverick Gaming Reacquires Them following an announcement by Maverick Gaming owner Eric Persson. The planned transactions are expected to finalize in roughly three weeks, preventing closures that previously loomed over multiple venues across the state. The deal affects an estimated 850 employees across gaming, food service, security, and management who are expected to be retained or rehired.
What Changed
Maverick Washington LLC, described as a sister company that filed bankruptcy papers, previously issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices listing a November 1 closure date to employees at several affected locations. Human Resources Director Christine Wisniewski drafted letters to staff clarifying that employment was being terminated by the old operator, but emphasized that the venues would remain open pending a change of operator.
Eric Persson announced plans to reacquire eight casino properties that had been slated to close at the end of November. In addition to these eight venues, ownership transfers for two additional properties in Tukwila are anticipated to close within the next month. Over the past year, Persson has bought back assets from lenders, including four Washington card rooms located in Kirkland, Mountlake Terrace, and Lakewood, alongside a manufacturing company.
Affected Properties and Workforce
The eight casinos included in the reacquisition transaction consist of:
- Great 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
Additionally, Maverick Gaming previously announced closures at Great American Casino and Riverside Casino in Tukwila, which faced layoffs affecting 238 total employees, split between 96 workers at Great American and 142 at Riverside. While the ownership transfer for the two Tukwila properties is moving forward, the identity of the buyer for those locations has been kept confidential, as Persson declined to disclose it.
Business Implications and Corporate Context
Addressing public and workforce concerns, Eric Persson stated that Maverick Gaming is not currently under bankruptcy proceedings, explaining that the operating entity involved in the acquisition is distinct from the bankrupt entity. According to Persson, the bankruptcy lawsuit stems from a July 2025 transaction where he sold assets to lenders who subsequently filed bankruptcy via a separate corporate structure.
Persson noted that public perception was distorted by the WARN notices because those notifications omitted the fact that an ownership transfer was already planned. He characterized the scheduled shutdowns as administrative rather than true closures, asserting that the operational impact on the casinos will be minimal.
Furthermore, Persson claimed that the financial and operational burden of running the properties has been alleviated through the acquisition process, allowing the business to return to profitability.
Limitations and Regulatory Uncertainty
Despite the positive outlook regarding workforce retention and operational continuity, certain elements of the restructuring remain subject to external conditions. A notable limitation is the requirement for final regulatory approval, which is mandatory to formally complete the transaction.
Additionally, while the retention or rehiring of approximately 850 employees provides stability for staff across gaming, food service, security, and management departments, the transition involves statutory administrative steps, including formal termination letters issued by the legacy operator before staff join the new operational structure.
What to Watch Next
Observers and affected personnel will be monitoring the finalization of the transaction, which is expected to take approximately three weeks. Key milestones to watch include the completion of regulatory approvals, the finalization of the ownership transfer for the two Tukwila properties—including the eventual disclosure of the buyer—and the seamless transition of the 850 retained and rehired employees into the reorganized corporate structure.