Maverick Founder Reacquires Eight Washington Casinos, Preserving 850 Jobs

Eric Persson, founder of Maverick Gaming, has negotiated a deal to reacquire eight Washington card rooms that were scheduled to close on November 30, effectively preserving approximately 850 jobs across the properties. The transaction represents the latest chapter in a complex financial restructuring that began when the original Maverick business transferred its assets to lenders in July 2025 after struggling with debt and post-pandemic revenue decline.

The eight Washington properties included in the deal 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. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices had been filed with Washington state documenting the intended closure and job losses affecting dealers, servers, bartenders, cooks, cashiers, security workers, and managers.

Persson told media outlets that the transaction should close within approximately three weeks and that operational continuity is expected, with customers experiencing no meaningful disruption during the transition. He emphasized that buildings will remain open throughout the ownership change and that employees will technically be terminated by the existing company before being rehired by the new Maverick operation.

The restructuring process reveals the intricate corporate mechanics involved in the case. When Maverick transferred assets to lenders, those 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 separately reacquired the Maverick Gaming name and established a new business under the brand, which has been systematically purchasing assets back from the lenders over the past year. The eight-property Washington deal is not Persson's first reclamation effort; his current operation has already acquired four Washington card rooms and a manufacturing business from the lenders.

Despite Persson's arguments that his current Maverick Gaming business operates separately from the bankrupt entities, federal bankruptcy records illustrate the complexity of the restructuring. RunItOneTime LLC remains the lead debtor in the proceedings, with Maverick Gaming LLC, Maverick Washington LLC, and numerous other affiliated entities also listed as debtors.

A significant uncertainty remains regarding two Maverick properties in Nevada. Separate WARN notices reported in Nevada news outlets indicate that Maverick Casino Hotel and Gold Country Inn and Casino in Elko could still close on November 30, putting 239 jobs at risk. Persson has not publicly confirmed whether he intends to pursue similar acquisition deals for these Nevada properties.

This situation illustrates the volatile nature of regional casino operations, particularly smaller card room properties that face elevated financial pressures compared to larger resort operators. The ability of a single investor to assemble and disassemble regional casino portfolios through bankruptcy proceedings demonstrates both the fragility and resilience of mid-sized gaming businesses in competitive markets. The outcome of these negotiations also underscores the ongoing importance of job preservation considerations in gaming industry restructurings.