EVANSTON, Wyo. — The Powerball lottery now sits at $1.3 billion, and many Utahns are traveling out of state to purchase a ticket at gas stations and convenience stores just across the border.
Michael Childers manages the Fast Stop gas station in Evanston. He said that before last night's drawing, he had a line out the door.
"A lot of people just want to be in the pot, you know what I mean? They want to have a chance." Childers said.
Childers estimated Utahns make up 85%-90% of his lottery sales. Utah is one of just five states that don't participate in the lottery.
"(It's) really good for the town, too. We need the business; all of us do," Childers said.
Freddie Cole and Major Cameron drove through Evanston on a cross-country road trip for the Feed-A-Million Project.
Cole said that if he won the Powerball, "I would just be a blessing to a lot of people. You know, I'm far from stingy, and I would share."
Cameron explained, "We put on feed events, tours and shows to aid and advocate for the homeless. If we won, we would be able to actually do the thing that we're trying to do."
The Powerball has never had a jackpot winner in Wyoming. If someone wins during the next drawing, they would take home about $400 million after taxes. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
Monday's drawing marked the 40th attempt to find a jackpot winner since May 31. The current streak approaches the record of 42 consecutive drawings, which ended with a $1.326 billion winner in Oregon on April 6, 2024.
The next drawing is Wednesday night at 8:59 p.m. MDT.
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Sarah Martin
