how late can i buy mega millions tickets

The deadline to buy Mega Millions tickets varies by state, but generally, ticket sales close between 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing. The drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For example, in Arkansas, sales end at 9:45 p.m. Central Time, in Maine 9:50 p.m. Eastern Time, and in Pennsylvania 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the night of the drawing. It's best not to wait until the last minute to purchase tickets as cut-off times depend on the jurisdiction where the ticket is bought.