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Fool’s Gold: April 1st Powerball Jackpot Nearly A Billion

Author Shawn Tempesta
If you are feeling lucky and don't mind the drive, Powerball has gotten out of hand.

We don’t typically talk about the lottery unless it gets exceedingly high. After all, we can’t play the lottery in Las Vegas (which is asinine and hopefully about to change). Here at 102.7 VGS, we live by the Bruno Mars rule. Once the jackpot gets close to making Bruno Mars dreams come true – a billion dollars or more – we will write about it. Well, the April 1st Powerball jackpot is getting laughably large, so it is time to fill our tanks and head to the state line.

April 1st Powerball Jackpot Is Massive

Back up the Brink’s truck. Monday’s Powerball jackpot is no joke, rising to an estimated $975 million. The jackpot hasn’t hit since New Years Day on January 1st, which is why the jackpot has inflated to incredible levels.

There was almost a jackpot winner last drawing. Someone in Michigan matched all but one of the numbers, winning $1 million. Certainly not nearly a billion but not a terrible consolation prize.

If you want to play, you’ll need to start driving to the state line. Both Arizona and California offer up lottery games of their own, and both have positives and negatives. Here’s a brief reminder.

  • Arizona: You can remain anonymous, but you have to pay 4.8% to the state’s lottery tax.
  • California: For all of the people complaining about the high taxation in California, this is the exception. There is no state lottery tax! That’s the good news. The bad news? You can’t remain anonymous and your third cousin will know you won and all of a sudden get back in contact with you.

Odds Are Quite Likely You Won’t Win

If everyone that read The Secret got exactly what they wanted, there would be thousands of winners on Monday. But that isn’t the way life works. The odds of winning the April 1st Powerball jackpot are north of 1 in 292,000,000.

Of course, someone will win. Which is why we play. But as Southern Nevadans, having to drive nearly an hour to inevitably lose is insult to injury.

Shawn Tempesta is the co-host of Aimee+Shawn on 102.7 VGS in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also an Emmy award nominated television host. As a content creator for 102.7 VGS, Shawn writes about current events, education, funny and trending stories.

11 Places To Buy A Lottery Ticket Near Las Vegas

Over the years, the Powerball Jackpot has broken the record as the largest in United States history. And every time it comes back around, Las Vegas residents are scrambling to find a place to buy a lottery ticket.

Most of us run down to Primm on the border of California, but the lines there get ridiculously long. Sometimes more than and hour, or worse. But since the lottery still isn’t legal in Nevada, there aren’t a lot of choices for locals who want to play.

Ways To Cash In Your Lottery Ticket After You Win

Of course, many people who do win don’t want to wait for payments and instead choose to get paid all at once in a lump sum. Even though it’s significantly less money, it’s still amounts to a ton for the old bank account.

Still, the chance of someone winning the jackpot in Powerball isn’t great. It’s hard to do because all six balls (five white balls and the Powerball red) have to be matched up with the ticket.

Related: Powerball Hits $1 Billion – Tips To Winning The Jackpot

But players still play because the odds of winning another prize in the lottery is much better than winning the Powerball jackpot. Those odds are about 1 in 24.9. That definitely makes a ticket worth the cost, even when you factor in the gas it takes us to get to it.

Because for Las Vegas residents, it’s not as simple as just buying a ticket. Since our jurisdiction in Nevada prevents companies from selling lottery tickets, locals have to travel to cities around Southern Nevada to find one. And most of us flock to Primm because it’s the obvious choice.

But what we gain in travel time, we lose in the time we take standing in that line. So, if you’re looking to get into a drawing in the near future, maybe consider getting a ticket from one of these nearby cities. They’re all less than a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas. And the lines are most likely shorter than the ones at the state line.

11 Places Close To Las Vegas To Buy A Lottery Ticket

  • 1. The Lotto Store in Primm - 50 minutes

    the lotto store at primm

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    This is one of the most-popular places for Vegas locals to go for a lottery ticket. Just factor in time to stand in those lines when you plan your trip!

  • Shell Gas Station & Country Store - 1 hour, 6 minutes

    Shell, 65845 Cima Rd, Nipton, CA 92364

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    If you don’t want to wait in the Primm lines, you could drive another 17 minutes and get them at the Shell gas station in Nipton.

  • Last Stop Travel Center - 1 hour, 8 minutes

    Last Stop Travel Center, N Us Hwy 93, White Hills, AZ

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    This is a popular place for Las Vegas locals to grab a ticket because it’s just 30 miles southeast of Hoover Dam. In May of 2021 this stop sold a Triple Twist jackpot lottery ticket worth over $665K (news3lv.com).

  • Grand Canyon Texaco in White Hills - 1 hour, 11 minutes

    Conoco, 19210 US-93, White Hills, AZ 86445

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    Referred to as a Conoco on the map, this one is a quick 71 minutes away.

  • Charles Brown Market - 1 hour, 26 minutes

    Charles Brown Market, 712 CA-127, Shoshone, CA 92384

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    A drive through Pahrump into Shoshone, California can get you a ticket at the Charles Brown Market. Maybe gets some peanuts while you’re there. 😉

  • Baker - 1 hour, 28 minutes

    Baker, CA

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    There are lots of places is Baker, California that sell lottery tickets. And less than a 90 minute drive.

  • Dolan Station - 1 hour, 27 minutes

    Dolan Station, Pierce Ferry Road, Dolan Springs, AZ

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    In Dolan Springs, Arizona.

  • Maverik Adventure's First Stop - 1 hour, 43 minutes

    Maverik Adventure's First Stop, 2612 Desert Foothills Dr, Bullhead City, AZ 86429

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    In Bullhead City Arizona, this one is just a few minutes under a 2-hour drive.

  • Jeff’s River Mart - 1 hour, 46 minutes

    1901 AZ-95, Bullhead City, AZ 86442

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    If Maverick’s in Bullhead City is too busy, there’s another stop close by. Bring a friend and divide and conquer!

  • Terrible Herbst in Bullhead City - 1 hour, 45 minutes

    1815 AZ-95, Bullhead City, AZ 86442

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    Or bring two friends and divide and conquer.

  • Flying J Travel Center in Kingman - 1 hour, 54 minutes

    3300 E Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

    Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

    And coming in at just under two hours is the Flying J in Kingman, Arizona.

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