Maverick Founder Saves Eight Washington Casinos as Two Nevada Properties Imperiled

Eight Washington cardrooms facing imminent closure will remain open after Maverick Gaming founder Eric Persson reached an agreement to buy back the distressed properties 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.”

Restructuring Mechanics Behind the Buyback

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.

According to Persson, the original Maverick operating business transferred its assets to lenders in July 2025 following elevated debt burdens and post-pandemic revenue headwinds. The assets were subsequently placed under the control of RunItOneTime LLC and subsidiaries including Maverick Washington LLC.

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

Persson noted that he separately reacquired the Maverick Gaming trademark and established a distinct operating business under the brand. Over the past year, that entity has been systematically repurchasing assets back from the lenders holding the legacy portfolio.

WARN Filings & Workforce Transition

WARN filings submitted by Maverick Washington LLC cover roughly 850 employees—including dealers, food and beverage staff, cashiers, security personnel, and facility managers.

However, the state notices noted that an ownership transfer could avert operational shutdowns. Persson explained that employees must technically be processed as separations by the outgoing entity before being rehired by his new operating company.

Persson has publicly pushed back against descriptions of his active operating company as bankrupt, emphasizing that it remains legally separate from the debtor entities currently in Chapter 11 court.

Federal bankruptcy court records reflect the multi-layered nature of the corporate structure. RunItOneTime LLC serves as the lead debtor in the Chapter 11 proceedings, with Maverick Gaming LLC, Maverick Washington LLC, and numerous regional affiliates listed as co-debtors.

The eight-cardroom transaction is not Persson’s first buyback from the legacy estate. His current Maverick venture previously acquired four Washington cardrooms and a gaming manufacturing unit from the lender group.