Maverick Gaming Co-Founder Moves to Reacquire Bankrupt Nevada Casinos

Maverick Gaming co‑founder and Las Vegas poker pro Eric Persson is attempting to buy back two struggling Elko, Nev. casinos he once owned, a move he says would keep them open and prevent more than 239 layoffs.

The effort involves reacquiring the Maverick Casino Hotel and the Gold Country Inn and Casino from the lenders now controlling them, according to statements Persson made to the Las Vegas Review‑Journal on Thursday (Oct. 8).

The properties are owned by Maverick NV LLC, which is tied to the Chapter 11 case of RunItOneTime LLC, the Texas holding company formed as part of a transition services agreement Persson made with his lenders to get his brand name back.

Persson says his current company is not in that bankruptcy, and that he expects the purchase to close within three weeks.

“Everyone’s goal is to get these assets out of Chapter 11 as fast as possible,” he said.

The sale terms have not been disclosed. The casinos are being managed by RRC Gaming Management LLC, led by former Caesars Entertainment CEO Tony Rodio, while the bankruptcy continues.

Missing Persson

Persson co‑founded Maverick Gaming with business partner Justin Beltram in December 2017, with the purchase of the Red Garter Hotel and Casino and the Wendover Nugget in West Wendover for a reported $43 million.

The Elko properties’ future became uncertain after Maverick NV LLC filed Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. WARN notices are federally required whenever employers with 100 or more fulltime employees anticipate large-scale layoffs or closures.

The WARN notices stated that the casinos could close by Nov. 30, which would result in the layoffs of 198 employees at the Maverick Casino and 41 employees at Gold Country. The notices also said a change of owner or operator could prevent or delay the closures.

Persson used a similar strategy to buy back and keep open eight former Maverick Gaming cardrooms in Washington state from closing, preserving approximately 850 jobs. 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.

Maverick Gaming expanded in Nevada and Colorado before encountering financial problems. On July 14, 2025, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas, listing assets and liabilities in the range of $100 million to $500 million, according to court filings.

Around the same time, Maverick announced the closure of four of its Seattle-area card rooms.