【what is stake f1 team】Whiskey Pete’s Casino to Stay Closed for a While

Whiskey Pete’s Casino & Hotel will stay out of business for at least two years, and perhaps even three.

The iconic property on the Nevada-California border suspended operations December 18, 2024. When this happened, there was plenty of confusion about why it happened and whether it would restart work ever again.

However, this week, the situation around the casino became a little bit clearer. A representative for the owner, Affinity Interactive, sought permission for a two-year shutdown from the Clark County commissioners. There was also a request for a possible third year extension.

Still, the Las Vegas-based company plans to resume the travel centre/gas station operations at the location. This also applies to the slot machines on the site, which are technically part of the casino segment.

Historical Significance of Whiskey Pete’s

Whiskey Pete’s Casino & Hotel is an iconic castle-shaped property on the Nevada-California border. It was named after Pete McIntyre, who was a local bootlegger. At a point, the property offered a 46,000-square-foot gaming floor equipped with over 300 slots, electronic games, and a sportsbook. It also had two hotel towers touting over 1,200 rooms.

Unfortunately, due to fierce competition from larger Las Vegas casinos like M Resort and Point and those in neighbouring California, Whiskey Pete’s saw a decline in customership.

Request Approved

Commissioners from the Liquor & Gaming Licensing Board voted in favour of the two-year shutdown of the casino and hotel. However, Clark County Director of Business License, Vince Queano, is yet to announce his decision on the possible extension. He will do in the near future.

When speaking to the commissioners, Queano revealed that the owner seeks to close the casino due to staffing and marketing issues. It’s no secret that the resort is past its glory days. It seems that the property can no longer rely on travelers who would stop by the casino while they are on their way.

This has affected various businesses in the area, including one of the three resorts on Interstate 15 at the border. These days, travelers might make a stop due to the weather conditions or how long they have been in traffic on Interstate 15.

With its request for closure, Affinity is optimistic that eventually the local economy will improve. Currently, the area is not strong enough to support Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino and Primm Valley Casino Resorts. These two properties are also owned by Affinity.

However, this could change, as there are plans for an auxiliary airport, which could take off the traffic from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The proposed project, Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport, is on track to break ground in the next few years and ultimately begin operations by 2037.

The project is a key point in Affinity’s optimism that the local economy will improve in the future. It will be located between the company’s other two casinos and approximately 30 miles off the Las Vegas Strip. The idea behind the project is to take pressure from Harry Reid International Airport.

Affinity Explains Reasoning Behind Closure

In October 2024, Affinity’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Erin Barnett, sent an email to the county. In the email, he elaborated that in recent years, the traffic at the state line has shifted its trend towards weekend activity. In his words, this was not enough to support three full-scale casino operations in the area.

Still, he is hopeful that the plans for a new airport and additional business could potentially rejuvenate the area’s economy in the future. However, he also said the following:

“It’s not feasible to keep all three casino properties staffed, supported, and open to the public on a full-time basis. As a result, we are requesting your approval to close the Casino portion of the business, while continuing to operate the Truck Stop under the existing business licenses.”

Affinity has also revealed its intention to boost the number of slots in the travel centre from the current 22 to 40 in the following months. This was reported by Josh Carlson who is the company’s Vice President and General Counsel. This way, the operator will be able to utilise the unique license of the property, as it was founded in 1977, prior to the current rules on resort hotels.

Additionally, the letter from Affinity revealed that the company contacted the Nevada Gaming Control Board to negotiate a special arrangement. With this agreement, Affinity will be permitted to offer slot machine gaming, while the casino part of the property is shut down.

As mentioned earlier, Whiskey Pete’s officially closed down operations on December 18, 2024. But this week’s meeting kicked off the process for the approved two-year closure. Under the current agreement, the casino will remain closed until December 18, 2026.

It seems the fate of Whiskey Pete’s is heavily reliant on whether Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport will be developed and launched. Until then, the closure of the casino will certainly have an impact on its regular customers and those who still stopped by to visit it.