What Time does Powerball close in Texas?

The Powerball lottery is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with players hoping to win huge jackpot prizes. In Texas, the Powerball drawing occurs twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:59 p.m. Central Time. This leads many Texas lottery players to ask: what time does Powerball sales close in Texas before the drawing?

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Quick Answer

In Texas, Powerball ticket sales close at 8:00 p.m. CT on Wednesdays and Saturdays, about 1 hour and 59 minutes before the actual Powerball drawing occurs. Tickets must be purchased by 8:00 p.m. to be eligible for that night’s drawing.

What Days are the Powerball Drawings?

The Powerball lottery holds its drawings two times per week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:59 p.m. Central Time. Here is the Powerball drawing schedule in Texas:

Wednesday drawings at 9:59 p.m. CT
Saturday drawings at 9:59 p.m. CT

This schedule is consistent across most U.S. jurisdictions that offer Powerball, with the drawings happening late in the evening twice a week. It gives players two opportunities every week to win huge Powerball prizes.

What Time is the Powerball Deadline in Texas?

In Texas, the deadline to buy Powerball tickets for that night’s drawing is 8:00 p.m. CT. Ticket sales will close at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday evenings before the 9:59 p.m. drawings.

No Powerball tickets can be purchased in Texas after the 8:00 p.m. sales cutoff. Only tickets bought by 8:00 p.m. will be valid for the drawing held at 9:59 p.m. that same night.

Key Points

Powerball tickets can be purchased in Texas until 8:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday nights.

The 8:00 p.m. CT deadline is strictly enforced – no ticket sales after this time.
Only tickets purchased by 8:00 p.m. are valid for that night’s 9:59 p.m. drawing.
Tickets sold after 8:00 p.m. CT will be entered into the next Powerball drawing.

Why Does Powerball Close Early in Texas?

There are a few key reasons why Powerball ticket sales close approximately 2 hours before the actual drawing occurs in Texas and other participating jurisdictions:

Processing ticket data: Lottery officials need time to process all ticket sales data and get it ready for the drawing. This involves transferring sales data from thousands of retail terminals across the state.
Verifying ticket validity: Closing sales early allows time for lottery officials to verify that all tickets sold for that drawing are legitimate. Security measures can be taken to detect potential fraud.

Cutoff for redemption: Having an earlier sales cutoff gives players time to have any potential winning tickets validated before the claims deadline.

So while an 8:00 p.m. cutoff may seem early, it’s an important logistical requirement for lottery officials to properly administer the game and drawing.

Can You Buy Powerball Tickets Online in Texas?

Unfortunately, Texas does not currently allow online lottery ticket sales or purchases. All Powerball tickets must be purchased in-person from licensed Texas Lottery retailers across the state.

There are some key reasons why online lottery ticket sales are not allowed in Texas:

Online sales are perceived as a potential threat to brick-and-mortar lottery retailers in Texas.
There are concerns about the risk of online lottery fraud and identity theft.

Texas lottery officials believe in-person purchases allow for better oversight and regulation.

While many other U.S. states do offer online lottery ticket sales, Texas has resisted thus far. So buying Powerball tickets online is not an option currently available for Texas residents. You must visit an authorized retailer before the 8:00 p.m. cutoff on drawing nights.

What Happens if You Miss the Powerball Deadline in Texas?

If you attempt to purchase a Powerball ticket in Texas after the 8:00 p.m. sales deadline, the ticket will not be valid for that night’s drawing. Only Powerball tickets purchased by 8:00 p.m. CT on drawing nights can be entered into that drawing.

If you try to buy a ticket after 8:00 p.m., the lottery terminal will automatically issue a ticket for the next available Powerball drawing. For example, if you try to purchase a ticket at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, you would receive a ticket valid for the following Wednesday night’s drawing instead.

Some key points about missing the Powerball ticket cutoff time:

Tickets sold after 8:00 p.m. CT will not be valid for that night’s drawing.

Late ticket purchases will automatically be entered into the next Powerball drawing.
The 8:00 p.m. deadline is strictly enforced by the Texas Lottery.
Be sure to buy your ticket early to avoid missing the cutoff!

