The latest time to buy Powerball tickets depends on the state but is typically one to two hours before the drawing. Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. For example, in Eastern Time Zone states, ticket sales usually close around 9:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET. In Central Time Zone states, sales cut off around 8:59 p.m. CT; in Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, the cutoff can be earlier, sometimes as early as 6:45 p.m. PT. In Florida, for instance, the cutoff time specifically for Powerball is 10:00 p.m. on draw nights. Each state lottery may have its own exact cutoff times within this general range, so it's important to check local rules. In summary:
- Powerball drawings: 10:59 p.m. ET (Mon, Wed, Sat)
- Usual ticket sales cutoff: 1-2 hours before drawing
- Eastern Time Zone cutoff: Around 9:45-10:00 p.m. ET
- Central Time Zone cutoff: Around 8:59 p.m. CT
- Mountain and Pacific Zones: Can be as early as 6:45 p.m. PT
This means buying a Powerball ticket as late as an hour or two before the drawing is possible in many states, but exact cutoffs depend on where the ticket is purchased.
