Herbst Gaming
Encyclopedia
Affinity Gaming, formerly known as Herbst Gaming, is a casino
and slot route operator
based in Paradise
, Nevada, United States that operates under the name Terrible's. It shares its logo and headquarters with the family-owned Terrible Herbst Oil Company
gas station franchise.
of a "terrible" cowboy wearing a handlebar mustache and black hat
.
In 1987 Herbst Gaming was formed by brothers Ed Herbst, Troy Herbst and Tim Herbst (grandchildren of the patriarch) to service the slot machines in the stations.
In 1997 it opened its first casino the Town Casino in Pahrump
, Nevada
and the Casino and Bowl in Henderson
, Nevada
. This was followed by the Lakeside Casino in Pahrump in 1999, the Terrible's Hotel and Casino
(formerly the Continental Hotel and Casino) in 2000 in Paradise
, Nevada
and Searchlight Casino in 2003.
On December 8, 2002, Terrible Herbst Gaming agreed to buy International Game Technology
's Anchor Coin 1,100 machine slot routes.
In 2005 it acquired three Midwest casinos in St. Joseph, Missouri
, La Grange
, Missouri
and Osceola
, Iowa
from Grace Entertainment
for $287 million. Grace was a Midwest contractor who had developed racing and casino operations there.
In May 2006 Sands Regent announced plans be acquired by Terrible Herbst Gaming. In January 2007, Herbst purchased four casinos including the Red Hawk Sports Bar, Sands Regent and Rail City Casino for $119 million.
In 2006 it also acquired Primm Valley Resorts from MGM Mirage
for $400 million. The sale closed on April 10, 2007.
In 2007 it acquired the Sands Regency Casino Hotel in northern Nevada and Primadonna Resorts
south of the Las Vegas area.
In 2008 Ed Herbst was replaced by Tim Herbst as chairman and Troy Herbst as CEO.
The operations of the two companies in 2008 represented 80 gasoline stations, 600 different slot route locations.
In March 2009 Herbst announced its plans to enter a pre-arranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy whereby it would keep its slot routes but give ownership of its casinos to its creditors thus splitting its current operations into two holding companies. Herbst would continue to manage the casinos. Herbst emerged from Chapter 11 on December 31, 2010 under new ownership and changed its name to Affinity Gaming, LLC on May 20, 2011.
In September 2011, Affinity agreed to sell the Terrible's Town Casino and Terrible's Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump and much of its slots route operations to Golden Gaming
. Golden in turn agreed to sell to Affinity three casinos in Black Hawk, Colorado
: the Golden Gates, Golden Gulch, and Golden Mardi Gras. On the same day, Affinity announced the sale of the Terrible's Searchlight casino and the remainder of its slots routes to JETT Gaming, owned by the Herbst family.
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
and slot route operator
Slot route operator
A Slot route operator is a company that owns and operates slot machines in several locations. By providing this service, many small businesses are able to provide slot machines that they could not otherwise afford to operate....
based in Paradise
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
, Nevada, United States that operates under the name Terrible's. It shares its logo and headquarters with the family-owned Terrible Herbst Oil Company
Terrible Herbst
Terrible Herbst, or Terrible Herbst Oil Company, is a privately held gas station company based in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The company operates gas stations in Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona.-History:...
gas station franchise.
History
The business traces it roots to the Terrible Herbst Oil Company founded in 1959 by Ed Herbst (grandfather of the current owners) which owns gasoline stations throughout Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona. The stations bear the logoLogo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of a "terrible" cowboy wearing a handlebar mustache and black hat
Black hat
A black hat is the villain or bad guy, especially in a western movie in which such a character would stereotypically wear a black hat in contrast to the hero's white hat, especially in black and white movies....
.
In 1987 Herbst Gaming was formed by brothers Ed Herbst, Troy Herbst and Tim Herbst (grandchildren of the patriarch) to service the slot machines in the stations.
In 1997 it opened its first casino the Town Casino in Pahrump
Pahrump, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,631 people, 10,153 households, and 7,127 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 82.7 people per square mile . There were 11,651 housing units at an average density of 39.1 per square mile...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and the Casino and Bowl in Henderson
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. This was followed by the Lakeside Casino in Pahrump in 1999, the Terrible's Hotel and Casino
Terrible's Hotel and Casino
Terrible’s Hotel and Casino is a locals casino east of the Las Vegas Strip, in Paradise, Nevada. It has 370 rooms and a casino.Terrible's is regularly the host hotel for the Terrible 250, Terrible 300, and Terrible's Cup Baja races sponsored by Terrible Herbst.-History:The Continental Hotel and...