Can You Buy Powerball Tickets on Drawing Days in Texas?

Yes, it is possible to buy Powerball tickets in Texas on the day of the drawing. However, you must be sure to purchase tickets early enough to meet the 8:00 p.m. CT sales deadline.

Here are some key tips for buying Powerball tickets in Texas on drawing days:

Only buy tickets from authorized Texas Lottery retailers. These include convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies.

Avoid waiting until the last minute. Give yourself enough time to buy tickets before the 8:00 p.m. cutoff.
If lines are long, consider visiting another retailer to avoid missing the deadline.
You can typically purchase tickets as early as 6:00 a.m. local time on drawing days.

As the deadline nears, many retailers stop selling tickets to close out systems.

While you can buy Powerball tickets in Texas on draw days, it’s best to make your purchases early. Otherwise you risk missing the strict 8:00 p.m. ticket sales cutoff enforced by the Texas Lottery.

What Time Can You Buy Powerball Tickets the Morning of the Drawing?

Powerball tickets go on sale again in Texas at 6:00 a.m. local time on the morning of drawing days. Here are the key details:

On drawing Wednesdays, ticket sales resume at 6:00 a.m. and continue until the 8:00 p.m. deadline.
On drawing Saturdays, sales also begin again statewide at 6:00 a.m. until the cutoff.
Most major retailers and convenience stores begin selling tickets promptly at 6:00 a.m.

This gives players a 14-hour window to buy Powerball tickets on drawing days.

So if you want to purchase your Powerball tickets early on drawing days in Texas, you can visit authorized retailers beginning at 6:00 a.m. local time. Just be cautious about waiting too long, as lines often get long as the 8:00 p.m. deadline approaches.

What Time Can You Buy Powerball Tickets the Night Before the Drawing?

Retailers in Texas are allowed to sell Powerball tickets as late as midnight the night before a scheduled drawing. Here are some key points about buying Powerball tickets the night before:

Tickets can be purchased up until midnight CT before drawing nights.
Most convenience stores and gas stations sell tickets until midnight.
Some grocery stores and pharmacies may stop Powerball sales earlier in the evening.

You cannot buy tickets after midnight until 6:00 a.m. on drawing days.

So if you want to guarantee Powerball tickets the night before the drawing, look for convenience stores or gas stations open late. You should be able to buy tickets anywhere from 6:00 a.m. until midnight the day before drawings in Texas.

Are Powerball Tickets Sold Every Day in Texas?

No, Powerball tickets are not sold every day in Texas. Ticket sales follow this schedule:

Tickets can be purchased on the day of the Wednesday and Saturday drawings.
Tickets are also sold the night before each drawing day.
No ticket sales take place on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday.

Sales resume the next morning for the next drawing at 6:00 a.m.

So Powerball ticket sales only occur on the two drawing days per week, plus the nights prior. This works out to 4 days of Powerball ticket availability each week in Texas.

It’s also important to note that game details like the jackpot prize amounts only update on the morning of each drawing. So Powerball tickets will have the most up-to-date information on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Texas.

What Happens if a Drawing is Postponed?

In rare cases, Powerball drawings may be postponed beyond the usual Wednesday or Saturday schedule. Severe weather or technical issues are typically the cause.

If a postponement occurs, the Texas Lottery will provide updated ticket sale information. Typically:

Previous ticket sales for the delayed drawing will remain valid.

Ticket sales will be halted until a make-up time is announced.
Once a new drawing time is set, sales will resume.
The 8:00 p.m. CT cutoff before the make-up drawing will still apply.

So existing ticket holders do not need to worry about a postponement. The Texas Lottery will honor all tickets already sold for the delayed drawing. It will also announce any changes to the ticket sale times leading up to the rescheduled drawing date.

Conclusion

In Texas, Powerball ticket sales close at 8:00 p.m. CT on drawing nights. This strict deadline an hour before the live drawings gives lottery officials time to process sales data and verify entries. It also provides a clear cutoff for player ticket redemptions. By following the twice-weekly Powerball ticket sales schedule in Texas and buying entries before the 8:00 p.m. deadline, you can properly enter drawings and play for huge jackpot prizes.