How late can i buy a lottery ticket today

Powerball: Pay $2 and choose 5 from 69 numbers and 1 from 26 for the Powerball (or ask for a Quick Pick and the system will generate your numbers for you). You can add Power Play (which can increase your winnings) for an extra $1. For an additional $1 per play, choose the Double Play option, and you will have a second chance to match your Powerball numbers in an additional drawing conducted immediately after the Powerball drawing. You can buy up to 13 weeks (39 drawings) in advance by asking for Advance Play. Drawings are held on  Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at approximately 9pm.

Mega Millions: Pay $2 and choose 5 from 70 numbers and 1 from 25 for the Megaball (or ask for a Quick Pick and the system will generate your numbers for you). You can add Megaplier (which can increase your winnings) for an extra $1. You can buy up to 13 weeks (26 drawings) in advance by asking for Advance Play. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at approximately 9pm.

Lucky for Life: Pay $2 and choose 5 from 48 numbers and 1 from 18 for the Lucky Ball (or ask for a Quick Pick and the system will generate your numbers for you). You can buy up to 13 weeks (91 drawings) in advance by asking for Advance Play. Drawings are held seven days a week at approximately 8:38pm.

Colorado Lotto+: Pay $2 and choose 6 out of 40 numbers or ask for a Quick Pick and the system will generate your numbers for you. For an extra $1 per play you can add Plus and play your same numbers against a second drawing. You can buy up to 13 weeks (26 drawings) in advance by asking for Advance Play. Drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays at approximately 7:35pm.

Cash 5: Pay $1 and choose 5 out of 32 numbers or ask for a Quick Pick and the system will generate your numbers for you. You can buy up to 13 weeks (91 drawings) in advance by asking for Advance Play. For an extra $1 ask for the Cash 5 EZ Match option and you could win from $2 up to $500 instantly. You can ask for a Quick Pick with EZ Match or you can complete a play slip and check the EZ Match box. You can also purchase EZ Match using our vending machines as long as you complete a play slip with the EZ Match option selected. Your Cash 5 EZ Match ticket will have your five Cash 5 numbers plus five EZ Match numbers. If any of your EZ Match numbers match any of your Cash 5 numbers, you'll instantly win the prize that is listed next to the EZ Match number. You can win multiple times by matching multiple numbers on one ticket. Drawings are held seven days a week at approximately 7:35pm.

Pick 3: Pay $.50; $1; $2 and $5 depending on the wager you play. The easiest way is to ask for a Quick Pick and then select your bet option or you can complete a play slip. 

Select three numbers from 0 through 9. The numbers selected can be three separate numbers or may be duplicated in a single play. For example: ‘537’ or ‘009’ or ‘339’. (You can win more when you play two duplicate numbers on an ANY ORDER bet type.) 

Select your bet option: EXACT ORDER, ANY ORDER, EXACT ORDER + ANY ORDER, FRONT PAIR and BACK PAIR. (To win, numbers drawn must match the wager type.)

The only way to win off of two matching numbers is to place your bet on FRONT PAIR or BACK PAIR.  If you wager FRONT PAIR or BACK PAIR, the numbers drawn must match the order in which you wagered your numbers.

If you place a bet on ANY ORDER, EXACT ORDER, or EXACT ORDER/ANY ORDER, the only possible way to win is by matching all of your three numbers wagered to the numbers drawn. Even if the numbers drawn are two of the same number, you must still match all three of your numbers wagered with those drawn.

For example:

You bet: 3 – 4 – 4  ANY ORDER

In order to win, all three numbers must be drawn (3 - 4 - 4) for you to win.  If only one “4” is drawn, you do not have a winning Pick 3 ticket. 

Do you wonder how late can you buy lottery tickets? Here is a well-researched guide on the cutoff time for lottery ticket sales in the 46 States where tickets are sold.

How late can i buy a lottery ticket today

How late can you buy lottery tickets?

Lottery tickets can be purchased in-store and online. But how late can you buy lottery tickets?

The deadline for Powerball tickets is usually one hour before the drawing, which is at 10 p.m. ET. Some lottery retailers, however, may sell tickets up to 15 minutes before the drawing.

In New Jersey, for example, the cutoff time is 9:59 p.m., whereas Powerball sales end at 10 p.m. ET in Florida.

