The Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with jackpots that can climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But in order to have a chance at winning, players need to purchase their Powerball tickets before the cutoff time on drawing nights. This leads many Colorado residents to ask: what time is the Powerball cutoff in Colorado?
Powerball Overview
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). It is played in 45 states, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday night at 9:59 p.m. Central Time.
To play Powerball, players select five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. The Power Play add-on feature can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times. Tickets cost $2 per play, or $3 with the Power Play option.
Jackpots start at $40 million and roll over if there is no grand prize winner. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million.
Powerball in Colorado
The Colorado Lottery began offering Powerball on April 28, 2001. Since then, there have been several big Colorado winners over the years.
Some notable Colorado Powerball jackpots:
- November 2005 – $85.8 million
- February 2007 – $17.8 million
- December 2012 – $30 million
- June 2018 – $50 million
Colorado has also had multiple winners of $1 million or more Powerball prizes. Players in the state have won over $1.2 billion in total Powerball prizes to date.
Powerball ticket sales in Colorado have helped contribute over $1 billion to various state beneficiaries since 2002. Today, Powerball continues to be very popular in Colorado, frequently generating jackpots of $100 million or more.
Powerball Ticket Sales in Colorado
In Colorado, Powerball tickets can be purchased at over 3,000 retail locations across the state. These include convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores and grocery stores. Players can also buy Powerball tickets online through the Colorado Lottery’s website.
Here are some key points about Powerball sales in Colorado:
- Powerball tickets can be purchased using cash or debit/credit cards.
- Players must be at least 18 years old to buy tickets.
- Tickets can be purchased until 8:59 p.m. MDT on draw nights. This is the ticket cutoff time.
- Tickets cannot be bought by mail or telephone in Colorado.
- Powerball tickets cannot be sold to P.O. boxes. A street delivery address is required for online sales.
Colorado players are responsible for checking the accuracy of their ticket at the time of purchase. It’s crucial to review your Powerball ticket right away to ensure all selections are correct.
Powerball Cutoff Time in Colorado
So when exactly is the Powerball cutoff time in Colorado?
The ticket cutoff for Powerball in Colorado is 8:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the night of the drawings (Wednesdays and Saturdays).
Powerball tickets cannot be sold in Colorado after this deadline. All ticket purchases must be completed by 8:59 p.m. MDT to be included in that night’s drawing.
Many retailers stop selling tickets 15-30 minutes before the official cutoff to close out transactions and system processes. However, some locations sell up until 8:59 p.m. so players have time to buy tickets if needed.
The 8:59 p.m. MDT cutoff in Colorado is aligned with the official closing time set by the Multi-State Lottery Association for all participating lottery jurisdictions. This ensures consistency across Powerball states.
It’s important to note the Powerball drawing itself is held at 9:59 p.m. Mountain Time. The gap between the 8:59 p.m. ticket cutoff and 9:59 p.m. draw allows time for lotteries to finalize ticket sales and process play data before the drawing occurs.
Purchasing Tickets Before the Deadline
Because the Powerball ticket cutoff is at 8:59 p.m. on draw nights in Colorado, players need to buy their tickets in advance of this deadline. Planning ahead helps ensure you don’t miss out on your chance to win.
Here are some tips for purchasing Powerball tickets before the cutoff in Colorado:
- Buy early. Don’t wait until the last minute to buy your Powerball tickets. Retailers can get very busy close to the deadline, so give yourself enough time to make selections and complete your purchase.
- Consider buying online. Purchasing Powerball tickets through the Colorado Lottery’s website allows you to buy until 8:59 p.m. Bypassing a retailer means avoiding long checkout lines near cutoff.
- Save your playslip. Mark the numbers you want to play on a Powerball playslip in advance and save it to use on draw nights. This speeds up the buying process at retailers.
- Find extended hours. Some convenience stores and supermarkets with self-service ticketing kiosks offer extended Powerball sales until the 8:59 p.m. deadline.
- Know closing times. If buying at a specific store, be aware of when they stop selling for the night so you don’t miss out.
Giving yourself time provides flexibility in case unexpected delays come up. Don’t get shut out – buy those Powerball tickets in Colorado before 8:59 p.m. MDT.
Can You Buy Tickets After the Deadline?
