Both Powerball and Mega Millions are popular lottery games in the United States that offer life-changing jackpots to lucky winners. However, these games are drawn on different days of the week. So which game actually takes place on Saturdays?
Powerball Draw Days
Powerball drawings are held three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. ET. The drawings take place at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Florida and are broadcast live on various television networks.
So to answer the initial question – yes, Powerball drawings do occur on Saturday nights. This has been the long-standing draw schedule for Powerball since it began in 1992. Having a Saturday night draw is strategic to capture weekend lottery players who are out and about and may be impulse buying Powerball tickets while running other errands.
Powerball Saturday Draw Timeline
Let’s take a look at the timeline on Saturday nights leading up to the Powerball drawings:
- Sales cut-off time is 9:59 p.m. ET – This is the deadline for buying Powerball tickets to be eligible for that night’s drawing.
- 10:00 p.m. ET – The drawing pool closes.
- 10:59 p.m. ET – The Powerball drawing officially takes place and winning numbers are selected.
- 11:00 p.m. ET – Winning numbers are posted to the Powerball website and broadcast on various networks.
As you can see, Saturday night is a significant draw date for Powerball players. It presents a prime opportunity to play and win the game’s massive jackpot prizes.
Mega Millions Draw Days
Mega Millions, the other major national lottery game, follows a different draw schedule. Mega Millions drawings happen just two nights per week – every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11:00 p.m. ET.
Mega Millions drawings take place at the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta, Georgia and are also broadcast on various television networks.
So to answer the original question clearly – Mega Millions does NOT have drawings held on Saturday nights. The two draw nights are only Tuesdays and Fridays.
Mega Millions Tuesday and Friday Draw Timeline
Here is a brief overview of the Mega Millions draw timeline schedule:
- Sales cut-off time is 10:45 p.m. ET for both Tuesday and Friday drawings.
- 11:00 p.m. ET – Official Mega Millions drawing takes place and winning numbers selected.
- 11:15 p.m. ET – Winning numbers are posted to the Mega Millions website and televised.
Because Mega Millions only has two weekly drawings, the jackpots can build up faster compared to Powerball. This allows the Mega Millions jackpot to rapidly grow to staggering amounts, often exceeding $500 million.
Comparison of Powerball vs. Mega Millions Games
Now that we’ve covered the draw schedules, let’s compare some key differences between Powerball and Mega Millions:
| Game | Powerball | Mega Millions |
|---|---|---|
| Draw Days | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday | Tuesday, Friday |
| Draw Time | 10:59 p.m. ET | 11:00 p.m. ET |
| Cost Per Play | $2 | $2 |
| Balls in Main Pool | 69 (white balls) | 70 (white balls) |
| Supplemental Pool | 26 (red Powerballs) | 25 (gold Mega balls) |
| Odds of Jackpot Win | 1 in 292 million | 1 in 302 million |
As shown above, both games have similar pricing, odds, and play style. But their draw schedules and number pools differ significantly. Powerball offers better overall odds of winning any prize compared to Mega Millions.
Should You Play Powerball or Mega Millions on Saturday?
If you are looking to play a major national lottery game on Saturday specifically, then Powerball is clearly your only option. With its long-established Saturday night drawing, players have grown accustomed to chasing the Powerball jackpot on the weekends.
However, because Mega Millions has larger jackpots on average, you may want to consider playing it on Tuesdays or Fridays. Mega Millions can reach astronomical jackpots over $500 million to $1 billion+ at times. That gives it an edge in terms of jackpot size.
Both games are evenly matched in most other aspects like prize payouts and odds. Your choice may come down to personal preference of playing on Saturday nights (Powerball) vs. Tuesday or Friday nights (Mega Millions).
If your main lottery playing day is Saturday, then Powerball is definitely the game to play. But Mega Millions on Tuesday or Friday is also worth considering when its jackpot climbs sky high.
How to Play Powerball
For those new to Powerball, here is a quick rundown on how to play:
- Choose five main numbers from 1 to 69.
- Select one Powerball number from 1 to 26.
- On the play slip, mark five numbers in the white fields and your Powerball number in the red field.
- Each Powerball play costs $2.
- You can add Power Play for $1 extra to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
- Submit your completed play slip to a lottery retailer or use quick pick for randomly generated numbers.
- Tune in for the Saturday night drawing at 10:59 p.m. ET to see if you have winning numbers!
Matching all six numbers wins you the Powerball jackpot prize. But you can also win prizes by matching 3, 4 or 5 numbers plus the Powerball. The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9.
How to Play Mega Millions
If you want to play Mega Millions, here are the basics:
- Select five main numbers from 1-70.
- Choose one Mega Ball number from 1-25.
- On the play slip, mark five numbers in the white fields and your Mega Ball number in the gold field.
- Each Mega Millions ticket costs $2.
- You can also add Megaplier for $1 more to increase non-jackpot prizes.
- Turn in your completed slip to the retailer or use quick pick.
- Check the Tuesday and Friday 11:00 p.m. ET drawings to see if you win!
Match all six numbers to win the Mega Millions jackpot. You can also win lower tiered prizes by matching 4, 3, or just 2 numbers plus the Mega Ball. The overall probability of winning a Mega Millions prize is 1 in 24.
Advice for Playing Lottery Games
When playing Powerball, Mega Millions, or any other lottery game, it’s important to do so responsibly. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Set a budget for lottery spending and stick to it. Only use discretionary income.
- Do not borrow or use rent money, bill payments, or grocery money to buy tickets.
- Balance lottery play with other forms of entertainment expenses.
- Don’t chase losses and assume that more playing will increase your odds.
- Play for fun and view any winnings as a nice bonus, not expected income.
- If gambling becomes unhealthy, contact organizations like the NRDC for assistance and guidance.
Remember the extremely long odds and that the lottery is pure chance. But used responsibly, lottery games can provide exciting entertainment for the cost of a cup of coffee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days are Powerball drawings?
Powerball drawings are held three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. ET.
What days are Mega Millions drawings?
Mega Millions drawings take place two nights a week, every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11:00 p.m. ET.
Can you buy Powerball tickets on Saturday?
Yes, Powerball tickets can be purchased on Saturday up until around 9:59 p.m. ET in most jurisdictions, for that night’s drawing.
Where do Powerball drawings take place?
Powerball drawings are held at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Florida. They are broadcast on various television networks.
Where are Mega Millions drawings held?
Mega Millions drawings take place at the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta, Georgia. They are also broadcast live on TV.
What states participate in Powerball?
Currently 45 states plus Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands offer Powerball. The non-participating states are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
What states offer Mega Millions?
Mega Millions is available in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Five states do not offer Mega Millions: Alaska, Alabama, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Conclusion
In summary, Powerball drawings are held three nights a week including Saturdays. Meanwhile, Mega Millions drawings occur two nights a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. So if you want to play a major lottery game on Saturdays specifically, Powerball is your only option.
Both Powerball and Mega Millions offer exciting play and life-changing jackpots. With responsible play, participating in these lottery games can add fun and anticipation to the week. Just be sure to play within your budget and never wager funds needed for bills or essentials. Good luck and remember to play it safe!
