How close to the Powerball drawing can you buy tickets?

The Powerball drawing occurs twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased up until around 10:00 p.m. local time on the night of the drawing. However, the exact cutoff time for ticket sales varies by state.

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Quick Answers

– Powerball tickets can be purchased up until around 10:00 p.m. local time on the night of the drawing in most states.

– The cutoff time varies by state, with some states stopping sales as early as 9:45 p.m. local time.

– Tickets cannot be purchased after the advertised cutoff time in each jurisdiction.

– Trying to buy tickets after the deadline will result in an invalid ticket that cannot be entered into the drawing.

– Planning ahead is important to ensure you buy your tickets before the sales cutoff in your area.

State-by-State Cutoff Times

While 10:00 p.m. local time is the general cutoff for Powerball ticket sales, some jurisdictions stop sales earlier than that. Here is a state-by-state look at Powerball ticket deadlines on the night of a drawing:

State	Ticket Sales Cutoff Time
Arizona	9:45 p.m.
Arkansas	9:45 p.m.
California	10:00 p.m.
Colorado	10:00 p.m.
Connecticut	10:00 p.m.
Delaware	9:50 p.m.
Florida	10:00 p.m.
Georgia	10:00 p.m.
Idaho	9:45 p.m.
Illinois	10:00 p.m.
Indiana	10:15 p.m.
Iowa	10:00 p.m.
Kansas	10:00 p.m.
Kentucky	10:00 p.m.
Louisiana	9:45 p.m.
Maine	10:00 p.m.

As shown, most states stop Powerball ticket sales at 10:00 p.m. local time. However, the cutoff is earlier in some places like Arizona and Arkansas at 9:45 p.m. local time. Delaware and Louisiana also stop sales before 10:00 p.m. at 9:50 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. local time respectively.

On the later side, Indiana extends sales to 10:15 p.m. local time on the night of the Powerball drawing. But that is an exception, as most jurisdictions stick to the 10:00 p.m. cutoff.

Why Ticket Sale Deadlines Vary

There are a few reasons why Powerball ticket sale deadlines vary from state to state:

Logistics – States have different time requirements to ensure all ticket sales are properly processed and uploaded into the central system before the drawing.
Gaming regulations – Some state gaming commissions impose earlier cutoffs than others to provide sufficient oversight.

Vendor contracts – States contract ticket sales and operations to different vendors with varying cutoff policies.
Player convenience – Some states extend sales closer to the drawing to give players more flexibility.

So while 10:00 p.m. is the most common deadline, state lottery officials take various factors into account when setting the precise Powerball ticket cutoff time in their jurisdiction.

Are Powerball Tickets Sold Right Up Until the Cutoff?

In most cases, yes – Powerball tickets are sold right up until the established sales cutoff time in each state. However, there can be rare exceptions:

Inclement weather – If there is a major storm or natural disaster near the ticket deadline, some retailers may close early.
Retailer discretion – Individual stores have the right to stop selling Powerball tickets before the deadline if they choose.

Technical issues – A retailer’s lottery terminal could go down temporarily prior to the cutoff due to technical problems.
Sell out – In very rare cases, a retailer may actually sell out of Powerball tickets before the deadline.

But in general, barring these types of issues, most retailers will sell Powerball tickets up until their state’s designated cutoff time for ticket sales.

Can You Buy Tickets After the Deadline?

No, Powerball tickets cannot be purchased after the established sales deadline in each jurisdiction. The lottery terminals automatically cut off ticket sales at the designated time. Any attempt to buy a ticket past the posted cutoff time will result in an invalid selection that cannot be entered into the drawing.

Some key facts about trying to buy tickets after the deadline:

Retailers are unable to process ticket sales on lottery terminals after the cutoff.

Any tickets printed from a lottery terminal after the deadline are invalid and ineligible.
There are no extensions or exceptions to the ticket sales deadlines.
Never rely on being able to buy a ticket past the cutoff time – this will result in an invalid ticket.

Make sure to buy your Powerball tickets several hours or more before the sales deadline to avoid any issues.

The deadlines are strictly enforced by state lottery officials and retailers. So make sure to get your Powerball tickets before ticket sales end for your jurisdiction on drawing nights.

