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Maverick Gaming Co-Founder Eric Persson Orchestrates Strategic Buyback to Save Nevada Casinos

By jili tutorial · October 9, 2026

Maverick Gaming Co-Founder Eric Persson Orchestrates Strategic Buyback to Save Nevada Casinos

A Race Against Time to Preserve Jobs and Properties

In a bold move to salvage two struggling Nevada casinos, Maverick Gaming co-founder Eric Persson is executing a buyback of the Maverick Casino Hotel and Gold Country Inn and Casino in Elko. This eleventh-hour deal aims to prevent the impending closure of both properties and preserve 239 local jobs before a November 30 deadline.

What makes this transaction particularly noteworthy is that Persson is effectively repurchasing his own brand—the properties carry his company’s name but currently reside under lender control due to bankruptcy proceedings.

The Bankruptcy Context and Transaction Details

Current Ownership Structure:

Persson clarified to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that his current operating company remains separate from the bankruptcy. He anticipates closing the purchase within three weeks, asserting that all parties share the goal of expediting the assets’ exit from Chapter 11.

Management During Proceedings: The properties continue operations under:

While exact sale terms remain confidential, the transaction mirrors Persson’s earlier successful intervention in Washington state (more on this below).

The Stakes: Jobs and Community Impact

The urgency stems from filed WARN notices (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification), which revealed:

PropertyPotential Job LossesClosure Date
Maverick Casino198 employeesNov. 30
Gold Country Inn41 employeesNov. 30

Key Context: WARN Act notices are federally mandated when employers with 100+ full-time workers anticipate mass layoffs or closures. The filings did note that ownership changes could avert these outcomes.

Persson’s Nevada Gaming Journey

Persson’s gambling empire began in December 2017 when he and partner Justin Beltram:

The Elko properties represented part of Maverick’s aggressive expansion into Nevada and Colorado before encountering financial headwinds.

A Proven Playbook: Washington State Precedent

This isn’t Persson’s first rodeo with lender buybacks. Earlier this year, he successfully executed similar transactions to rescue eight Washington cardrooms from bankruptcy proceedings, preserving approximately 850 jobs.

Washington Properties Saved:

The Bigger Financial Picture

Maverick Gaming’s liquidity challenges became public when:

This Nevada buyback suggests Persson is strategically reclaiming core assets while restructuring other holdings—a complex balancing act mirroring many post-pandemic gaming industry recoveries.

What to Watch Next:

The deal exemplifies how gaming entrepreneurs navigate financial distress while attempting to preserve jobs and community investments—a high-stakes gamble where the chips are real livelihoods.