Introduction
The Powerball lottery is one of the most popular multi-state lottery games in the United States. Tickets for the Powerball drawing are sold in 45 states, including North Carolina. Many people are interested in knowing what time Powerball ticket sales end in North Carolina on the day of the drawing, so they don’t miss the chance to buy tickets for the big jackpot prize. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of Powerball ticket sales times in North Carolina, when the cutoff is for buying tickets on drawing days, and other key details about Powerball in the state.
What Time Do Powerball Sales End in North Carolina?
Powerball tickets can be purchased in North Carolina up until 10:00 PM EST on the evening of the Powerball drawing. The cutoff time for buying Powerball tickets in North Carolina is 10:00 PM sharp on drawing nights. Many people wait until the last minute to buy their Powerball tickets, hoping to get their entries in just under the wire. All tickets must be purchased by 10:00 PM in order to be eligible for that night’s drawing. The drawing itself takes place at 10:59 PM Eastern Time, so there is a very short window between the ticket sales cutoff and the actual lottery results. It’s important to get to the store early enough on drawing nights to ensure you can buy your Powerball tickets before the 10:00 PM deadline.
More About Powerball in North Carolina
The North Carolina Education Lottery began selling Powerball tickets in May 2006, after joining the multi-state Powerball game. North Carolina was the 43rd state to start selling Powerball tickets. Powerball drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 PM Eastern Time. The minimum jackpot amount is $40 million, and it continues to grow by at least $10 million each drawing until there is a winner. Powerball jackpots have climbed over $1 billion multiple times over the years.
To play Powerball in North Carolina, players select 5 main numbers between 1 and 69, and 1 additional Powerball number between 1 and 26. The Power Play add-on feature is available for an extra $1 per play, which can multiply non-jackpot prizes. Tickets cost $2 per play, or $3 with the Power Play option. Tickets can be purchased at over 5,300 licensed lottery retailers across the state. North Carolina joined the Powerball game in 2006 alongside the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. At the time, Powerball already included the following states:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Today, Powerball is played by people across most of the United States. North Carolina consistently sees strong Powerball ticket sales, especially when the jackpot is high. The NC Education Lottery has raised over $7 billion to date to support education programs in the state from all lottery games, including Powerball.
Can You Buy Powerball Tickets Online in North Carolina?
Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to purchase official Powerball tickets online in North Carolina. The NC Education Lottery does not offer an online ticket purchasing option. Players must buy their Powerball tickets in person from authorized lottery retailers in the state. The Lottery encourages players to only buy tickets from licensed retailers to avoid potential scams. Buying real lottery tickets online is not available for any NC Lottery games right now. Players must go to local grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other licensed retailers to purchase authentic Powerball tickets. The Lottery’s website does have a retailer locator to help players find the nearest location selling tickets. But they do not sell tickets directly on their site.
What Happens if You Miss the Deadline?
If you attempt to buy a Powerball ticket in North Carolina after the 10:00 PM cutoff on drawing nights, unfortunately you will be out of luck. Retailers are unable to process ticket sales after the deadline passes. If you try to buy a ticket at 10:01 PM or later, the sale will be denied. The lottery terminals automatically stop printing tickets right at 10:00 PM in accordance with the rules. So if you miss the deadline, you will miss your chance to play for that drawing. The reason for the strict cutoff is to ensure all entries are recorded and accounted for prior to the drawing taking place at 10:59 PM. There can be no exceptions for ticket purchases after 10:00 PM. You will have to wait until the next drawing (Wednesday or Saturday) to buy your Powerball tickets for a chance at that jackpot. Planning ahead is key to ensuring you don’t miss the deadline on drawing nights.
Can You Cut in Line Before 10 PM?
With the deadline looming at 10:00 PM sharp, things can get pretty hectic at lottery retailers on Powerball drawing nights. Long lines often form in the hour or so leading up to the cutoff as people squeeze in last minute ticket purchases. Unfortunately, cutting in line prior to the 10:00 PM deadline is prohibited. Most retailers will not allow customers to cut in front of others waiting in line, as this would not be fair to those who arrived earlier. Everyone must wait their turn and line up on a first come, first served basis. Jumping ahead in line could also cause disorder at the retailer. If you want to buy Powerball tickets right before the deadline, be sure to get to the store early enough to account for the wait. Don’t expect retailers to allow you to cut in front of other customers and jump to the front. You’ll need to go to the back of the line and bide your time. Planning ahead if you want last minute tickets is key to ensuring you make the cutoff.
