Reno-based Truckee Gaming acquires Rail City Casino in Sparks

Northern Nevada casino operator Ferenc Szony has put the band back together.

Last week, Affinity Gaming announced it was selling Rail City Casino in Sparks to Truckee Gaming, reuniting the property with its former owner.

Szony, the CEO and managing partner of the Reno-based company, operated Rail City and several other Northern Nevada gaming establishments more than a decade ago when they were sold to Affinity’s predecessor, Herbst Gaming.

Two years after Herbst’s bankruptcy reorganization was finalized in 2011, Szony, who joined Herbst as an executive in 2007 and was helping steer the company through the post-bankruptcy matters, took back ownership of three of the casinos when he formed Truckee Gaming in 2012.

“We just couldn’t come to an agreement on Rail City,” he said last week after the sale was announced. “We’re glad to have it back. A lot of the same employees are still at Rail City and we look forward to welcoming them back into the company.”

Truckee Gaming, which is based in Reno, owns Gold Ranch Casino & RV Resort in Verdi, Gold Ranch Casino in Dayton and three Pioneer Crossing Casinos in Dayton, Fernley and Yerington. The company also owns Club Fortune Casino in Henderson. Szony said Rail City’s 100 employees give Truckee Gaming a workforce of roughly 500 companywide.

A sale price for Rail City was not disclosed and the transaction is expected to close by the end of the year, pending Nevada regulatory approval.

Szony said the timing for the transaction “is perfect” given the growth and changes in the Sparks gaming market. The Nugget Casino Resort, one of the largest casinos in Northern Nevada, is in the process of being sold to Century Casinos for $195 million, and the opening last August of the $120 million Legends Bay has given the Sparks region an economic boost.

Sparks gaming revenue grew 16.7 percent in 2022 to $14.2 million compared to a year ago. Szony said the region continues to grow with new housing and new businesses.

“The market dynamic and the growth in Sparks is good for all of us,” Szony said. “Century is a great operator and Legends added to the market. The growth is big enough for all of us.”

Absent hotel rooms, Rail City is targeted toward locals with its 24,000-square-foot casino housing 415 slot machines, a keno lounge, a William Hill race and sports book and dining options that include Ale House American Café and a buffet.

This story was first published March 15 by The Nevada Independent and is republished here with permission.