Maverick Founder Saves Eight Washington Casinos as Two Nevada Properties Imperiled

Eight Washington casinos facing closure will remain open after Maverick Gaming founder and poker player Eric Persson agreed to buy them back from the company’s lenders.

The deal is expected to preserve around 850 jobs across the eight card rooms, which had been scheduled to close Nov. 30, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices filed with Washington state.

It’s unclear whether Persson plans to do the same thing in Nevada, where separate WARN notices reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal suggest two Elko properties could also close Nov. 30. The notices cover the Maverick Casino Hotel and Gold Country Inn and Casino, putting 239 jobs at risk.

The Washington properties are Great American Casino in Everett, All Star Casino in Silverdale, Casino Caribbean in Yakima, Crazy Moose Casino in Pasco, Coyote Bob’s Casino in Kennewick, and Chip’s Casino, Macau Casino, and Palace Casino in Lakewood.

Persson told KIRO Newsradio that the transaction should close within about three weeks and that customers should see virtually no disruption.

“From a customer standpoint, you know nothing changes,” Persson said. “The building never closes.”

How Is Maverick Buying ‘Maverick’ Casinos?

The unusual deal is part of Maverick’s financial restructuring, which saw lenders take control of the properties before the companies holding them entered bankruptcy.

Persson said that in July 2025, the original Maverick business transferred assets to its lenders after struggling with debt and a post-pandemic decline in revenue. The assets became controlled through RunItOneTime LLC and subsidiaries including Maverick Washington LLC.

RunItOneTime and dozens of affiliated companies subsequently entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Persson said he separately reacquired the Maverick Gaming name and now operates a new business under the brand. Over the past year, that company has been buying assets back from the lenders that took control of the old business.

Workers Technically Terminated, Then Rehired

Maverick Washington LLC filed WARN notices covering approximately 850 employees, including dealers, servers, bartenders, cooks, cashiers, security workers, and managers.

However, the notices acknowledged that a change of ownership could prevent the planned closures.

Persson said employees technically must be terminated by the existing company before being rehired by the new owner.

Persson has disputed reports describing his current Maverick Gaming business as bankrupt, arguing it is separate from the entities now in Chapter 11.

Federal bankruptcy records nevertheless illustrate the complexity of the corporate restructuring. RunItOneTime LLC is the lead debtor in the proceedings, while Maverick Gaming LLC, Maverick Washington LLC, and numerous other affiliated entities are also listed as debtors.

The eight-property deal is not Persson’s first effort to reclaim parts of the former casino empire. His current Maverick operation has already acquired four Washington card rooms and a manufacturing business from the lenders, according to Persson.