Buying Options at 10 PM
When making a Powerball ticket purchase right around 10:00 PM in North Carolina, you will still have all the same options available as earlier in the day:
- Pick your own numbers or do Quick Pick for randomly generated numbers
- Buy tickets for that night’s drawing or advance play for future drawings
- Purchase individual tickets or bundle various multiples
- Add on the Power Play option for $1 more per ticket
The full range of Powerball tickets and extras can be purchased until exactly 10:00 PM on drawing nights. However, any ticket transactions must be complete by 10:00 PM sharp in order to qualify for that drawing. Keep in mind that lines could slow down right as the cutoff gets near. So give yourself enough time to complete your purchase. Don’t wait until 9:59 PM and expect to buy a bundle of Powerball tickets with multiples draws, extras, and more. Retailers will process orders in the queue until 10:00 PM.
Can You Buy Tickets After 10 PM for Future Drawings?
Yes, retailers will still process Powerball ticket orders after 10:00 PM, but those tickets will be entered into future drawings. All ticket sales are cutoff at 10:00 PM for that night’s drawing only. However, you can still buy tickets after 10:00 PM that will go towards upcoming Powerball drawings. For example, if you show up at 10:15 PM on a Wednesday drawing night, the retailer cannot sell you tickets to be entered into that night’s drawing. But they can sell you Powerball tickets that will go towards the Saturday night drawing instead. So you can still buy tickets after 10:00 PM, just not for the drawing happening right at that moment. The tickets will be for the next closest drawing. This allows people to buy tickets ahead of time if they miss the deadline for a specific drawing.
Buying Tickets the Day After the Drawing
Powerball ticket sales will resume as normal the day following a drawing night in North Carolina. Retailers open up the next morning and begin selling tickets for upcoming Powerball drawings again. The day after a drawing is one of the most popular times to buy Powerball tickets, as the new jackpot amount is announced. If no one won the big prize the night before, the jackpot rolls over and starts growing again. Interest is renewed with a potentially bigger prize. People line up early the day after a drawing if the jackpot is substantial, eager to have a chance at winning the grand prize. Tickets sales open again at 6:30 AM local time, when most lottery retailers open each day. Buying tickets the morning after gives you a chance at the next Powerball jackpot.
Changes in 2017
In October 2017, some changes were made to the Powerball game which affected ticket sales times in North Carolina and all participating jurisdictions. Powerball ticket sales used to end at 9:59 PM in NC on drawing nights prior to the changes. But massive jackpots in 2015 and 2016 led to some revamps of the game in fall 2017. One of those changes was extending the ticket cutoff from 9:59 PM to 10:00 PM in North Carolina and elsewhere. Adding the extra minute allowed retailers a bit more time to process the surge in sales that started occurring as jackpots grew bigger. So now the deadline is 10:00 PM rather than 9:59 PM. The drawings were also pushed back 5 minutes from 10:59 PM to 11:00 PM to coordinate with the extended sales. So 10:00 PM is the new hard cutoff since October 2017.
Why Can’t Sales Go Past 10 PM?
The strict 10:00 PM cutoff has to do with making sure all ticket sales for a particular drawing are fully recorded and accounted for. The Powerball drawing cannot happen until it’s confirmed that ticket sales have closed across all participating states. Some key reasons sales must end precisely at 10:00 PM in North Carolina include:
- Ensuring all ticket purchases are properly included in drawing
- Allowing time for data to be transmitted prior to drawing
- Confirming all transactions are processed and validated
- Preventing issue with possible duplicate tickets
- Guaranteeing accuracy of all entries and payouts
If ticket sales continued past the established cutoff, there would be a risk of administrative errors and potential problems validating winning tickets. Ending sales at 10:00 PM sharp allows the necessary time for lottery officials to properly close out ticket sales and transmit data prior to selecting the numbers at 10:59 PM. It may be an inconvenience for some players, but the strict cutoff is critical for the integrity and fairness of the lottery.
