The latest you can buy a Powerball ticket tonight generally depends on your state, but ticket sales usually stop between one and two hours before the drawing. The Powerball drawing happens at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on drawing nights (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday). For states in the Eastern Time Zone, ticket sales often close around 9:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET. In some states, especially in other time zones, cutoffs are earlier, sometimes significantly so (like around 6:45 p.m. Pacific Time in some western states). For example, in Pennsylvania, the cutoff time is 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights. To summarize:
- Drawing time: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Eastern Time Zone cutoff: approximately 9:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET
- Central Time Zone cutoff: around 8:59 p.m. CT
- Mountain and Pacific Time Zones: cutoffs may be earlier, sometimes as early as 6:45 p.m. PT
- Specific example: Pennsylvania closes ticket sales at 9:59 p.m. local time on drawing nights
It is best to check the local lottery retailer or official state lottery website for the exact deadline in the location of purchase to avoid missing the cutoff.