All Powerball tickets in Colorado must be purchased by the 8:59 p.m. MDT cutoff on nights of the drawings. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Any ticket transactions initiated after 8:59 p.m. will be invalid for that drawing. Retailer systems are programmed to shut down ticket sales precisely at 8:59.
The good news is that if you miss the Powerball cutoff for that night’s drawing, you can still buy tickets for the next drawing. For example, if you miss the Saturday deadline, you’re still able to purchase tickets for the following Wednesday.
It’s also important to note that Powerball has no ticket refunds in Colorado. All sales are final. There are no returns allowed on unused or expired tickets.
So if you obtain a ticket after the 8:59 p.m. cutoff time, it unfortunately cannot be used or exchanged. The Colorado lottery also cannot override the prohibited transaction.
Bottom line – make sure to get your Powerball tickets before 8:59 p.m. Mountain Time on draw nights. Don’t cut it too close and wind up missing the deadline in Colorado.
Checking Powerball Results
After buying your Powerball tickets in Colorado, you’ll want to check the winning numbers after the drawing takes place at 9:59 p.m. MDT. Here are some ways you can view the Powerball results each week:
- Watch the live drawing online. The Powerball drawing is streamed in real-time on Powerball.com or the Colorado Lottery’s website on draw nights.
- Tune in to local news. Many Colorado TV stations announce the winning numbers during their 10 p.m. newscast.
- Check your ticket. Retailers can print the latest results from their sales terminals.
- Visit ColoradoLottery.com. The winning numbers are posted immediately after the drawing.
- Use mobile apps. Download the free Colorado Lottery app or the Multi-State Lottery app to get automatic draw results.
- See results in newspapers. Many Colorado papers print the Powerball numbers and prize breakdown the day after the drawings.
Be sure to take your time double-checking your ticket against the winning numbers and be mindful of the various types of prizes available. With multiple ways to check results readily available, you can easily see if lady luck was on your side.
Claiming Powerball Prizes in Colorado
If you match winning numbers on your Powerball ticket in Colorado, congratulations, you’re a winner! Make sure to sign the back of your ticket right away for security purposes.
Here’s how you go about claiming Powerball prizes in Colorado:
- Prizes under $150 can be redeemed at any Colorado lottery retailer location. Just bring your winning ticket to cash in.
- For prizes between $150 and $599, present your ticket at participating retailers or mail it to lottery headquarters for redemption.
- Any prize over $600 must be claimed in person at a Colorado Lottery claim center. Locations are available in Denver, Grand Junction, and Pueblo.
- Jackpot and grand prizes of over $250,000 need to be claimed at the lottery’s Denver headquarters.
- You have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim your Powerball prize. Any unclaimed prizes are forfeited.
Be sure to fill out a winner claim form and provide ID for tax purposes. If playing in a group, each member must be present and provide identification.
State and federal taxes will be withheld from prize amounts before payout depending on the level won. Consult the Colorado lottery’s prize claiming guide for additional details on redemption procedures.
Don’t leave your big winnings on the table. Be sure to check your Powerball tickets promptly and claim any prizes you’re owed from drawings.
The Importance of Beating the Deadline
Meeting the Powerball ticket cutoff time is crucial for playing in Colorado. Sales must end at 8:59 p.m. MDT sharp. Fortunately, you still have the entire day of a drawing to buy tickets, providing plenty of time to get your Powerball purchases in.
Here are some final tips on ensuring you buy before the deadline:
- Buy early in the day to avoid last-minute scrambles.
- Set a phone alarm for 30 minutes before cutoff to remind you.
- Avoid lines by purchasing online or using self-service kiosks.
- Double check ticket accuracy right after you buy.
- Know the closing policies of the retailers you frequent.
- Always confirm your ticket has the current draw date before leaving the store.
While the Powerball cutoff arrives early evening in Colorado, you don’t want to wait too long and risk being unable to buy a ticket. Planning ahead helps remove some of the time pressures on draw nights.
In rare cases, cutoffs may be briefly extended if unexpected technical issues disrupt sales statewide. But otherwise, the 8:59 p.m. MDT Powerball deadline is strictly enforced in Colorado.
Be sure to get your winning tickets before cutoff each week. Who knows, you could celebrate those early Powerball purchases with a big jackpot victory! Thanks for reading and good luck playing Powerball in Colorado.
