Crowds of Nevadans flock at California border for purchasing $1.7bn Powerball lottery entries
In the heart of the gambling mecca of the US, Las Vegas, grown adults are finding an unusual source of excitement – the Powerball lottery. However, there's a twist: despite the city's reputation, Nevada does not have a lottery of its own.
This unusual situation has led to a heated debate, with the estimated $1.7bn jackpot for Saturday's draw causing a stir in the city. The Powerball tickets, though, can be purchased in the border town of Primm, where a queue wrapped around The Lotto Store on Wednesday due to the frenzy.
The main opposition to lottery legalization in Nevada comes from two powerful entities: Boyd Gaming Corporation and Station Casinos. These casino operators believe that a lottery would compete with their roulette tables and slot machines, potentially affecting their revenue.
Vital Vegas (VV), a popular blog, has been vocal about this situation, suggesting a class action lawsuit against Boyd Gaming Corporation and Station Casinos. In a post, VV stated, "Protectionist bullsh*t is so 1975."
The Powerball jackpot totals are before taxes, and if won, would be the third-biggest in US history. The jackpot trails only the $1.76bn of 2023 and the world-record $2bn secured in 2022, both of which were won in Nevada-neighboring California.
VV has also expressed disagreement with the protectionist stance against lotteries, stating that grown adults should be able to spend their disposable income on anything they want. The blog has been critical of the casinos, with VV using the phrase, "It's 2023, not 1953."
Interestingly, the search results do not contain information about the name of the company that actively opposed the introduction of a gambling machine in Nevada.
The Powerball draw is scheduled for Saturday, and as the jackpot continues to soar, the debate in Las Vegas rages on. With the potential for a life-changing win, many residents are left wondering if they should make the trip to Primm or if the casinos will eventually give in to public pressure.
