The Powerball lottery is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States. It is offered in 45 states, including Georgia, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball draws occur twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and tickets must be purchased by a specific cutoff time before the drawing in order to be eligible to win a prize.
What is the Powerball Cutoff Time in Georgia?
In Georgia, the cutoff time to buy Powerball tickets is 10:00 pm EST on the night of the drawing. All ticket purchases must be completed by 10:00 pm in order to be included in that night’s drawing. The 10:00 pm deadline applies to buying tickets both online and at authorized Georgia lottery retailers. Any ticket purchases made after the 10:00 pm cutoff will instead be entered into the next Powerball drawing.
Regular Wednesday and Saturday Drawings
For regular Wednesday and Saturday Powerball drawings in Georgia, you must buy your ticket by 10:00 pm EST on the night of the drawing. For example, to play the Saturday night Powerball drawing on October 29, 2022, you would need to buy your ticket by 10:00 pm EST on October 29. Tickets purchased after 10:00 pm on October 29 would be entered into the next drawing on November 2.
Exceptions for Special Drawings
While the standard cutoff is 10:00 pm EST, there are occasional exceptions when the Powerball drawing falls on a holiday or is rescheduled for another reason. On these occasions, the Georgia Lottery will announce a special cutoff time for ticket sales. For example, for the Monday, October 31, 2022 drawing scheduled on Halloween night, the cutoff time was 6:00 pm EST in Georgia. So it’s always important to check for any cutoff time changes around holidays and rescheduled draws.
Purchasing Tickets Online vs. at Retailers
In Georgia, Powerball tickets can be purchased both online and at authorized lottery retailers around the state. However, there is an important difference in the cutoff times to note.
Online Ticket Sales
For online sales at galottery.com, the cutoff is 9:59 pm EST. To account for processing time, online ticket sales close one minute earlier than the standard 10:00 pm deadline. So to play Powerball online in Georgia, you must complete your ticket purchase by 9:59 pm EST.
Retail Ticket Sales
For in-person sales at grocery stores, gas stations and other lottery retailers, tickets can be purchased up until 10:00 pm EST. However, some retailers may stop sales earlier so they have time to process orders before the 10:00 pm cutoff. It’s a good idea to check with your local retailer on their internal cutoff policies.
Why the Strict Cutoff Time in Georgia?
Georgia, like all states that participate in Powerball, must adhere to game rules and procedures set by the Multi-State Lottery Association. These standardized rules ensure fairness and accuracy in the game. The association mandates the strict sales cutoff times to allow enough time for all ticket sales data and purchases to be fully processed before drawings. This prevents any ticket sales information from coming in after the drawing occurs. It helps ensure that all eligible tickets are properly counted and that no late entries are accepted.
Processing Ticket Sales
After ticket sales close leading up to a drawing, Georgia Lottery officials need time to have all ticket purchase data transmitted from online sales and over 13,000 retailers around the state. This sizable amount of data must be processed, compiled and verified before the drawing can happen. Unexpected delays could occur if ticket sales continued right up until the live drawing.
Security Measures
In addition to processing sales data, security protocols must also be completed prior to the drawing. Lottery officials need to ensure that the random number selection system is properly secured and tested. Setting a firm cutoff time well before the live drawing allows sufficient time for security measures to be completed.
Where to Buy Tickets in Georgia
Powerball tickets can be purchased at the following locations throughout Georgia until 10:00 pm EST (or 9:59pm online) on nights of drawings:
- Online at galottery.com – until 9:59pm EST
- Authorized Georgia Lottery retailers around the state – until 10:00pm at most locations
- Georgia Lottery District Offices (Atlanta, Dalton, Dublin, Gainesville, Macon)
- Georgia Lottery Kiosks (select Kroger, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and many other retail locations)
You can find authorized retailers in your area by searching the Georgia Lottery website. Major grocery store chains, gas stations, liquor stores and convenience stores across the state sell Powerball tickets. Georgia residents have ample options to purchase tickets in person before the 10:00 pm deadline. Purchasing online at galottery.com by 9:59 pm is also a very convenient way to play.