Purchasing Tickets on Drawing Days

On Wednesdays and Saturdays when the Powerball drawing occurs, you should make sure to buy tickets early in the day. Purchasing hours ahead helps avoid any issues with beating the ticket cutoff time.

Some tips for buying Powerball tickets on drawing days:

Buy early – As soon as ticket sales start in the morning, go out and make your Powerball purchases.
Avoid long lines – Lines can back up near the sales deadlines, so go early.

Have backup retailers – Know the locations and deadlines of other retailers in case your first choice sells out or is too busy.
Leave time to spare – Finish your Powerball purchases several hours before the ticket sales cutoff occurs.
Avoid retailer issues – Be aware that retailers can run out of tickets or have technical problems with terminals.

Buying hours in advance of the ticket deadline helps remove any timing concerns. And starting early gives you the entire day to rectify any issues that may arise during the Powerball ticket purchasing process before the cutoff.

Can You Buy Tickets Online?

Some states that offer online lottery sales allow you to buy Powerball tickets over the internet. However, there are still cutoff times for online sales, so you need to finish your purchases before those deadlines.

Key considerations for buying Powerball tickets online include:

Check if your state allows online sales – Not all states offer internet lottery purchases.
Find the online ticket cutoff time – Make sure to complete your purchases before online sales end.
Allow time for issues – Technical problems could disrupt the ticket buying process so start early.

Have a backup plan – In case the website goes down, know when and where you can buy in-person.

Buying online can be convenient but comes with its own potential perils. So have a Plan B in case you encounter any issues with the Powerball website prior to the ticket deadline.

Can You Use a Lottery App?

Some states also provide official lottery apps where players can purchase Powerball tickets on their mobile devices. For example, the Jackpocket app lets you buy official state lottery tickets in 11 jurisdictions.

If using a lottery app to get Powerball tickets, be sure to:

See if a lottery app operates in your state – Jackpocket is only available in select areas.
Check for mobile app ticket deadlines – Know when online sales end in the app.

Have another way to buy tickets – In case you have any mobile issues or glitches.
Leave ample time – Finish your purchases well ahead of any app cutoffs.

Apps provide another handy option for buying Powerball tickets. But make sure to buy early on drawing days in case anything interrupts the mobile ticket purchasing process.

Are There Any Ticket Sale Extensions?

Powerball ticket sale deadlines are firm and there are no extensions offered. Sales definitively stop at the advertised cutoff times. Some important facts about deadline extensions:

No exceptions are made for extending the ticket cutoff for any reason.
Deadlines apply equally to all players and locations.

Technical issues, long lines, and other circumstances do not warrant extensions.
Plan ahead and buy early, since there are no deadline extensions.
Assume that ticket sales will end at the advertised cutoff time, with no grace period.

Never rely on being granted more time to buy Powerball tickets past the established deadline. All players must adhere to the same sales cutoff times without exceptions.

Getting Draw Results After the Deadline

While Powerball tickets cannot be purchased after the sales cutoff times, you can still get the drawing results. Here are ways to find out the winning numbers:

TV – Tune into the Powerball broadcast after 10:59 p.m. ET to see the drawing.

Website – Check the official Powerball website, which posts results.
App – Download the Powerball app to get winning number notifications.
Lottery retailer – Return to lottery retailers which display the latest results.

Newspaper – Check the next day’s newspaper for draw results.

So while you can no longer buy tickets for that night’s drawing after the cutoff, be sure to use one of these options to see the Powerball winning numbers after they are drawn.

Conclusions

Here are some key conclusions about how close to the Powerball drawing you can you purchase tickets:

Sales generally stop around 10:00 p.m. local time, but confirm your state’s precise cutoff.
Try to buy tickets well before the deadline to avoid any timing issues.
Tickets cannot be purchased after the established cutoff times under any circumstances.

Have backup options in case your initial Powerball retailer has any problems or issues.
Buying tickets early on drawing days is always the safest approach.

While most states halt Powerball sales around 10:00 p.m. local time, the specific deadlines vary. Avoid the risk of missing the cutoff by purchasing your tickets early. And be aware that no extensions are granted – so make sure you get your Powerball tickets before time runs out!