Although the draw doesn’t take place until 11 p.m. EST, ticket sales in Michigan end at 9:45 p.m. – an hour and fifteen minutes before the draw time.

In Wisconsin, the cut-off is 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. CST.

In Ohio, the cut-off time is also 10 p.m. EST, but in Indiana, tickets must be bought by 9:58 p.m. EST.

According to Powerball’s website, “sales cut-off times vary by selling jurisdiction.” For more information, please contact your local lottery.”

How late can you buy a lottery ticket (by State)

Here is a breakdown of lottery tickets cutoff time in the states in the US (where tickets are sold):

1. Arizona

Sales stop on draw nights at 6:59 p.m. More info:  ArizonaLottery.com.

2. Arkansas

Sales end one hour before the drawing at 8:59 p.m.

3. California

Drawings typically close at 7 p.m. Pacific, an hour before the drawing. But check with your retailer to be sure.

4. Colorado

Sales are suspended on draw day from 7:30 to 7:33 p.m. local time. You can start buying tickets each day at 4:30 a.m. except Sunday, in which sales start at 8 a.m. Sales end each night at 11:59 p.m. “for balancing.”

5. Connecticut

On drawing nights (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday), wagering closes at 10:00 PM and reopens at 11:15 PM.

6. Delaware

Play up until 9:45 p.m. on draw days.

7. Florida

According to the lottery website: “On drawing nights, you will be able to purchase POWERBALL tickets until game sales close at 10:00 p.m. ET. MUSL requires adequate time to ensure that the draw data has been securely received from all 48 member lotteries before the POWERBALL drawing is held at 10:59 p.m. ET. There will be a 5-minute sales break between 10:00 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. ET on the night of the POWERBALL drawings, and sales after 10:05 p.m. ET will be for the next drawing.”

8. Georgia

Tickets are sold from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m. on the day of drawings and until 1 a.m. on other days. More info here.

9. Idaho

The state website notes: “Players may purchase tickets until one hour and five minutes prior to the draw on the night of the draw. At one hour prior to the draw, sales will resume for the next draw.”

10. Illinois

Retailers stop selling at 9 p.m. local time on draw day.

11. Indiana

Most stop an hour before drawing time but check with your local retailer to be sure.

12. Iowa

The cutoff time is 8:59 p.m. on draw day.

13. Kansas

The cutoff time is 8:59 p.m. on draw day.

14. Kentucky

Most cutoff times are an hour before the drawing but check with your local retailer to be sure.

15. Louisiana

The state lottery notes: “Make sure you buy your tickets for each Powerball drawing by 9 p.m. on the day of the drawing. Tickets purchased after 9 p.m. on drawing nights will be valid for the next drawing(s).”

16. Maine

The cutoff time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern on draw day.

17. Maryland

The cutoff time is 9:59 p.m. Eastern

18. Massachusetts

Most cutoff times are an hour before the drawing but check with your local retailer to be sure.

19. Michigan

The state lottery notes: “In-store and online ticket sales for the current draw are available until 9:45 p.m. on the night of the draw.”

20. Minnesota

9 p.m. on drawing days, the lottery notes.

21. Mississippi

Most cutoff times are an hour before the drawing. But check with your local retailer to be sure.

22. Missouri

Sales stop from 8:59 to 10 p.m. on draw days. More info here.

23. Montana

Sales stop at 8 p.m. on the day of the drawing.

24. Nebraska

Sales stop from 9 a.m. to 9:03 p.m. on the day of the drawing.

25. New Hampshire

If buying online, you have until 9:48 p.m. If buying in stores, you have until 9:50 p.m. on draw days.

26. New Jersey

The site notes: “Purchase your Powerball tickets prior to 9:59 pm on Monday, Wednesday & Saturday for the drawing.”

27. New Mexico

They note: “Tickets can be purchased until 8:00 PM Mountain Time for that night’s drawing. Sales for the next draw resume at 8:10 PM.”

28. New York

Most cutoff times are an hour before the drawing. Check with your local retailer to be sure.

29. North Carolina

Most cutoff times are an hour before the drawing. Check with your local retailer to be sure.

30. North Dakota

Check with your local retailer. Most will be cut off an hour before the drawing.

31. Ohio

…ends at 10 p.m., according to their website.

32. Oklahoma

Typically 9:59 p.m. local time.

