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Powerball tickets cut-off time: When is latest you can buy a ticket?

In order to test your luck, you'll have to make sure you get a ticket on time.

With the Powerball soaring to an estimated $875 million and Mega Millions not far behind, many Americans will be considering buying lottery tickets with the hope of beating the astronomical odds. 

The estimated jackpot for Saturday’s Powerball drawing would be the third highest in the history of the game. The largest Powerball prize was $2.04 billion last November.

But in order to have even a 1 in 292.2 million chance at winning the jackpot, you'll have to make sure you get a ticket before the drawing's cut-off time. 

How late can I buy a Powerball ticket? 

Powerball drawings are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Mega Millions drawings are on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

The cut-off times for buying lottery tickets vary by state. Usually, it's within one or two hours of the scheduled drawing. Below you'll find the state-by-state information we've found from most of the lotteries that participate in Powerball and Mega Millions. 

Times listed are local and for the days when drawings occur.  

Arizona

Powerball and Mega Millions sales stop on drawing nights at 6:59 p.m. (The cut-off is 7:59 p.m. from the 1st Sunday in November through the 2nd Saturday in March) 

Arkansas 

Powerball: Sales stop on drawing nights at 8:59 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Sales cut-off is 9:45 p.m. Central Time 

California 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 7 p.m. Pacific Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 7:45 p.m. Pacific Time

Colorado 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 7:30 p.m. Mountain Time 

Connecticut 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 10 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Delaware

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Florida

Powerball: Cut-off time is 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Georgia

Powerball: Cut-off time is 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Idaho

Powerball: Cut-off time is 7:54 p.m. Mountain Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 7:55 p.m. Mountain Time

Illinois

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Central Time

Indiana 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:58 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:44 p.m. Eastern Time

Iowa

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time

Kansas

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time

Kentucky

Powerball: Cut-off time is 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Louisiana 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time

Maine

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time

Maryland

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Credit: AP
Powerball and Mega Millions lottery tickets are shown at a retailer, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Surfside, Fla.

Massachusetts

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Michigan

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Minnesota

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time 
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time

Mississippi 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time, according to reports. 
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time, according to reports

Missouri

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time

Montana

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Nebraska

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time

New Hampshire

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:48 p.m. online or 9:50 p.m. in stores
Mega Millions: Cut-off time 9:48 p.m. online or 9:50 p.m. in stores

New Mexico

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:45 p.m. Mountain Time

New York

Powerball: Cut-off time is 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time

North Carolina

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:57 p.m. Eastern Time online or 9:59 p.m. ET in stores
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:43 p.m. Eastern Time online or 10:45 p.m. ET in stores

North Dakota

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:58 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:58 p.m. Central Time

Ohio

Powerball: Cut-off time is 10 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Oklahoma

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time

Oregon

Powerball: Cut-off time is 7 p.m. Pacific Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 7 p.m. Pacific Time

Pennsylvania

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Rhode Island

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time

South Carolina

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10 p.m. Eastern Time

South Dakota

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time

Tennessee

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Central Time

Texas

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:00 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Central Time

Credit: AP
Hardik Kalra, of Des Moines, Iowa, holds his Mega Millions and Powerball lottery tickets, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Vermont

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time

Virginia

Powerball: Cut-off time is 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Washington 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 6:45 p.m. Pacific Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 7:45 p.m. Pacific Time

West Virginia 

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Wisconsin

Powerball: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 8:59 p.m. Central Time

Wyoming

Powerball: Cut-off time is 7:59 p.m. Mountain Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 7:59 p.m. Mountain Time

Washington D.C.

Powerball: Cut-off time is 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time
Mega Millions: Cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. Eastern Time

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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