Jackpot, Nevada
Jackpot is a community of 1,415 people in Elko County, Nevada, founded in 1954.
Why visit Jackpot
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 1 park or trail, 5 places to eat and 4 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Jackpot Golf Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 12°F.
Weather in Jackpot
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Jackpot
Jackpot is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in the western United States, located in Elko County, Nevada. The population was 855 as of the 2020 census. Located less than one mile (1.6 km) south of the Idaho border on US 93, Jackpot has been a popular casino gaming destination for residents of Idaho and other neighboring states since its founding.
From the Wikipedia article Jackpot, Nevada (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks1
Parks, trails and playgrounds1
Restaurants and cafes5
Where to stay4
History
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. Piersanti in particular is credited for founding Jackpot.
In May 1958, the settlement was first recognized by the Elko County commissioners as an unincorporated town named "Horse Shu", with a population of 65, despite a protest over the name by Cactus Pete's. Because the club owners could not agree on a name, the county commissioners renamed it a month later as "Unincorporated Town No. 1". The clubs compromised on the name "Jackpot" in 1959. Jackpot has been noted for its colorful place name which has been said to be the most unusual in the state of Nevada.
By 1960, the population had reached 400, but most residents were living in trailers because banks would not approve building loans, being unsure of the town's long-term prospects.
Cactus Pete's management took over the Horseshu in 1964 to form what would eventually become Ameristar Casinos. 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.
From the History section of Jackpot, Nevada on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries4
Map of Jackpot
18 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 12°F | 0.9 in |
| Feb | 41°F | 16°F | 0.7 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 22°F | 0.9 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 26°F | 1.2 in |
| May | 66°F | 34°F | 1.8 in |
| Jun | 77°F | 41°F | 1.2 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 48°F | 0.6 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 46°F | 0.7 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 37°F | 0.9 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 26°F | 1.1 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 19°F | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 13°F | 0.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jackpot (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Elko County has had 18 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-07-17: Oil Well Fire (Fire)
- 2017-03-27: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2011-10-03: Indian Creek Fire (Fire)
- 2007-07-23: Murphy Fire Complex (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Jackpot Airport (KPT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 0 miles away.
- Hollister 26 mi north, about 42 min by car
- Kimberly 41 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Filer 41 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Twin Falls 42 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Hansen 42 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Buhl 43 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Oakley 44 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Hazelton 50 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Jerome 52 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Wendell 55 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- 2013-07-04 17 32 49 View of Jackpot in Nevada from a hill to the west, Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.