Key Tips for Buying Tickets in Georgia
- Allow enough time before 10:00 pm to make your purchase at retail locations
- Some stores may stop sales earlier than the posted cutoff time
- For online purchases, complete your transaction by 9:59 pm to allow for processing time
- Know the standard 10:00 pm cutoff time, but also check for any special early deadlines around holidays or rescheduled drawings
- Consider advance ticket purchasing options if you’ll be busy leading up to the standard cutoff time
Winning the Powerball Jackpot
Successfully picking all 6 numbers drawn (5 white balls and the Powerball) wins the multimillion dollar Powerball jackpot prize. The lifetime cash value option takes home a share of the lottery prize fund invested to pay top prize winners over 29 annual payments. Either jackpot prize option certainly provides life-changing winnings! Let’s look at 5 of the biggest Powerball jackpot wins in Georgia lottery history:
| Date | Winning Georgia Ticket | Jackpot |
|---|---|---|
| October 25, 2021 | Norcross | $632.6 million |
| December 17, 2016 | Savannah | $438 million |
| February 11, 2015 | Macon | $435 million |
| October 27, 2018 | Portal | $344.6 million |
| September 18, 2013 | Atlanta | $236 million |
As you can see, players in Georgia have claimed several of the largest Powerball jackpots awarded, including the current record of $632.6 million won in October 2021. That lucky Norcross ticket holder purchased their winning Powerball entry before the 10:00 pm cutoff time for a chance at the massive grand prize.
Odds of Winning Powerball
The overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9. However, hitting the jackpot by matching all 5 white balls and the red Powerball is a very steep 1 in 292,201,338. Let’s take a look at the full prize payouts and odds of each:
| Prize | Match | Odds (1 in) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize Jackpot | 5 white balls + Powerball | 292,201,338 |
| $1 million | 5 white balls | 11,688,053.52 |
| $50,000 | 4 white balls + Powerball | 913,129.18 |
| $100 | 4 white balls | 36,525.17 |
| $100 | 3 white balls + Powerball | 14,494.11 |
| $7 | 3 white balls | 580.76 |
| $7 | 2 white balls + Powerball | 701.33 |
| $4 | 1 white ball + Powerball | 91.98 |
| $4 | Powerball only | 38.32 |
As you can see, while the jackpot odds are extremely high, players still have decent chances to win smaller prizes for matching just a few numbers. Lower tier prizes from $4 up to $1 million are awarded in every drawing. All it takes is one Powerball ticket purchased before the 10:00 pm cutoff to have a shot!
Recent Georgia Powerball Winners
Here are some notable Powerball wins in Georgia from the past year:
- November 2022 – $50,000 prize won in Conyers
- September 2022 – $50,000 prize won in Cumming
- July 2022 – $1 million prize won in Marietta
- May 2022 – $2 million prize won in Dallas
- March 2022 – $1 million prize won in Brunswick
- January 2022 – $1 million prize won in Duluth
Powerball players across the state frequently win prizes ranging from $1 million up to $50,000. With multiple drawings each week, new winners are announced regularly. It pays to get your tickets before the 10:00 pm cutoff on drawing nights for your own chance at a big prize.
Unclaimed Powerball Prizes in Georgia
Unfortunately, not every winning Powerball ticket gets claimed. As of October 2022, the Georgia Lottery reports over $63 million in unclaimed Powerball prizes. These include multiple $1 million and $2 million winning tickets purchased in the state that were never turned in. Prizes expire 180 days after the drawing date if no one claims them.
To avoid missing out, Georgia lottery officials recommend that players sign the back of their Powerball tickets immediately to help establish ownership. Store tickets safely until after the drawing, then check carefully against the winning numbers. Double check your tickets to make sure you don’t overlook any life-changing winnings!
Key Takeaways
- The Powerball sales cutoff time in Georgia is 10:00 pm EST on nights of drawings
- Online ticket purchases must be completed by 9:59 pm EST
- In-person sales at Georgia retailers continue until 10:00 pm but may end earlier at some locations
- Five Georgians have won record Powerball jackpots over $200 million
- Lower tier prizes up to $1 million are won more frequently
- Make sure to check tickets carefully and claim any wins before the 180 day expiration
Conclusion
Playing the Powerball lottery in Georgia is easy and convenient. With online sales available until 9:59 pm and thousands of retailers selling tickets around the state until 10:00 pm for the nightly drawings, players have ample time to get their Powerball entries in before the cutoff. Georgians have claimed several of the biggest Powerball jackpots in history, proving that life-changing winnings are possible. Lower tier prizes are also frequently won. By getting your Powerball tickets before the posted deadline and carefully checking results after drawings, you’ll never have to miss out on claiming a Georgia lottery prize!
