Eric Persson Reaches Deal to Acquire Eight Washington Card Rooms Amid Maverick Gaming Restructuring

Eric Persson, founder of Maverick Gaming and a professional poker player, has agreed to purchase eight Washington card rooms back from the company's lenders, a move that halts the facilities' planned closures on November 30 while keeping roughly 850 positions intact across locations that include Everett, Silverdale, Yakima, Pasco, Kennewick, and Lakewood. The transaction forms part of the broader bankruptcy restructuring process that Maverick Gaming continues to navigate, shifting ownership stakes as lenders transfer the properties back into Persson's control.

Details of the Washington Acquisition Agreement

Reports indicate the buyback covers a total of eight card rooms rather than a partial group, although the announcement highlighted six specific sites whose operations now avoid shutdown; the remaining two properties follow the same timeline and employment safeguards. Lenders had scheduled the closures after Maverick entered bankruptcy proceedings, yet the new agreement transfers title back to Persson before those dates arrive, allowing the venues to maintain regular hours and staff levels without interruption. Observers note that this step resolves immediate threats to the Washington operations while the company addresses its larger financial obligations through the court-supervised process.

Employment figures show the preservation of approximately 850 jobs tied directly to these eight locations, a number derived from company filings and state labor records that track workforce sizes at each card room. The properties operate under state gaming regulations that require advance notice for mass layoffs, which prompted the original closure announcements earlier in the year. With the purchase complete, those notices no longer apply to the Washington sites, and management has confirmed continued staffing at current levels.

Nevada Properties Still Face Potential Closure

Separate Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filings for Maverick Casino Hotel and Gold Country Inn and Casino in Elko, Nevada, list a possible November 30 closure date that would affect 239 positions if the facilities shut down as indicated. These documents, referenced in industry coverage, outline the same restructuring timeline yet do not include the properties in Persson's repurchase agreement, leaving their status unresolved as the bankruptcy case proceeds. Company statements confirm both Elko venues remain under the current ownership structure during the transition period.

State labor requirements in Nevada mandate similar advance warnings for large-scale job losses, which explains why the WARN notices appeared even as Washington operations reached resolution. The two Elko properties represent a smaller portion of Maverick's overall footprint, yet their potential closure would mark the first actual reductions tied to the bankruptcy filing. Figures from the notices specify the 239 affected roles across hotel, gaming, and support departments at both sites.

Bankruptcy Context and Ownership Transition

Maverick Gaming initiated bankruptcy proceedings to address debt obligations, prompting lenders to assume temporary control of certain assets including the Washington card rooms slated for closure. Persson's agreement reverses that transfer for the eight locations, restoring direct ownership while the broader case continues in court. The ownership transition therefore splits into two tracks: one resolved through the buyback for Washington properties, and another still pending for the Nevada assets not included in the deal.

Industry reporting from casino.org and cdcgaming.com outlines the timeline, noting that the November 30 deadlines stem from the original lender notices issued during the bankruptcy phase. Those same reports confirm the WARN notices for the Elko properties remain active, creating a distinction between the stabilized Washington operations and the still-uncertain Nevada sites.

Conclusion

The repurchase agreement between Eric Persson and Maverick's lenders secures continued operation of the eight Washington card rooms and protects the associated 850 jobs through the November 30 period, while the two Elko, Nevada properties listed in separate WARN notices face an unchanged closure risk affecting 239 positions. The bankruptcy restructuring therefore moves forward with differentiated outcomes for each group of assets, reflecting the selective nature of the ownership transition now underway.