Eric Persson Steps In to Repurchase Washington Casinos During Maverick Gaming Bankruptcy
Nils Fischer · Oct 7, 2026

Eric Persson Steps In to Repurchase Washington Casinos During Maverick Gaming Bankruptcy

Eric Persson, the founder and poker player linked to Maverick Gaming, reached an agreement to buy back eight casinos located across Washington state as part of the company's ongoing bankruptcy process; this move covers properties in Everett, Silverdale, Yakima, Pasco, Kennewick, and Lakewood plus two additional sites and aims to maintain operations while restoring jobs for approximately 850 employees who had received termination notices set for November 30.
Background on the Bankruptcy Proceedings
Maverick Gaming entered bankruptcy amid financial pressures that affected multiple locations, yet the agreement allows Persson to reclaim control of the Washington venues through a structured repurchase that keeps the facilities running without interruption; reports indicate the transaction addresses lender claims directly and prevents immediate shutdowns that would have impacted hundreds of workers across the listed cities.
Those who have followed the case note that the deal focuses on preserving the core Washington portfolio while separating the Nevada assets that face different circumstances, and the arrangement includes commitments to rehire staff previously slated for layoffs at the end of November.
Details of the Washington Properties and Workforce Impact
The eight casinos span several regions in Washington and represent a significant portion of Maverick Gaming's operations in the state, with locations chosen for their established customer bases in Everett, Silverdale, Yakima, Pasco, Kennewick, and Lakewood; the repurchase ensures these sites continue providing gaming, hospitality, and related services without the closures initially planned during bankruptcy.

Workers at these properties had received notices that their positions would end on November 30, but the agreement reverses those plans and restores employment for roughly 850 people who now face a different outcome; local economies in the affected communities stand to benefit from continued operations that sustain payrolls and tax contributions tied to the venues.
Observers point out that the properties include a mix of casino hotels and standalone gaming facilities, each with its own operational history under Maverick, and the buyback structure ties the assets back to Persson as the original founder who built the company before the financial challenges emerged.
Nevada Locations Still Face Uncertainty
While the Washington deal moves forward, two Maverick properties in Elko, Nevada, remain at risk with potential closures also scheduled for November 30; those sites consist of the Maverick Casino Hotel along with the Gold Country Inn and Casino, and their situation involves 239 jobs that could be affected if no similar resolution occurs.
According to coverage in regional business outlets, the Nevada venues operate under separate circumstances within the bankruptcy framework, which leaves them outside the current repurchase agreement and exposes them to the same termination timeline that the Washington locations avoided through Persson's intervention.
Industry data from sources such as casino.org shows how bankruptcy proceedings can split assets by state when lender priorities and market conditions differ, creating uneven outcomes for employees across locations.
Timeline and Expected Outcomes
The agreement surfaces as bankruptcy proceedings continue, with the November 30 date serving as a key deadline that the Washington repurchase directly addresses through job restoration and operational continuity; timelines indicate that closing on the deal would allow a smooth transition back to Persson-controlled management without extended downtime at the eight sites.
Those tracking the filings note that the Nevada properties could still see last-minute developments, yet current details leave them on track for possible closure unless additional agreements materialize before the end of the month.
Conclusion
The repurchase by Eric Persson secures eight Washington casinos and protects 850 positions that had faced termination, while the two Elko, Nevada, locations continue toward a separate November 30 deadline affecting 239 jobs; this development reflects how bankruptcy resolutions can produce distinct results for assets in different states when founders and lenders reach targeted agreements.