Casper man wins $2 million with Rock Springs Powerball ticket

AFTON (WNE) —  The old adage “you can’t win if you don’t play” could not be more true for Jerry Ragsdale of Casper. Ragsdale recently purchased a Powerball ticket — his second time ever to play — and with that Quick Pick ticket, he is now a millionaire.

Ragsdale was going about his life, selling and servicing drilling rigs across Wyoming, when he chose to purchase a Powerball ticket on Sept. 3 during the recent jackpot run-up. He snagged his ticket at the Loaf n’ Jug at 3036 College Dr. in Rock Springs.

The jackpot was at $1.4 billion at the time, reaching $1.8 billion for the Sept. 5 Powerball drawing, which resulted in two jackpot winners out of Texas and Missouri. This was the second highest jackpot in Powerball history.

That ticket Ragsdale purchased matched 5 numbers with the Power Play, winning him $2 million. He was one of four people nationwide to win $2 million that day.

“My boss had to double check my ticket for me—I just couldn’t believe I won that much money,” Ragsdale said.

The 48-year-old single father said he is excited to set up college funds for his two teenage daughters, pay off his house, and invest in the oil and gas industry.

“This is what the lottery is all about, changing lives,” said Jon Clontz, WyoLotto CEO.

This story was published on Sept. 16, 2025.