When do lottery ticket sales stop on draw night?
The national games set the draw time; your state sets the moment its terminals stop selling for that draw. Powerball's FAQ says cut-off times "vary by selling jurisdiction", and its news releases put them one to two hours before the drawing. The Mega Millions FAQ also tells players to check with their state lottery. Some current examples:
| State | Powerball cut-off | Mega Millions cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 9:00 PM CT (draw 9:59 PM CT) | 9:45 PM CT (draw 10:00 PM CT) |
| California | 7:00 PM PT (draw 7:59 PM PT) | 7:45 PM PT (draw 8:00 PM PT) |
| New York | 10:00 PM ET (draw 10:59 PM ET) | 10:00 PM ET (draw 11:00 PM ET) |
The Texas times come from the Texas Lottery's Powerball page and its Mega Millions page. New York moved its Mega Millions cut-off from 10:45 PM to 10:00 PM in April 2023, which is a reminder that these times do change. Your state lottery's website lists the current minute.
Daily numbers games run on much tighter margins. Florida's Pick 3, for example, sells until 11 minutes before each drawing: 1:19 PM ET for the 1:30 PM midday draw and 9:34 PM ET for the 9:45 PM evening draw, according to the Florida Lottery. Other states' daily games have their own times, listed on each state's game pages.
What happens if you buy a lottery ticket after the cut-off?
You don't lose anything, but you won't be in tonight's draw. What happens next depends on the state's draw break, the pause in sales that begins at the cut-off. In Texas no Powerball tickets are sold from 9:00 to 10:15 PM Central. In California the break lasts five minutes, after which the terminal sells tickets for the next drawing.
The common surprise is a ticket that prints normally but carries the next draw date. It's still valid, just for a drawing you didn't intend to play. Read the draw date on the ticket before you leave the counter.
Do online lottery and courier apps have different cut-offs?
States that sell draw-game tickets online through their own iLottery sites apply their own cut-offs, which you'll see at checkout. Courier services, which buy paper tickets at a retailer on your behalf, set their own order deadlines, and those can be earlier than the state's retail cut-off because a ticket still has to be printed in time. Some states restrict or ban courier services. See our courier apps comparison and the iLottery state guide.
What's the safest time to buy lottery tickets?
Earlier in the evening than you'd think. If you buy a Powerball or Mega Millions ticket by about 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 PM Central, 6:00 PM Mountain, 5:00 PM Pacific), you're ahead of the one-to-two-hour cut-offs Powerball describes. For midday state draws, buy in the morning.
Waiting until the last minute has no upside. The advertised jackpot is an estimate, and the prize you're playing for is the same whether you buy at 6 PM or 9 PM.
Other timing details worth knowing
Multi-draw tickets, sold in many states, enter the same numbers in several consecutive drawings with one purchase, so a late evening doesn't cost you a draw. Prices are in how much lottery tickets cost.
The claim deadline matters more than the sales cut-off. Powerball and Mega Millions both say claim periods range from 90 days to one year depending on the state, and unclaimed prizes do expire. See how long you have to claim a prize.
Holidays don't move the national drawings, but they can change store hours. See lottery drawings on holidays. Results appear on our results homepage shortly after each drawing.
Lottery cut-off time FAQ
What time do they stop selling Powerball tickets?
It depends on your state. Powerball describes the cut-off as one to two hours before the 10:59 PM ET drawing. Texas stops at 9:00 PM Central, California at 7:00 PM Pacific and New York at 10:00 PM Eastern.
What happens if you buy a lottery ticket after the cut-off?
Either the terminal won't sell that game until the draw break ends, or it sells you a ticket for the next drawing. The ticket is valid, but check the draw date printed on it.
Can you buy Mega Millions tickets on the night of the drawing?
Yes, until your state's cut-off. That is 15 minutes before the 11:00 PM ET drawing in some states, such as California and Texas, and an hour before in New York.
Do lottery courier apps have earlier cut-offs?
They set their own order deadlines, which can be earlier than the state's retail cut-off because a ticket has to be bought and printed at a store. The app shows its deadline at checkout.
What time do Pick 3 and Pick 4 sales close?
It varies by state, but daily numbers games usually sell until shortly before each draw. Florida's Pick 3 closes 11 minutes before each drawing: 1:19 PM ET for midday and 9:34 PM ET for evening.
Sources: powerball.com FAQs, megamillions.com FAQs, Texas Lottery and Florida Lottery game pages, California Lottery and New York Lottery game information. Cut-off times are set by each state and can change.
