Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino shut down recently without notice on whether it intends to reopen. The casino, which debuted in 1977, was 25 minutes south of Las Vegas in Primm, NV, and famous for being on the route between Sin City and Southern California on the 15 Freeway.
Scott Butera, CEO of Affinity Interactive, Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino operator, explained the decision:
“As an initial step in the realigning of Primm Valley Resorts to meet the changing consumer demand, Affinity Interactive has temporarily closed Whiskey Pete’s Casino in order to feature new and ongoing investments at Primm Resorts and Buffalo Bill's. The team has been working on developing amenities that will better fit our new and current customers.”
When trying to book hotel accommodation, visitors to the Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino website are redirected to Buffalo Bill’s website.
Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino History
Whiskey Pete is a Primm, NV, folklore figure based on a local man called Peter MacIntyre. MacIntyre sold gas but struggled to meet the financial demands of the time. He turned to bootlegging during the Prohibition era, earning the nickname “Whiskey Pete.”
It was Whiskey Pete’s wish to be buried standing up with a bottle of bootleg in his hand so he could watch over Primm. He died in 1933. His gas station exchanged hands several times before Ernest J. Primm bought it and turned it into a casino named in Whiskey Pete’s honor. It was the first casino in State Line, now known as Primm.
During construction work in 1994, workers accidentally stumbled upon Whiskey Pete’s grave. He wasn’t buried standing up and didn’t have a whiskey bottle or six-shooters. Some people suggested his body was moved to the caves where he distilled his bootleg, but according to workers, he was buried in a new coffin in his original resting place.
The Whiskey Pete Hotel and Casino was a castle-inspired casino covering 46,000 square feet. It offered more than 300 games, including slots and electronic table games, as well as a retail sportsbook. The hotel had more than 1,200 rooms and a buffalo-shaped swimming pool.
US' Oldest Gambling Industry Continues to Evolve
While Whiskey Pete’s closing marks the end of an iconic gaming location in Nevada, it wasn't the first casino to see significant changes this past year. Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas, open for 67 years, was demolished in October.
Meanwhile, other gaming operators looked to the future more positively, with Rampart Casino launching multiplayer five-card draw poker through Rampart Online in December. Rampart developed the game in partnership with Real Gaming, with royal flush bonuses reaching $4,500.
Rampart Casino opened in 1999 in Vegas and has featured many names, including Regent Las Vegas and JW Marriott Las Vegas.
