No disrespect to redheads or stepchildren, but the Nevada casinos that aren’t on the Las Vegas Strip are kind of the proverbial, yes, redheaded stepchildren.
They’re often talked about in derogatory terms or as “lesser than.”
Of course, it’s hard to compete with some of the world’s most well-known luxury brands that dot The Strip, but some places have managed to stake a claim in the desert and survive, if not thrive, for years.
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Take the historic off-Strip casinos collectively known as Primm Valley Resorts — Buffalo Bill’s, Primm Valley Resort, and, until recently, Whiskey Pete’s.
Primm Valley Resort offers a boutique experience with its Victorian-era décor, golf course, outlet shopping, and mid-sized casino. Buffalo Bill’s, debuting in 1994, pushed the envelope with an Old West theme and a massive 1,242-room hotel.
It housed the world-record Desperado roller coaster and an indoor log‑flume that made it a true “casino‑theme park.”
Whiskey Pete’s, the original casino since 1977, featured a storied Wild West history until it shut permanently in December 2024 amid declining traffic.
With themed attractions ranging from Old West motifs to record‑breaking thrill rides, the properties carved out a unique identity distinct from the glittering mega‑resorts of Las Vegas.
Buffalo Bill’s closing permanently
Now, a second property in the group is closing.
As of July 7, 2025, Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino will cease its round-the-clock operations, shifting its 24/7 gaming, hotel, and food-and-beverage services to its sister property, Primm Valley Resort & Casino, as reported by John Mehaffey at Vegas Advantage.
Management explained the move as a strategic consolidation aimed at delivering “the best possible experience for today’s guest expectations.”
While Buffalo Bill’s will no longer operate daily, the property’s Star of the Desert Arena (6,500 seats) will remain open for concerts and special events. The casino and hotel at Buffalo Bill’s will open temporarily as needed for such occasions. Affinity Gaming, which owns the resort, promises an upcoming lineup of high‑profile fall shows.
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The gradual wind-down has already begun. Buffalo Bill’s will not accept hotel bookings after July 6, and the casino floor has been pared back, with significant numbers of slot machines removed, according to Mehaffey. Indoor table games have been gone since 2022, when they were replaced by hybrid electronic tables, which failed to catch on.
Buffalo Bill’s, which reopened in late 2022 after closing during the Covid shutdowns, has struggled with visitor numbers for years.
With Buffalo Bill’s shutting down permanently, Primm Valley Resort remains the sole full‑service casino resort at the state line.
Closure of Buffalo Bill’s outside Las Vegas points to changing travel trends
The closure of Buffalo Bill’s echoes wider trends in Las Vegas and the broader regional gaming industry.
These once-bustling roadside stops have all felt the strain of changing travel patterns, regional competition (including Southern California tribal casinos), and pandemic-related declines in visitor numbers. As Primm transitioned from three full-time casinos to two, the area has become emblematic of the broader challenges facing peripheral gaming destinations.
Entertainment dynamics are also shifting. Primm’s draw historically hinged on novelty, but the attractions haven’t kept pace with modern entertainment expectations for immersive, thematic experiences.
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To stay competitive, even Vegas’s iconic resorts are updating offerings by adding attractions like the Top Gun immersive experience, which is coming soon to The Strip.
Primm Valley Resorts have long served as a budget-friendly alternative for Southern California travelers, in part because they’re about 40 miles closer than the Strip; the closure reflects the decline of road-trip gaming.
With increased casino presence in California, travelers no longer view Primm as the last stop before Las Vegas. Amid pandemic-era travel habit changes and enforcement checkpoints deterring certain demographics, traffic to Primm has waned, says Mehaffey.
Yet it’s not all doom and gloom. Primm Valley Resort is now the region’s anchor, and there’s cautious optimism. Infrastructure investments, such as the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport (targeted for completion by 2037), could breathe new life into this border town.
The Primm area will still be a drop for outlet shopping, golf, and concerts, but Buffalo Bill’s closure marks the end of a distinctive chapter in Nevada gaming history.
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