(formerly the Continental Hotel and Casino) in 2000 in Paradise
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and Searchlight Casino in 2003.
On December 8, 2002, Terrible Herbst Gaming agreed to buy International Game Technology
International Game Technology
International Game Technology is a Nevada based company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, sales and distribution of gaming machines and network system products internationally, as well as online and mobile gaming solutions for regulated markets. The company's main offices are...
's Anchor Coin 1,100 machine slot routes.
In 2005 it acquired three Midwest casinos in St. Joseph, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, La Grange
La Grange, Missouri
La Grange is a city in Lewis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,000 at the 2000 census. Since the 2000 census the population has been dwindling. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Police Scandal:...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and Osceola
Osceola, Iowa
Osceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.-Geography:Osceola is located at , at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
from Grace Entertainment
William M. Grace
William M. Grace was a building developer who played an important role in bringing casinos to the Midwest.Grace was born on a farm near Burlington Junction, Missouri. He received a B.S. and later and MBA from the University of Arizona in 1959. He taught at Arizona State University. In 1966 W.M....
for $287 million. Grace was a Midwest contractor who had developed racing and casino operations there.
In May 2006 Sands Regent announced plans be acquired by Terrible Herbst Gaming. In January 2007, Herbst purchased four casinos including the Red Hawk Sports Bar, Sands Regent and Rail City Casino for $119 million.
In 2006 it also acquired Primm Valley Resorts from MGM Mirage
MGM Mirage
Not to be confused with the Las Vegas, Nevada based casino/resort operator Resorts International Holdings.MGM Resorts International is a Paradise, Nevada based corporation that brands itself as a global hospitality company. It is the second largest gaming company in the world by revenue - about...
for $400 million. The sale closed on April 10, 2007.
In 2007 it acquired the Sands Regency Casino Hotel in northern Nevada and Primadonna Resorts
Primadonna Resorts
Terrible's Primm Valley Casino Resorts is a hospitality company based in Nevada. The company owns three hotel/casinos along I-15 at the California state line in Primm, Nevada...
south of the Las Vegas area.
In 2008 Ed Herbst was replaced by Tim Herbst as chairman and Troy Herbst as CEO.
The operations of the two companies in 2008 represented 80 gasoline stations, 600 different slot route locations.
In March 2009 Herbst announced its plans to enter a pre-arranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy whereby it would keep its slot routes but give ownership of its casinos to its creditors thus splitting its current operations into two holding companies. Herbst would continue to manage the casinos. Herbst emerged from Chapter 11 on December 31, 2010 under new ownership and changed its name to Affinity Gaming, LLC on May 20, 2011.
In September 2011, Affinity agreed to sell the Terrible's Town Casino and Terrible's Lakeside Casino & RV Park in Pahrump and much of its slots route operations to Golden Gaming
Golden Gaming
Golden Gaming is an operator of casinos, taverns, and slot routes based in Enterprise, Nevada, near Las Vegas. It was founded by Blake Sartini. It is the largest tavern operator in Nevada, and the third largest slot route operator in Nevada.- History :...
. Golden in turn agreed to sell to Affinity three casinos in Black Hawk, Colorado
Black Hawk, Colorado
The historic City of Black Hawk is a Home Rule Municipality located in Gilpin County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 118 at U.S. Census 2000, making Black Hawk the least populous city in Colorado...
: the Golden Gates, Golden Gulch, and Golden Mardi Gras. On the same day, Affinity announced the sale of the Terrible's Searchlight casino and the remainder of its slots routes to JETT Gaming, owned by the Herbst family.
Gaming operations
- E.T.T. Inc. slot route operations
- Primm Valley Resorts, Primm, NevadaPrimm, NevadaPrimm is a tiny community in Clark County, Nevada, United States, primarily notable for its position straddling Interstate 15 where it crosses the border between California and Nevada...
- Buffalo Bill'sBuffalo Bill'sBuffalo Bill's is a hotel and casino located in Primm, Nevada, USA, at the California stateline. It has 1,242 guest rooms and suites. The hotel is home to the Desperado roller coaster, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world, as well as a pool in the shape of a buffalo...
