Primm Families Turn to GoFundMe for Help Ahead of Casino Closure

^{Megan Miller (center) and her family have built a life in Primm, Nevada, that relied on a casino to support it. (Photo: Megan Miller / GoFundMe)}

It was announced one week ago that Primm Valley Casino Resorts was permanently closing its last remaining properties on July 4, leaving a once-bustling community on the California-Nevada border slated to become the Silver State's next ghost town. 

One of the most important sidebars to that story though involves nearly 250 employees impacted by the closure, many of whom live at the Desert Oasis Apartments in Primm. In addition to learning that they were losing their jobs, they also received notice that their leases were being terminated and they needed to be out by July 6. 

Now casino expert John Mehaffey of VegasAdvantage.com reports that some of these employees and their families are seeking assistance via GoFundMe campaigns. 

“Primm employees were always wonderful during my visits,” Mehaffey wrote on X. “They became about the only reason to visit during the collapse. They deserve better than this ending, and I hope the right help finds them. About 700-800 people live in the Primm apartments. Many have nowhere else to go.”

The campaign has just gotten started, and as of Wednesday less than $1,000. If you would like to donate, you can do so here. 

"When the lights go out in Primm, it’s not just businesses closing — it’s families losing their homes, parents wondering how they’ll provide for their children, and longtime workers facing the fear of suddenly starting over," the GoFundMe page explains. "This fundraiser is to help support those affected with emergency housing, food, transportation, and basic necessities while they try to rebuild and find stability again."

Families Fear Homelessness After Losing Jobs

Megan Miller has worked as a casino cage cashier in Primm since 2018. Her mother and boyfriend work for Primm Valley Resorts as well. She says her family has built a life in Primm, and a home in the soon-to-be-shuddered Desert Oasis Apartments. 

(The apartments are owned by a subsidiary of Affinity Gaming, the company that owns Primm Valley Resorts,)

“We have three kids, and every day feels more uncertain as prices keep rising and our options shrink,” Miller wrote on her GoFundMe campaign page, titled “Help My Family Avoid Homelessness.” 

“We want to give our children stability and hope," Miller said. "But right now, we’re struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. We are going through something terrifying and have nothing saved from living and working in Primm for years. It’s a hard life, and we really need help.”

Miller is looking to raise $10,000, with half designated for a move-in deposit and rent towards a new place in Las Vegas and the other half for moving supplies, car payment and insurance. She says anything extra to help pay for groceries and her kids' school uniforms would be appreciated.