Maverick Gaming’s Washington Casino Empire Keeps Shrinking as Eight More Face Closure
Embattled operator Maverick Gaming has earmarked eight more cardrooms for closure across Washington state, potentially laying off 850 workers, as it continues to restructure under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) filed Monday (Sept…
Embattled operator Maverick Gaming has earmarked eight more cardrooms for closure across Washington state, potentially laying off 850 workers, as it continues to restructure under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN) filed Monday (September 28), closures are scheduled to take place at the end of November. The properties are Caribbean Casino in Yakima, Crazy Moose Casino in Pasco, Coyote Bobs Casino in Kennewick, All Star Casino in Silverdale, Great American Casino in Everett, Palace Casino in Lakewood, Macau Casino in Lakewood, and Chips Casino in Lakewood. However, the closures are not necessarily a done deal. Maverick said in its WARN notices that the bankruptcy process could result in new owners or operators taking over some of the properties, allowing them to remain open. Two more venues, Riverside Casino and Great American Casino—both located in Tukwila, just south of Seattle—are expected to close Nov. 1, eliminating 238 jobs. Five additional Maverick cardrooms have closed or been earmarked for closure since June alone, affecting more than 400 workers. Expansion Gamble Backfires Beginning in 2018, Maverick went on an aggressive spending spree in Washington shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). The operator acquired 24 cardroom venues—including 19 in 2019 alone—to become the state’s largest nontribal gaming operator. Maverick was betting on Washington lawmakers eventually legalizing commercial sports betting. Instead, a 2020 state law handed the market exclusively to tribal casinos, with mobile wagering permitted only on tribal lands. Maverick sued Washington state and the federal government in 2022, arguing the tribal exclusivity created an unconstitutional monopoly. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. Meanwhile, Maverick’s rapid expansion left the company heavily leveraged. Rising interest rates increased the cost of servicing its debt, while its cardrooms faced growing competition from tribal casinos. The company’s Washington properties are generally mid-sized, locals-oriented cardrooms offering food, drinks, and table games, relying heavily on repeat local customers rather than destination traffic. Maverick’s financial problems were compounded by weakness in the local economy and high operating costs. S&P Global Ratings said in 2024 that layoffs in Washington’s technology sector had affected its customer base, while the company was also burdened by substantial rent obligations. Bankruptcy Restructuring Maverick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2025, initially estimating both its assets and liabilities at between $100 million and $500 million. It subsequently proposed selling a collection of casino, hotel, and gaming technology assets to various buyers for around $65.8 million as part of its restructuring. Around the time of the bankruptcy filing, Maverick also announced plans to close Dragon Tiger Casino in Mountlake Terrace, Silver Dollar Casino in Renton, Roman Casino in Seattle, and Palace Casino in Lakewood. Palace remained in operation and is now among the eight properties facing closure at the end of November. The post Maverick Gaming’s Washington Casino Empire Keeps Shrinking as Eight More Face Closure appeared first on Casino.org.