- Primm Valley ResortPrimm Valley ResortTerrible's Primm Valley Casino Resort is a hotel and casino located in Primm, an unincorporated area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It includes the Primm Valley Golf Club across the border in California.The hotel offers 624 rooms and suites...
- Whiskey Pete'sWhiskey Pete'sWhiskey Pete's is a hotel and casino located in Primm, Nevada. The hotel has 777 rooms and suites, a large swimming pool, gift shop, and four restaurants. The hotel and casino are owned by Primm Valley Resorts. The casino covers approximately and includes a race and sports book.-History:The area...
- Buffalo Bill's
- Red Hawk Sports Bar, Dayton, NevadaDayton, NevadaDayton is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States. The population was 5,907 at the 2000 census.-History:Dayton is at the western end of the Twenty-Six Mile Desert at a bend in the Carson River. Immigrants stopping there for water would consider whether to follow the river...
(closed in June 2008) - Sands Regency Hotel & CasinoSands RegencyThe Sands Regency Casino Hotel, is a casino hotel in Reno, Nevada, owned by Las Vegas–based Affinity Gaming- History :The Sands Regency opened in the early 1970s by a group with the prospect of bringing the legendary Sands name to Reno as a spin off, they opened it with a small hotel and a small...
, Reno, NevadaReno, NevadaReno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area... - Terrible's Casino, Dayton, NevadaDayton, NevadaDayton is a census-designated place in Lyon County, Nevada, United States. The population was 5,907 at the 2000 census.-History:Dayton is at the western end of the Twenty-Six Mile Desert at a bend in the Carson River. Immigrants stopping there for water would consider whether to follow the river...
- Terrible's Gold Ranch, Verdi, Nevada
- Terrible's Hotel and CasinoTerrible's Hotel and CasinoTerrible’s Hotel and Casino is a locals casino east of the Las Vegas Strip, in Paradise, Nevada. It has 370 rooms and a casino.Terrible's is regularly the host hotel for the Terrible 250, Terrible 300, and Terrible's Cup Baja races sponsored by Terrible Herbst.-History:The Continental Hotel and...
, Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... - Terrible's Lakeside Casino & RV Park, Pahrump, NevadaPahrump, Nevada-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,631 people, 10,153 households, and 7,127 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 82.7 people per square mile . There were 11,651 housing units at an average density of 39.1 per square mile...
- Terrible's Lakeside Hotel, Casino & RV Park, Osceola, IowaOsceola, IowaOsceola is a city in Clarke County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,659 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clarke County.-Geography:Osceola is located at , at the junction of Interstate 35 and U.S. Routes 34 and 69...
- Terrible's Mark Twain Casino & RV ParkMark Twain CasinoTerrible's Mark Twain Casino is a stationary boat casino in La Grange, Missouri owned by Affinity Gaming on the Mississippi River.The casino has 665 gaming machines, 14 table and poker games.The casino was developed by William M. Grace...
, La Grange, MissouriLa Grange, MissouriLa Grange is a city in Lewis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,000 at the 2000 census. Since the 2000 census the population has been dwindling. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Police Scandal:... - Terrible's St. Jo Frontier CasinoTerrible's St. Jo Frontier CasinoTerrible's St. Jo Frontier Casino is a riverboat casino on the edge of the Missouri River in St. Joseph, Missouri owned by Affinity Gaming.-William M. Grace:...
, St. Joseph, Missouri - Terrible's Rail City Casino, Sparks, NevadaSparks, NevadaSparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States, located east of Reno, Nevada. The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau population count was 90,264. Sparks is often referred to as half of a twin city .-Geography and Climate:...
- Terrible's Searchlight Casino, Searchlight, NevadaSearchlight, NevadaSearchlight is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, at the topographic saddle between two mountain ranges.-History:According to Nevada Senator Harry Reid, who has written extensively about his hometown, the most likely story as to how the town received its name was when George Frederick...
- Terrible's Town Casino, Henderson, NevadaHenderson, Nevada-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
- Terrible's Town Casino, Pahrump, NevadaPahrump, Nevada-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,631 people, 10,153 households, and 7,127 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 82.7 people per square mile . There were 11,651 housing units at an average density of 39.1 per square mile...