33. Oregon

The drawing is at 7:59 p.m. Pacific, and the last time to buy a ticket is typically 6:69 p.m. Check with local retailers to be sure.

34. Pennsylvania

The cutoff is 9:59 p.m. local time on draw days.

35. Rhode Island

The cutoff is typically an hour before draw time. But check with your local retailer.

36. South Carolina

Sales are suspended at 9:59 p.m. local time on draw days.

37. South Dakota

The state website notes: “Buy tickets up until 9:00 p.m. (CT) / 8:00 p.m. (MT) on the nights of the drawings. Or, ask your retailer how to play up to nine consecutive draws in advance.”

38. Tennessee

The cutoff is typically an hour before draw time. But check with your local retailer.

39. Texas

The state website notes: “Tickets are not available during Draw Break, from 9:00-10:15 p.m. CT.”

40. Vermont

The website notes: “Draws are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM with a cutoff of 9:50 PM to purchase tickets for that evening’s draw. All draw times are based on Eastern Time.”

41. Virginia

The cutoff is typically an hour before draw time. Though, check with your local retailer.

42. Washington

The website notes: “Ticket sales are cut-off every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night at 6:45 p.m. and resume at 6:46 p.m. Pacific Time.”

43. Washington D.C.

The cutoff is typically an hour before draw time. But check with your local retailer.

44. West Virginia

The cutoff is typically an hour before draw time. But check with your local retailer.

45. Wisconsin

The cutoff is typically an hour before draw time. But check with your local retailer.

46. Wyoming

The state website notes that “Ticket sales close at 8:00 p.m. MT on draw days. Ticket sales reopen shortly after each draw.”

Notes:

  • Please keep in mind that the list above is not guaranteed, and some retailers may change their cutoff times at any time. So you should check with your local retailer just to be sure.
  • We only listed states where tickets are sold.

What is Powerball?

According to Wikipedia, Powerball is an American lottery game offered by 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). From its inaugural drawing on April 19, 1992, until August 21, 2021, Powerball drawings were held twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday); a third weekly drawing (held Mondays) was added on August 23, 2021.

Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

How much do Powerball tickets cost?

The Powerball ticket costs $2 per play.

In 45 states in the US, players can buy lottery tickets at authorized retailers such as drug stores and grocery stores. Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands are among these states.

Residents of several states, including New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia, can purchase online Powerball tickets through the mobile app Jackpocket.

In Michigan, you can purchase tickets for the drawing at more than 10,500 lottery retail locations, which include gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants and more. You can also buy tickets through the Michigan Lottery website.

According to the lottery, “some lotteries sell Powerball tickets over the internet, but the service is only available to residents of that jurisdiction.”

How late can you buy a Powerball ticket for Monday night’s $1 billion jackpot?

People flocked to convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations across the country to purchase lottery tickets in hopes of winning the $1 billion Powerball jackpot on Monday night.

How late can you buy lottery tickets in Oregon on Mondays? Monday’s drawing will be at 7:59 p.m. PT. You will not be able to purchase a ticket in Oregon on Monday after 7 p.m. PT. That is approximately 1 hour before the draw.

How to watch the drawings and play the game

Each lottery game is live-streamed on Powerball’s official website, and the most recent drawings can also be seen on your local channel.

The game, for example, is broadcast on WABC-7 in New York City and Fox 29 in Philadelphia.

To play, you must choose five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls. You can select one number between 1 and 26 for the red Powerball.

You can choose the numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal choose them for you.

That’s all the information on how late you can buy lottery tickets. Make sure you check this guide for updates to the cutoff time in different states. Thank you.

What is the latest I can buy a Powerball ticket?

Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Sales cut-off times vary by one to two hours before the drawing, depending on the selling jurisdiction. To find out where to watch the drawings, click here.

What time does the lottery close in Ontario?

Simply purchase a ticket at a participating retailer or at OLG.ca by 10:30 p.m. EST on the draw date.

What are the hours for selling lottery tickets in Florida?

Drawings are held Wednesday and Saturday nights at 11:15 p.m., Eastern Time. Tickets can be purchased until 10:40 p.m., Eastern Time, on the night of the draw.

What time do they stop selling scratch off tickets in Ohio?

Tickets can be purchased until 9:59pm Eastern Time. There cannot be more than one jackpot winner. One top prize winner will be selected out of all of the Ohio 50/50 numbers sold.