Jackpot (Nevada)

Jackpot, Nevada is an unincorporated town in Elko County. Located less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Idaho border on U.S. Highway 93, Jackpot has been a popular casino gaming destination for residents of Idaho and other neighboring states since its founding.

After Idaho outlawed all forms of casino gaming in 1954, "Cactus Pete" Piersanti and Don French moved their slot machine operations from Idaho to the Jackpot townsite. Piersanti's and French's gaming establishments were named Cactus Pete's and the Horseshu Club respectively. Cactus Pete's management took over the Horseshu in 1964 to form what would eventually become Ameristar Casinos. The Ameristar-owned Cactus Pete's and Horseshu, as well as the independent Barton's Club 93 and the Four Jacks Casino, form the basis of the town's economy to this day. More people from the Twin Falls, Idaho area work for them than any other employer.

Jackpot has a permanent population of around 1,500. The town has its own schools, golf course and post office.

Due to its economic ties with southern Idaho, particularly the Magic Valley region, Jackpot observes Mountain Time, (one of five locations), although it is officially, like the rest of Nevada other than West Wendover, in the Pacific Time Zone.

Physical geography

Jackpot, Nevada is located at 41°58'53" North, 114°39'54" West (41.981271, -114.665097) at an elevation of 5,213 ft (1,588.92 m), just short of being one mile above sea level. Jackpot is located near Salmon Falls Creek and north of Middle Stack Mountain in the Granite Range of northeast Nevada. Jackpot is located about 50 mi (80 km) northeast of the unincorporated town of Jarbidge, Nevada and the Jarbidge Wilderness; from Jackpot, a traveler cannot enter the Jarbidge Wilderness area by road without entering Idaho and returning to Nevada on other roads.

Jackpot in entertainment

Jackpot was featured in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, but no actual filming took place in Jackpot.

Satview Broadband Ltd is the local cable television company. This company is headquartered in Reno, Nevada.

Jackpot is the hometown of professional golfer Del Morrin.

Jackpot was featured in the film "Roadside Prophets" (1992).

Attractions

Jackpot has six main hotels and motels with casinos:

Barton's Club 93
Cactus Pete's Resort Casino, owned by Ameristar Casinos, is the largest hotel in Jackpot with 300 guest rooms.
Covered Wagon Hotel
Four Jacks Hotel and Casino
Horseshu Hotel and Casino, owned by Ameristar Casinos.
West Star Hotel and Casino

Planned Developments

In 2005 Triad Resorts, LLC announced plans to build the Spanish Bit Resort and Casino, a resort casino with indoor waterpark and event center located on 113 acres south of Jackpot^[1]. The project is in question due to a mistake when Elko County, Nevada rezoned the land for the project^[2].