Can Retailers Sell Tickets After 10 PM?
Retailers are prohibited from selling Powerball tickets in North Carolina after the 10:00 PM deadline on drawing nights. Lottery sales terminals automatically cut off at 10:00 PM sharp. Continuing to print and sell tickets after this time is not possible. Retailers who violate these established rules and regulations could face serious repercussions and penalties. Their lottery license could be suspended or revoked for failing to adhere to the mandated cutoff policies. The NC Education Lottery does not look kindly on retailers who attempt to subvert the required procedures surrounding Powerball ticket sales. Customers should also be aware that any tickets purchased illegally after 10:00 PM would be invalidated. Overall, retailers must follow all lottery rules and stop Powerball sales promptly at 10:00 PM – no exceptions.
Winning Numbers Announcement
The winning Powerball numbers are drawn and announced at 10:59 PM Eastern Time on drawing nights. This takes place after ticket sales have closed in North Carolina and all participating lottery jurisdictions. Powerball drawings are held at the Florida Lottery studios in Tallahassee. Ball machines randomly select 5 main numbers (white balls) out of 69, and the red Powerball from 1 to 26. The drawings are observed by officials from the Multi-State Lottery Association and independent auditors. The drawn numbers are then quickly provided to all lottery jurisdictions and the public. Local television stations and websites like the NC Education Lottery’s will relay the winning numbers as soon as they are announced at approximately 10:59 PM. Players can check their tickets at that point to see if they won a prize.
Jackpot Winners in North Carolina
Over the years since joining Powerball in 2006, there has been one major jackpot winner in North Carolina:
- May 2019 – $344.6 million – C. Frye – Maysville
This winner came after the Powerball jackpot had rolled over for several months without a top prize winner. The winning ticket was purchased at the JAZ Food Mart in Maysville. Rather than taking the full $344.6 million as an annuity paid over 29 years, the winner opted for the $223.3 million lump sum cash payout before taxes. It was the first time North Carolina had a jackpot winner since joining Powerball. Despite only one massive jackpot victor so far, smaller prize winners in the state have taken home well over $100 million combined from Powerball. And interest remains high whenever the jackpot exceeds $300 million or more.
Education Lottery Benefits
The NC Education Lottery was created in 2005 with the mission of raising funds for education programs in the state. By law, at least 35% of revenues from lottery ticket sales must go towards funding for education. Over $7 billion has gone to supporting education initiatives in North Carolina so far. Some of the key programs funded each year by the Education Lottery include:
- School Construction – More than $522 million spent on school building projects across the state
- Scholarships & Grants – $3.8 billion used for scholarships, grants, financial aid
- Teacher & Principal Pay – $936 million directed towards boosting educator salaries
- Pre-K Program – $832 million given to enhancing NC Pre-Kindergarten program
- School Technology – $102 million for technology and digital learning needs
The NC Education Lottery, including Powerball sales, continues to generate over $700 million on average annually for education funding in the state. While playing Powerball is optional entertainment, the lottery has become a vital source of education dollars in North Carolina.
Responsible Play
The NC Education Lottery encourages responsible play of Powerball and all lottery games. Those who choose to participate should do so only for fun, without overspending. Remember the odds of winning Powerball are approximately 1 in 292 million. Have a spending limit in mind and don’t go over it. Never gamble with money meant for necessities. Players must be 18 or older. Help is available by calling the Problem Gambling Helpline at 877-718-5543. All North Carolinians can play a role in ensuring lottery games are conducted responsibly.
Conclusion
In North Carolina, Powerball ticket sales end promptly at 10:00 PM Eastern Time on the night of draw drawings. This strict cutoff is an important procedure to ensure all ticket purchases are properly processed and validated prior to the 10:59 PM number selection. It also prevents sales after the drawing has taken place. By knowing the 10:00 PM deadline in advance, players can plan accordingly and get their Powerball tickets before it’s too late. Show up early to account for lines, and don’t expect retailers to bend the rules. Check the winning numbers at 10:59 PM to see if you’re North Carolina’s next Powerball winner!