Maverick Gaming Casino Closures: Eight More Sites Shut
Eric Persson's Maverick Gaming will shut eight more Washington cardrooms on November 30, cutting 850 jobs as its bankruptcy restructuring continues.
The Maverick Gaming casino closures will shut eight more Washington cardrooms on November 30, 2026, cutting roughly 850 jobs. The operator, co-founded by poker player Eric Persson, is working through Chapter 11 bankruptcy after earlier shutdowns in Tukwila and elsewhere. Only four Maverick properties in the state are expected to remain open once the plan takes effect.
- Eight Washington cardrooms will close November 30, 2026, Casino.org reports.
- About 850 employees are expected to lose their jobs, according to CardPlayer.
- Two more Tukwila casinos close November 1, affecting 238 workers.
- Maverick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2025 with $100 million to $500 million in assets and liabilities.
- After the closures, Maverick will own just four properties in Washington, CardPlayer reports.
- Five other Maverick cardrooms have already shut since April.
What are the Maverick Gaming casino closures?
The Maverick Gaming casino closures cover eight more cardrooms across Washington state, set to shut on November 30, 2026. Casino.org reports the properties include casinos in Yakima, Pasco, Kennewick, Silverdale, Everett and three in Lakewood.
The company filed its WARN notices on September 28, according to Focus Gaming News. Those filings estimate about 850 jobs will be lost across dealer, cashier, bartender, cook and management roles.
Two more Tukwila casinos, Riverside and Great American, were already set to close on November 1. CardPlayer reports that closure alone will cost 238 workers their jobs, with Riverside accounting for 142 layoffs and Great American for 96.
Who owns Maverick Gaming and why is it in bankruptcy?
Maverick Gaming is co-founded by Eric Persson, a well-known high-stakes poker player, CardPlayer reports. Persson has appeared in live-streamed cash games, including a notable 2022 heads-up match against Phil Hellmuth.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2025, listing assets and liabilities each between $100 million and $500 million, Casino.org reports. That filing followed a 2024 debt restructuring and years of heavy spending on Washington cardrooms.
Maverick went on an aggressive buying spree after a 2018 Supreme Court ruling opened the door to sports betting nationwide, Casino.org reports. The company acquired 24 cardroom venues in Washington, including 19 in a single year, to become the state's largest nontribal gaming operator.
As part of its restructuring, Maverick has proposed selling casino, hotel and gaming technology assets for around $65.8 million, according to Casino.org. That sale is separate from the latest round of closures but reflects the same financial pressure.
Why is Maverick Gaming closing so many properties?
Maverick has blamed Washington's Gaming Commission for ending a proposal that would have let its cardrooms share centralized surveillance technology. The company says that change left it unable to compete with larger casinos, according to Focus Gaming News.
Casino.org reports other pressures piled on too. A weaker regional tech-sector economy, high rents and rising debt costs all hit the company's locals-oriented cardrooms, which depend on repeat customers rather than destination traffic.
Maverick also fought a 2022 lawsuit against Washington state over tribal gaming exclusivity, arguing it created an unfair monopoly. That lawsuit was dismissed, Casino.org notes, after Maverick had bet heavily that lawmakers would eventually legalize commercial sports betting statewide.
S&P Global Ratings said in 2024 that layoffs across Washington's technology sector had thinned Maverick's customer base, Casino.org reports. The company has also carried substantial rent obligations across its 27 properties in Washington, Nevada and Colorado.
How many Maverick casinos have already closed?
Five Maverick properties have closed since April, including the Dragon Tiger Casino, Palace Casino in Lakewood, Silver Dollar and Roman Casino, Focus Gaming News reports. The company also cut 188 positions across three earlier rounds of summer layoffs at sites in SeaTac, Bothell and Mountlake Terrace.
Once the latest round takes effect, CardPlayer reports Maverick will own only four properties left in Washington. The bankruptcy process could still change outcomes, since a new owner taking over a site could keep it open.
Maverick's Human Resources Director, Christine Wisniewski, told the state that a change of operator or owner during bankruptcy could delay or cancel some closures. She said updated information would follow if that happens, according to both CardPlayer and Focus Gaming News.
What it means for players
For cardroom regulars, this is a reminder that even established operators can collapse under bankruptcy pressure, regardless of where you play. If a local cardroom closes, check loyalty balances and any outstanding chip credits before the shutdown date. Players who want to keep sharpening their game between live sessions can practice strategy and track hands using free tools like a session tracker or the hand equity calculator.
More on Lifes a Gambol: the free poker room.
Frequently asked
Which Maverick Gaming casinos are closing in Washington?
Casino.org reports the eight properties are Caribbean Casino in Yakima, Crazy Moose in Pasco, Coyote Bobs in Kennewick, All Star Casino in Silverdale, Great American Casino in Everett, and Palace, Macau and Chips casinos, all in Lakewood.
When will the Maverick Gaming casinos close?
The eight casinos are scheduled to close November 30, 2026, according to WARN filings cited by Casino.org. Two separate Tukwila properties close earlier, on November 1.
Why is Maverick Gaming closing so many casinos?
The company points to the end of a centralized surveillance proposal from Washington's Gaming Commission, plus high rents and a weaker local economy, Focus Gaming News reports. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2025 to restructure its debts.
Could any of these casinos stay open?
Possibly. CardPlayer reports Maverick's HR director told the state that a change of ownership through bankruptcy could delay or cancel some closures.
Sources
- 8 Washington Casinos Set to Close as Maverick Gaming Cuts 850 Jobs — Casino.org
- Poker Player-Owned Company To Close Eight More Washington Casinos — CardPlayer
- Maverick Gaming to close 10 WA casinos — Focus Gaming News